Fatal crash ends mystery of ex-NFL quarterback

A former NFL quarterback who failed to show for sentencing on drunken driving charges nearly four years ago was killed in a car crash in Greece, authorities said, leaving behind an unsolved mystery involving two suspicious fires and years spent on the lam.

The State Department used fingerprints to determine that the victim of last Saturday’s crash was William “Jeff” Komlo, according to Jim Vito, Chester County’s acting chief detective. Vito said he was initially skeptical, concerned because of Komlo’s history that he might have faked his own death.

“Even though we heard that he was deceased, the first reaction was that, well, we better make a positive identification,” Vito said.

Komlo played for the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers over five NFL seasons from 1979 to 1983.

In July 2005, Komlo failed to show for sentencing on two drunken driving convictions.

Two months earlier, authorities had issued a warrant for Komlo when he didn’t appear for a May 10 preliminary hearing on charges in an alleged assault on his girlfriend.

At the time he went missing, Komlo was under investigation for fires at his home in Chester Springs, Pa., and another home in Palm Beach County, Fla.

Auto racing

Rule changes put off

Formula One’s ruling body backed down Friday and agreed to put off a new points system for the sport until next season, responding to objections from teams and top drivers.

The Formula One Teams’ Association said FIA’s decision earlier this week that the championship would go to the driver with the most race wins instead of highest point total was invalid. F1’s governing body then reversed course.

Golf

Watney, Stricker tied

Coming off a wrenching one-shot loss to Phil Mickelson at Doral, Nick Watney kept right on rolling with a 4-under-par 67 at the Transitions Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla., to share the 36-hole lead with Steve Stricker, who also had a 67. They are at 6-under 136 on the Copperhead Course.

Ochoa up by two: Lorena Ochoa shot a 7-under 65 to tie the course record and take a two-shot lead in the Mastercard Classic being played on the scrubby, rugged BosqueReal course carved into the mountains at Huixquilucan, outside Mexico City. The tournament is the first of three LPGA events in Mexico this year.

Baseball

Mauer doubtful for opener

Minnesota Twins catcher and reigning A.L. batting champion Joe Mauer said he doubts he’ll be ready to play by opening day because of lingering pain and inflammation in his lower back.

Jones, Rangers extend deadline: Outfielder Andruw Jones is staying with the Texas Rangers at least through the weekend, even though he has not been added to the major league roster. Jones said he agreed with the Rangers to extend by three days a provision in his minor league contract that would allow the five-time All-Star to become a free agent if he’s not put on the big league roster. That pushed the deadline to Monday.

NBA

Garnett back;, Celtics win

Playing sparingly in his first game in a month, Kevin Garnett sat out a thrilling fourth quarter that ended with host San Antonio missing six consecutive free throws to help Boston escape with an 80-77 win.

Garnett scored 10 points and had four rebounds in just 15 minutes after coach Doc Rivers promised not to work his All-Star forward too hard in his return from a strained right knee.

Stuckey hit by flu: Antonio McDyess scored 24 points and Tayshaun Prince added 23 to help the short-handed Detroit Pistons beat the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 108-90. Will Bynum added a career-high 22 points for Detroit, missing four of its top five scorers, including late scratch Rodney Stuckey, out with the flu, and used just eight players most of the night.

Refs angered by fine: The NBA’s referees union criticized the league for fining an official who was involved in a dispute with Boston coach Doc Rivers.

Rivers was fined $25,000 Thursday for his postgame rant two nights earlier in Chicago against Bill Kennedy, who was also docked an undisclosed amount. Rivers complained afterward that Kennedy had stared at him, goading the Celtics coach into receiving a second technical foul and an automatic ejection.

The referees, however, claim that is what they’re trained to do, instead of yelling back at the coaches, and plan to appeal.

Miscellany

Women’s hockey final set

National scoring leader Hilary Knight scored twice and assisted on Erika Lawler’s two goals in top-seeded Wisconsin’s 5-1 victory over defending champion Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA women’s hockey semifinals at Boston.

Wisconsin will face Mercyhurst, – a 5-4 winner over Minnesota in the second semifinal – in the final Sunday.

Gymnastics pioneer dies: Glenn Sundby, who helped form USA Gymnastics and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, has died at 87 in Vista, Calif.

Ivanovic, Zvonareva in title match: Defending champion Ana Ivanovic beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-3 to reach the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.

Ivanovic, a 21-year-old Serb, dominated the 17-year-old schoolgirl from Moscow, who had upset No. 3 Jelena Jankovic and No. 10 Agnieszka Radwanska on the way to her first tour semifinal. Pavlyuchenkova came into the tournament ranked No. 42.

No. 7 Ivanovic will face No. 6 Vera Zvonareva, a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Victoria Azarenka, in Sunday’s championship match.