January 13, 2008 in Sports

Sports in brief: NCAA’s Brand promotes equality at convention

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NCAA president Myles Brand lobbied Saturday for equality on campuses for women and minorities, and also tried to prepare the association for the coming punishment for teams failing to meet academic standards.

Brand said resistance – both open and secretive – remains to giving female athletes more grants or jobs coaching women’s sports and as athletic directors. He again called the lack of black head football coaches an “embarrassment” to college athletics.

“Proof of change is in the actual appointments to these positions, and that has not yet occurred,” Brand said.

The NCAA convention in Nashville, Tenn., dove into action with business sessions and approved changes to the association’s executive committee.

Brand reminded members the transition to the NCAA’s graduation rates and academic progress will result in sanctions as soon as late spring. He also cautioned college presidents and officials against the pressures to win at all costs.

Football

Draft rumors denied

The father of Arkansas star Darren McFadden denied a report that he has sent paperwork to the NFL so his son can enter the upcoming draft.

ESPN.com, citing unidentified sources, reported that Graylon McFadden provided the relevant paperwork early this week.

“I hate to be saying anything because all these false stories and everything are floating around,” Graylon McFadden said.

McFadden, a junior tailback, was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2006 and 2007.

“Marshall’s Bernard Morris threw for 172 yards and a touchdown in the first half to lead the Aina (East) to a 38-7 victory over the Kai (West) in the Hula Bowl in Honolulu.

“Mel Tucker, Cleveland’s defensive backs coach the past three seasons, is the club’s new defensive coordinator, replacing Todd Grantham, who was fired by the Browns on Friday.

Tucker also received a two-year contract extension through 2010.

Miscellany

Rolen-Glaus deal?

The St. Louis Cardinals were close to a trade that would send the disgruntled Scott Rolen to the Toronto Blue Jays for Troy Glaus in a swap of All-Star third basemen, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press.

“Z Fortune asserted himself as a legitimate contender for the Triple Crown races at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, beating Blackberry Road by 2 3/4 lengths in the Grade III Lecomte Stakes for 3-year-olds.

“Coroner’s officials might need six to eight weeks to determine the cause of former figure skating star Christopher Bowman’s death.

“The cause of death has been deferred pending further investigation,” Los Angeles County coroner’s Lt. Richard Hanna said following an autopsy.

The 40-year-old Bowman was found dead Thursday.

“Elisabeth Goergl captured the World Cup giant slalom in Maribor, Slovenia, becoming the 100th Austrian skier to win a World Cup title.

“Jean-Baptiste Grange won the slalom in Wengen, Switzerland, to match Jean-Claude Killy as the only skiers to win two different races on the Lauberhorn course in the same year.

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