Phelps makes 200 history at swim worlds
Swimming: After losses in his first two events at the world championships, Michael Phelps won the 200-meter butterfly for a record fifth time Wednesday in Shanghai. His time of 1 minute, 53.34 seconds was well off the world mark he set two years ago in Rome, but these days, Phelps incrementally measures his progress.
The two-time Olympic 200 fly champion went out quickly, leading Japan’s Takeshi Matsuda through the first 100 meters before Matsuda overtook him on the final turn. Phelps fought back, and surged ahead for good a few meters into the last lap.
North Carolina fires football coach Davis
College Football: North Carolina fired football coach Butch Davis, saying the past year of turmoil amid an NCAA investigation into improper benefits and academic misconduct was doing too much damage to the school’s reputation.
The school issued a statement announcing Davis’ dismissal nine days before the start of preseason practice. Chancellor Holden Thorp said he “lost confidence in our ability to come through this without harming the way people think of this institution.”
U.S. skiing team remembers Peterson
Freestyle skiing: U.S. freestyle ski team members laughed and cried while remembering Olympic silver medalist Jeret “Speedy” Peterson.
Police say the 29-year-old Peterson shot himself along a remote Utah canyon road Monday night.
Rookie team member Hans Gardner fought through tears to pay tribute to one of the sport’s innovators the best way he could, by catching big air in the first training jump at Utah Olympic Park in Park City.
Gardner shouted as he headed down the steep ramp and slapped his thigh the way Peterson often did. Authorities say Peterson took his life three days after being cited for drunken driving in Hailey, Idaho.
Spain tops FIFA rankings; U.S. falls
Soccer: World and European champion Spain remained at No. 1 in the monthly FIFA rankings released Wednesday and the United States dropped six places to No. 30.
Netherlands, Germany and Brazil rounded out the top four of the rankings..
• Blatter needs time to clean up FIFA: FIFA President Sepp Blatter has asked for time to clear up corruption allegations involving soccer’s scandal-ridden governing body.
Blatter tried to sidestep questions about a life ban issued to former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam and tried to focus on the announcement of the dates for the 2014 World Cup.
Field announced for 2012 Maui Invitational
College Basketball: Three-time champion North Carolina and first-time participant Butler headline the field for the 2012 EA Sports Maui Invitational.
The rest of the teams that will play are Illinois, Marquette, Mississippi State, Southern California, Texas and Division II Chaminade.
• Tennessee considers some violations secondary: Though Tennessee agrees with most of the dozen allegations made against it by the NCAA, the university argued in its response to the association that some of the violations should be considered secondary instead of major.
NBA owners, players to resume talks
NBA: NBA owners and players will resume talks toward a new collective bargaining agreement Monday, a month after the lockout started people with knowledge of the plans said.
Though representatives from the sides have been talking and met on multiple occasions since July 1, this will be the first meeting to include Commissioner David Stern, union executive director Billy Hunter and president Derek Fisher of the Lakers, and owners.
Feds urge court to honor Bonds’ verdict
Baseball: Federal prosecutors are urging a judge to honor a jury’s verdict finding baseball great Barry Bonds guilty of obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors filed court papers opposing Bonds’ demand that the verdict be tossed out or he be granted a new trial.
A jury found Bonds guilty of obstructing a grand jury when he gave a rambling answer when asked if his trainer ever gave him injectable substances.