Hansen, city agree to arena deal in Seattle
Nba: Efforts to bring the NBA back to Seattle took a giant step forward in a revised arena deal announced Tuesday, with investor Chris Hansen agreeing to kick in more money for transportation improvements near a proposed new arena, personally guaranteeing the city’s debt – and offering to buy everyone a beer.
The plan for the $490 million arena, which could also host an NHL team, represents the best shot at bringing the NBA back to Seattle. The SuperSonics ended their 41-year run in Seattle in 2008 and skipped town for Oklahoma City, where they became the Thunder.
Though formal votes are still required, Tuesday’s announcement effectively gave Hansen, a San Francisco hedge-fund manager, and his fellow investors, including Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Peter and Erik Nordstrom, of the department store clan, the green light to begin shopping for an NBA team.
Hansen, a Seattle native, early Facebook investor and big Sonics fan, said the talks were difficult, but that he was happy to be able to find common ground with the council. He thanked the fans who supported him through the process, and – though not actually part of the deal – he offered to buy a celebratory beer for anyone who shows up on Thursday evening at FX McRory’s, a bar near the planned site of the arena.
Gomez connects in U.S. soccer win
Soccer: The United States rebounded from a loss at Jamaica in World Cup qualifying, beating the Reggae Boyz 1-0 as Herculez Gomez curled a free kick in the 55th minute at Columbus, Ohio.
After hitting the frame three times in a dominant first half as goalkeeper Dwayne Miller made several sparkling saves, the U.S. went ahead after Clint Dempsey was fouled by Rodolph Austin. Gomez’s drive from 28 yards went over the defensive wall and to the left of a diving Miller, who was only able to lightly brush the ball with his fingertips.
The U.S., which made five changes to its starting lineup from Friday’s 2-1 loss in Kingston, is tied with Guatemala (2-1-1) at seven points in Group A of the North and Central American and Caribbean semifinals. Jamaica (2-1-1) also has seven points but trails on goal difference.
Cheating scandal alleged at Harvard
College basketball: Harvard basketball co-captain Kyle Casey plans to withdraw from school amid a cheating scandal that also may involve other athletes, according to several reports.
Sports Illustrated and the Harvard Crimson reported that Casey, a senior, would take a leave of absence from school in an attempt to preserve a year of eligibility once the issue is resolved.
A newspaper report says co-captain Brandyn Curry also has been implicated in the scandal and is expected to withdraw from classes.
The school is looking into whether at least 125 undergraduates in what has been reported to be an Introduction to Congress class of about 280 students cheated by working together on a take-home final exam in the spring.
Harvard made its first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1946 last season, going 26-4 under Tommy Amaker.
• NIT seeds announced: Michigan, Virginia, Kansas State and Pittsburgh are the top seeds for the NIT Season Tip-Off.
The other seeded teams in the field are Lehigh, Robert Morris, Cleveland State and Delaware. The rest of the field is Alabama-Huntsville, Bowling Green, Fairfield, Fordham, IUPUI, Lamar, North Texas and Penn.
• Ambulance sent to Gillispie’s home: An ambulance was sent to the home of Texas Tech coach Billy Gillispie for the second time in 10 days while he remains on leave as the school investigates his leadership of the program. He was not taken to a Lubbock, Texas, hospital.
Gillispie, in a text message to the Associated Press, said he would be treated for high blood pressure “amongst other things,” at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Gillispie is on indefinite sick leave and athletic director Kirby Hocutt said he is no longer making day-to-day decisions for the basketball program so he can focus on his health.