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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sports in brief: Anderson rejects Oregon offer

College basketball: For the second time in just over one year, Missouri coach Mike Anderson has turned down a hefty raise and the chance to revive a moribund power conference program to remain with the Tigers.

The latest suitor was Oregon, which fired Ernie Kent a month ago after a 16-16 season and ninth-place finish in the Pac-10. Anderson confirmed Sunday that the job was his if he desired.

“We listened,” he said. “I owe it to my family.”

Anderson met with former Oregon athletics director Pat Kilkenny on Thursday night while in El Paso, Texas, for a charity golf tournament hosted by his mentor, former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson.

Anderson just completed his fourth season at Missouri and has led the team to two consecutive NCAA tournaments after a five-year drought. He signed a seven-year, $10.85 million contract extension one year ago after leading the team to a record 31-win season that ended one game short of the Final Four.

That pay raise came soon after Georgia reportedly offered Anderson more than $2 million to lead its program. Oregon, which has tried to lure other high-profile coaches, was reported to be willing to pay even more.

Associated Press

New turf, same old color for BSU

College football: The blue turf at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium is being replaced with different blue turf for free this summer due to a reflective glare that has irritated fans the last two seasons.

Athletic director Gene Bleymaier says light-reflecting fibers in the current artificial field cause problems for people watching the game in person or on television.

Bleymaier says FieldTurf wants to fix the problem and is doing it for free.

Associated Press

Happy 2,500th anniversary

Running: From Greece to Boston, they’re celebrating 2,500 years of marathon runs.

Today’s Boston Marathon will help kick off a year of celebration to mark 2 ½ millennia since the Battle of Marathon that gave birth to the 26.2-mile race. Historians say the victory by the outnumbered Greeks over the Persians on the Plains of Marathon might have saved democracy.

Associated Press