In brief: Bowden proud of Hall of Fame career
Bobby Bowden believes the greatest accomplishment in his Hall of Fame career is he’s never been fired.
“I know that sounds odd, but you look around every day at coaches who have been fired – coaches who last two years, coaches who last four years,” he said. “I ain’t never been fired. But I’ve nearly been fired.”
The 77-year-old Florida State coach also has been successful enough that the National Football Foundation changed its rules so he could be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame while he’s still coaching. Instead of requiring a coach be retired, the NFF made any active coach more than 75 eligible for induction.
Bowden was inducted in December and will be enshrined this weekend along with Charlie Ward, who led the Seminoles to their first national title in 1993, and other college greats, including Florida’s Emmitt Smith, Virginia Tech’s Bruce Smith and Minnesota’s Carl Eller.
“In Boston, Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis took the stand in his case against Charles Ferguson, director of Massachusetts General Hospital’s surgical residency program, and Richard Hodin, a surgeon and professor at Harvard Medical School, accusing them of botching the surgery commonly known as stomach stapling.
“Willie DeWayne Clark, 24, a man considered a person of interest in the shooting death of Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams wrote a letter in state prison saying he did not kill the player, a federal agent testified.
“Four University of Minnesota players being investigated in a sexual assault were kicked off the team.
Cornerback Dominic Jones, running back E.J. Jones, defensive end Alex Daniels and defensive back Keith Massey were dismissed from the team coach Tim Brewster said.
“Rutgers assistant coach Chris Demarest entered a not guilty plea to a charge he assaulted his girlfriend in a bar.
“Montana State coach Rob Ash announced he has hired former Kansas State quarterback Jonathan Beasley as receivers coach for the Bobcats.
“Tim Horton will take over as Arkansas’ running backs coach after Danny Nutt stepped down for health reasons.
Basketball
LeBron James: Live from New York
Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James, fresh off co-hosting the ESPY Awards earlier this month, will host the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live” in September, an NBC spokesman confirmed.
James got positive reviews for his work co-hosting the ESPYs along with comedian/talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. James appeared in several skits and danced and sang Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative” with rewritten lyrics about his own fame.
“Kevin Durant signed a seven-year, $60 million endorsement deal with Nike that includes a $10 million signing bonus, the second-largest rookie deal in basketball.
“Four months after leading his team to the Sweet 16, University of Tennessee men’s coach Bruce Pearl is getting a sweet new contract that runs through the 2012-2013 season with a $100,000 increase in salary in each of the next five seasons.
“North Carolina coach Roy Williams announced that he has vertigo.
“Restricted free agent forward Travis Outlaw has signed a three-year extension to remain with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Miscellany
Wie to test herself at British Open
Michelle Wie, who’s been trying to work through her struggles in central Florida, plans to enter the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews, Scotland on Aug. 2-5.
Wie has not broken par in competition since the final round of the Evian Masters in France last year, a total of 23 rounds.
“Three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport will return to the pro tour by playing doubles at the Aug. 17-25 Pilot Pen tournament, a little more than two months after she gave birth to her first child.
“Dick Ault, a former Olympian and Missouri track star, died Monday in Jefferson City, Mo., at 81.