Franklin wins 200 freestyle for third gold
Swimming and diving: Missy Franklin climbed to the top of the podium to collect a prize she really wanted.
That bid for eight gold medals?
It can wait.
Franklin held off hard-charging Federica Pelligrini to win the 200-meter freestyle on Wednesday night, the 18-year-old American claiming her third victory of the world championships and justifying the decision to cut back her program in Barcelona, Spain.
She had been scheduled to swim two races in the evening session: the semifinals of the 50 backstroke, followed about 20 minutes later by the final of the 200 free.
But Franklin and her coach, Todd Schmitz, decided it was best to drop the non-Olympic event so she could focus on a race that’s been the focus of so much work since she just missed a medal in it at the London Olympics.
• Columbian wins high dive: Orlando Duque plummeted three times from the equivalent of a nine-story building into the Barcelona harbor to be crowned the first men’s high diving world champion.
The 38-year-old Colombian cliff-diving legend edged Gary Hunt by just 0.9 points when Hunt bobbled on his last dive.
Eagles WR Cooper apologizes for slur
NFL: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper has been fined by the team for making a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert that was caught on video, leading him to say he’s “ashamed and disgusted” with himself.
“I want to apologize. I have been offensive. I have apologized to my coach, to Jeffrey Lurie, to Howie Roseman and to my teammates,” Cooper said in a statement released by the team.
• Simpson granted parole: O.J. Simpson has been granted parole on some charges stemming from his 2008 kidnapping and armed robbery convictions involving the holdup of two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas hotel room.
But the order doesn’t mean Simpson will be leaving Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada anytime soon. Because he was convicted on multiple charges, Simpson still faces at least four more years in prison on sentences that were ordered to run consecutively.
• Pro Bowl will be determined by draft: The NFL Pro Bowl rosters for next year will be selected in a draft by team captains, with Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice assisting as alumni captains.
The NFL will abandon the its old AFC vs. NFC format that has been in place since 1971.
The league says that fan voting will determine the players in the draft pool. The draft will be televised by the NFL Network on Jan. 22. The game will be played Jan. 26 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Wall agrees to contract extension
NBA: Point guard John Wall has agreed a contract extension with the Washington Wizards.
Two people familiar with the deal say it is worth about $80 million over five years.
• Harris returns to Dallas: Free agent Devin Harris has officially rejoined the Dallas Mavericks.
Harris originally agreed to join Dallas nearly a month ago, but the contract was held up by concerns over a toe injury.
• Rockets’ Jones arrested: Police say Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones has been arrested in Portland, Ore., and accused of stomping on a homeless man’s leg.
A police spokesman says the incident happened early Wednesday outside a downtown nightclub. A sergeant saw the 6-foot-9 Jones walk by a doorway where two homeless men were sleeping and yell “Wake Up!” before lifting his foot and stomping on the leg of one.
Beavers suspend 2 basketball players
Miscellany: Oregon State basketball players Devon Collier and Eric Moreland have been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.
Coach Craig Robinson declined to say which rules were violated when announcing the suspensions this week. Collier and Moreland, who both play forward, can participate in workouts with the team while attending summer classes.
• Top recruit wins appeal: Blue chip recruit Eddie Vanderdoes has won his appeal to the NCAA and will be eligible to play this season for UCLA after first signing a national letter of intent with Notre Dame.
• Shea injures knee: American midfielder Brek Shea injured his left knee in his first game of the preseason for Stoke, two days after scoring the U.S. goal that beat Panama in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final.
The 23-year-old American was hurt from a tackle by Philadelphia’s Matt Kassel and left the game in the 33rd. Shea was to have an MRI today.