Defending champs open finals with win
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Carson Fulmer combined with two relievers on a four-hitter, Will Toffey’s two-run double broke a scoreless tie in the sixth, and defending national champion Vanderbilt opened the College World Series finals with a 5-1 victory over Virginia on Monday night.
The Commodores (51-19) need one more win to become the seventh team to win back-to-back national titles, and the third to do it in the last 10 years.
Fulmer (14-2) struck out eight, walked two and hit two batters in his 20th consecutive start of at least five innings. He outdueled Virginia starter Connor Jones (7-3), who allowed three hits over five shutout innings before the Commodores got to him for two runs in the sixth.
Virginia (42-24) scored in the ninth to end the Vandy bullpen’s streak of 22 shutout innings.
NFL to listen to Brady’s appeal today
NFL: When Tom Brady’s appeal hearing kicks off, key arguments will be about who ordered his four-game suspension and whether science supports the league’s findings about deflated footballs.
The NFL says commissioner Roger Goodell authorized the discipline that was imposed by league executive Troy Vincent, who signed the letters sent to Brady and the New England Patriots informing them of the penalties. The NFL Players Association challenged Vincent’s power to issue punishment, citing Article 46 of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Scientific arguments also will be a major part of Brady’s defense led by attorney Jeffrey Kessler. Brady’s lawyers are expected to try to shoot down the findings of an independent firm that was hired to provide scientific analysis of the air pressure inside the footballs used by the Patriots and Colts during the AFC championship game.
Goodell said he will give Brady an opportunity to introduce new evidence next week. If Brady’s suspension isn’t overturned, the battle could end up going to court. For now, it’s up to Goodell.
• Browns to try Pryor at receiver: The Browns have been awarded quarterback Terrelle Pryor on waivers from Cincinnati and will give him a chance to make their roster as a wide receiver.
The former Ohio State star was recently released by the Bengals. The 6-foot-4, 233-pounder has appeared in 15 NFL games and made 10 career starts at quarterback.
• Lions sign safety Mays: The Detroit Lions have signed free agent safety Taylor Mays.
Mays is entering his sixth NFL season after stints with San Francisco in 2010 and Cincinnati from 2011-14. He played in all 16 games for the Bengals last season, primarily as a special teams contributor.
Hawks GM officially stepping down
NBA: Danny Ferry officially stepped down as general manager of the Atlanta Hawks and said having to watch the team’s most successful season from a distance was “bittersweet.”
Ferry, 48, spoke publicly for the first time since going on indefinite leave in August following racially inflammatory comments about then-free agent Luol Deng.
“It was hard, but winning makes everything better,” Ferry told The Associated Press. “Winning makes everything easier and to see the work that we had been putting in over the few years and the identity of what we were trying to build really take root … this year was obviously bittersweet and definitely sweet because of the success and how the team played.”
Hawks CEO Steve Koonin credited Ferry for helping build the Hawks team that won 60 games and reached its first Eastern Conference finals. In a statement, Koonin added it was time for the move. “This season has proved two things,” Koonin said. “First, Danny Ferry is a tremendous GM. Danny was the principal architect of the Hawks’ success in Atlanta. … Second, Danny Ferry is not a racist. Danny showed great leadership in stepping aside in the fall so the season could proceed with as few distractions as possible.”
The Hawks said an investigation by a law firm, Alston & Bird LLP, led by senior partner Bernard Taylor, concluded Ferry’s remarks were not racially motivated.
Ferry said he was frustrated he had to wait so long for the results of that investigation to be made public.
• Charlotte to host 2017 All-Stars: The Charlotte Hornets won the bid to host the NBA All-Star game in 2017, people familiar with the situation said.
The city agreed to spend more than $30 million to upgrade their arena when the Hornets submitted the bid to host the game last summer.
Wofford player drowns in lake
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Jeremiah Tate, a Wofford basketball player, has drowned.
The school says Tate died early Monday in Lake Wylie near Charlotte, North Carolina.
A York County, South Carolina sheriff’s office report states Tate and another man jumped from a bridge to swim, but Tate “had trouble swimming and kept sinking” when the other man tried to help.
The man swam to shore and asked a witness who was there fishing to call for help. Authorities found Tate’s body below the bridge, according to the report.
• Iowa State’s Prohm announces coaching staff: New Iowa State coach Steve Prohm will keep assistant T.J. Otzelberger on his staff next season.
Prohm announced his assistant coaches, two weeks after being hired to replace Fred Hoiberg.
Otzelberger, who worked at Iowa State under both Greg McDermott and Hoiberg, was rehired by Hoiberg shortly before he left to take over the Chicago Bulls.
Maradona plans run for FIFA presidency
MISCELLANY: A journalist close to Diego Maradona says the retired soccer star has told him he plans to run for president of FIFA.
Journalist Victor Hugo Morales says on Twitter that the Argentine soccer legend has confirmed he’s a candidate.
Maradona has been a high-profile supporter of Venezuela’s socialist government and a sharp critic of corruption in soccer.
• No charges for ball-throwing coach: Prosecutors have decided against filing charges after a Michigan State softball player said one of her coaches intentionally hit her with two balls.
Twenty-two-year-old senior outfielder Alyssa McBride says the coach twice hit her with pitches during practice. McBride says it happened after she made unflattering comments about the struggling program.