Newsmakers
Sentenced A former associate director in charge of the University of Kansas ticket office and “gatekeeper” for stolen tickets was sentenced Thursday in a Wichita, Kan., courtroom to 57 months in prison for her role in the $2 million conspiracy. Prosecutors accused Charlette Blubaugh, 44, of providing tickets for basketball and football games to others who then sold them for personal profit. Blubaugh is the sixth defendant to be sentenced in the case. Former associate athletic director of development Ben Kirtland is set for sentencing on May 12.
Signed The Minnesota Lynx signed Maya Moore, the first pick in this year’s WNBA draft. Terms were not disclosed. Moore’s first on-court action with the Lynx will come on May 24, an exhibition game against the Indiana Fever.
Leaving San Diego State announced that sophomore forward Kawhi Leonard plans to hire an agent and enter the NBA draft. Coach Steve Fisher said he met with Leonard and his family and gave them as much information as possible. Leonard led the Aztecs in scoring, at 15.5 points a game, and rebounding, 10.6 per game.
• Kansas freshman guard Josh Selby has declared for the NBA draft. The 6-foot-3 Selby was rated the overall No. 1 prospect in the nation when Jayhawks coach Bill Self signed him last year, but was suspended the first nine games by the NCAA for amateurism violations. He averaged 7.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 26 games.
Fined A person familiar with the decision says the Los Angeles Lakers and coach Phil Jackson each have been fined $75,000 for comments the coach made about collective bargaining. The fines come a day after the league fined Lakers star Kobe Bryant $100,000 for using a derogatory gay term in frustration over a referee’s call.
Died Former Mississippi State basketball player and coach Joe Dan Gold has died after a lengthy illness. He was 68. Gold, a Benton, Ky., native, coached at MSU from 1965-1970, with a 51-74 record over five seasons. Gold was elected into Mississippi State’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.