Penn St. asks ex-FBI director to investigate
Former FBI director Louis Freeh, tapped to lead Penn State’s investigation into the child sex-abuse allegations against a former assistant football coach, said his inquiry will go as far back as 1975, a much longer period than a grand jury report issued earlier this month.
Freeh was named Monday to oversee the university board of trustees’ internal investigation into the abuse allegations that ultimately led to the ouster of longtime football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier.
Freeh said his goal was to conduct a comprehensive, fair and quick review. His team of former FBI agents, federal prosecutors and others has already begun the process of reading the grand jury report and looking at records.
“We will immediately report any evidence of criminality to law enforcement authorities,” said Freeh, who has no direct connection to Penn State.
Former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is accused of molesting eight boys over a 15-year period beginning in the mid-1990s. Authorities say some assaults happened on campus and were reported to administrators but not to police.
Crosby doesn’t waste time scoring goal
Hockey: Sidney Crosby split a pair of defenders, worked the puck to his backhand and let it fly.
New York Islanders goaltender Anders Nilsson never had a chance.
Welcome back, Sid the Kid.
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ superstar capped his 10-month comeback from concussion-like symptoms in thrilling fashion, scoring a pair of goals to go with two assists in a 5-0 victory.
It was a storybook end to Crosby’s frustratingly methodical return, one marked by numerous setbacks, rumors and questions about whether the 24-year-old former MVP would regain the form that’s made him one of the league’s most popular players.
• Bruins still streaking: Tim Thomas made 33 saves for his second straight shutout and visiting Boston extended its winning streak to nine games with a 1-0 victory over Montreal.
Michigan upsets No. 8 Memphis in Hawaii
Men’s basketball: Tim Hardaway Jr. had 21 points, Trey Burke added 14 and No. 15 Michigan knocked off No. 8 Memphis 73-61 in the opening round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii.
Michigan faces No. 6 Duke in today’s semifinals. Duke beat Tennessee 77-67.
Starting rotation in Feliz’s future
Baseball: Joe Nathan and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a two-year contract with a club option for 2014, a move that means closer Neftali Feliz will shift to the starting rotation.
Nathan, who turns 37 today, lost his job as closer early in the season before reclaiming it later. The Rangers say they have informed Feliz, a former Spokane Indians pitcher, that he will switch from the bullpen to the rotation, a move that would help offset the loss of free-agent starter C.J. Wilson if he signs elsewhere.
• Bobby Valentine goes after Boston manager job: Bobby Valentine, known for his confrontational style that rubbed some of his players the wrong way, formally interviewed for the Boston job when he met with general manager Ben Cherington and other members of the Red Sox brain trust.
The Red Sox had originally interviewed Gene Lamont, Torey Lovullo, Dale Sveum, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Pete Mackanin. Sveum has been hired to manage the Chicago Cubs by former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein; Mackanin had been told he was no longer in the running, and Alomar got the same news on Monday.
The 61-year-old Valentine is the most experienced candidate to interview so far.
Ching available for MLS expansion draft
Miscellany: Former Gonzaga University standout Brian Ching, a Houston forward, is among the players left unprotected in Major League Soccer’s expansion draft for the Montreal Impact on Wednesday.
Others include Philadelphia forward Freddy Adu and San Jose All-Star defender Bobby Convey. Each of the 18 existing teams may protect 11 players. Montreal will select 10.
• Djokovic recovers to beat Berdych at ATP finals: Novak Djokovic saved a match point in the third set against Tomas Berdych before winning 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) to avoid becoming the second upset of the day at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
No. 3-ranked Andy Murray earlier struggled through a 6-4, 7-5 loss to David Ferrer with a groin injury he fears could end his tournament. Murray said he would decide today whether he will pull out.
• NBA players move fight to Minnesota: NBA players have filed an amended federal lawsuit against the league in Minnesota.
Locked-out players filed class-action antitrust lawsuits against the league last Tuesday in California and Minnesota. But the California complaint was withdrawn Monday. Players’ lawyer David Boies says he believes the case will move more quickly in Minnesota.