Newsmakers

Allowed A Milwaukee judge is allowing a lawsuit against Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun to go forward. Braun is being sued by Ralph Sasson, a former college classmate, who says the slugger sought his help in fighting a failed drug test, balked on paying him and then disparaged him when asked why their friendship soured. Retained Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone will keep running the sport despite going on trial for bribery in Germany. Ecclestone did, however, step down as a member of the board of directors pending the outcome of the trial, which is set to begin in April. Earlier Thursday, the Munich state court decided to send the 83-year-old Ecclestone to trial following his indictment last May.

Applied NASCAR team co-owner Gene Haas has applied to own a Formula One team. F1’s governing body said in December it would accept applications through Jan. 3 for new teams that would begin in 2015 or 2016.

Extended South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier has received a one-year contract extension and a raise that will pay the coach $4 million annually. The university board of trustees approved a $700,000 raise and the extension. The deal ties Spurrier to the school through 2018. Removed U.S. women’s hockey goalie Jesse Vetter will have to go to the Olympics without a quote from the U.S. Constitution on her mask. Vetter’s original design included the iconic script, “We the People.” International Olympic Committee rules, however, ban any “form of publicity or propaganda, commercial or otherwise,” on uniforms.

Scheduled The U.S. will play an exhibition game at Ukraine on March 5, the only match before the start of the team’s pre-World Cup training camp in mid-May in which the full American player pool is available. The U.S. Soccer Federation said the site of the game has not yet been determined. It will be played on a FIFA fixture date.

Killed Arkansas State junior defensive lineman Markel Owens, 21, and his stepfather, Johnny Shivers, 36, were shot to death during a home invasion robbery in Jackson, Tenn., with the athlete apparently trying to protect his parents from their attackers, police said.

Suspected A search warrant indicates that Boston police have been investigating whether former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez may have been the gunman in a 2012 double slaying, no charges have been filed.