Briefly

South Carolina admitted to 10 NCAA violations committed under former football coach Lou Holtz in a report released Wednesday. Five of the violations were classified as major.

The school found violations occurred when prospective student-athletes were given impermissible tutoring sessions and off-season workouts from 1999-2002. South Carolina was also found to have a lack of institutional control.

The report was prepared jointly by the NCAA enforcement staff and the university and has been forwarded to the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions, which can accept, reject or modify the proposed penalties.

The school proposed two years of probation, a reduction from 56 to 50 paid campus visits for football recruits this year and next; and a loss of two football scholarships for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years.

•Former Colorado recruiting aide Nathan Maxcey pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting a prostitute and official misconduct.

He was sentenced to a year of probation and 48 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay about $1,200 in restitution, fines and court fees.

•UNLV receiver Terry James Furlow was suspended after he was arrested and charged with trying to spend counterfeit $20 bills.

•Michigan State running back Jason Teague has been charged with assaulting a woman last Oct. 31. Teague turned himself in at the East Lansing police station Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to one count of assault and battery, Lt. Kim Johnson said.

•Florida State cornerback Antonio Cromartie will miss this season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during voluntary workouts.

Pro football

Nashville police gobble Pacman

Tennessee Titans rookie Adam “Pacman” Jones surrendered to police on charges of assault and felony vandalism after a fight at a Nashville nightclub. In a court appearance, nightclub owner Robert Gaddy said Jones grabbed his shirt, hit him and broke his necklace after Gaddy asked three of Jones’ friends to leave.

•Cris Collinsworth will leave Fox to become a studio analyst and co-host of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” which will begin during the 2006 season.

Hockey

Coyotes expect Gretzky decision

The Phoenix Coyotes expect a decision soon from Wayne Gretzky on whether he will coach the team in the upcoming season. Gretzky, a managing partner of the Phoenix franchise, has said he would wait until a new collective bargaining agreement was in place before deciding whether to take on the coaching job.

•The New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets have the best chance of drafting Sidney Crosby first overall in the 2005 NHL draft.

Each of those teams will have the maximum three balls in the lottery barrel, while the other 26 teams will have either two or one each. The lottery is expected to be held next week.

Soccer

Cuban forward Galindo to defect

Cuban forward Maikel Galindo, who was in the United States for two Gold Cup matches, has begun the defection process. Galindo was interviewed Monday by immigration officials in Seattle, who have placed him in immigration proceedings.

Miscellany

Outbreaks cost Churchill Downs

Outbreaks of two infectious equine diseases at Churchill Downs-run facilities earlier this year cost the track $70,000 plus an unknown amount in lost mutuel handle, a track official told state legislators.

The outbreak of strangles at Churchill’s Trackside training center before the track’s spring meet and an outbreak of equine herpes in the track’s barns during the meet kept a successful meet from being even more so, said Jim Gates, the track’s general manager.

•Kentucky Speedway filed suit against NASCAR and International Speedway Corp., alleging the companies have violated federal antitrust laws by illegally restricting the awarding of Nextel Cup races.

Sports People

Former Cougar Fields wins ESPY

Former Washington State and current Carolina Panthers linebacker Mark Fields won an ESPY award for best comeback after fighting Hodgkin’s disease since 2003. Cyclist Lance Armstrong won his third straight ESPY male athlete of the year award. Golfer Annika Sorenstam earned female athlete honors. … Volleyball phenom Cynthia Barboza and two-sport star Greg Paulus were named Gatorade national high school players of the year. … Milwaukie, Ore., cyclist Charles Christensen, 29, died when he crashed headfirst into a steel post near the finish line during a road race at Portland International Raceway.