NCAA slaps Fresno, ex-coach Lopes
Fresno State’s men’s basketball program was placed on four years’ probation by the NCAA on Wednesday for recruiting violations and former coach Ray Lopes was also punished for the infractions.
Lopes, who resigned in March 2005, and other members of his staff made hundreds of phone calls to recruits, far exceeding the number allowed, according to the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions.
He was given a three-year “show cause” penalty, which means he may not seek employment with another NCAA school without first appearing before the committee to determine if his duties should be limited.
Fresno State, which had banned itself from postseason play in 2005-06 over the violations, was cited for lack of institutional control for not better monitoring the phone calls.
•George Mason men’s basketball coach Jim Larranaga, who led the surprising Patriots to the Final Four, got a contract extension from the Fairfax, Va., school through the 2011-12 season.
•Southern California backup quarterback Mark Sanchez was arrested after a female student reported to police that she had been sexually assaulted by him earlier in the day, police said.
Baseball
Winfield, others to enter hall of fame
Former University of Minnesota star Dave Winfield, enshrined in Cooperstown after greater success in the major leagues, was among 10 former players and coaches elected as the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s inaugural class at Lubbock, Texas.
Former big leaguers Will Clark (Mississippi State), Bob Horner (Arizona State), Brooks Kieschnick (Texas) and Robin Ventura (Oklahoma State) are the other players selected.
The coaching field includes the late Rod Dedeaux, who helped Southern California win 11 College World Series titles; LSU’s Skip Bertman, Miami’s Ron Fraser, Texas’ Cliff Gustafson and Arizona State’s Bobby Winkles.
Miscellany
Salem high school fires track coach
Track and field coach John Parks of McKay High in Salem, Ore., has been fired following allegations that he gave his athletes false marks for entry into an invitational meet at the University of Oregon.
•At Barcelona, Spain, FC Barcelona used a scoreless tie with AC Milan to advance to the Champions League soccer final against Arsenal.
•Belgian women’s tennis player Justine Henin-Hardenne withdrew from next week’s J&S Cup tournament in Poland because of a back injury.
•D.G. Van Clief Jr. will retire as head of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders Cup Limited at the end of the year.
•The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation said from Lake Placid, N.Y., that it welcomes the U.S. Olympic Committee’s move to temporarily take over the organization.
•A World Boxing Association attorney downplayed Jermain Taylor’s removal from the organization’s rankings, saying he hasn’t had his championship belt taken away.
The WBA is said to be looking into the legitimacy of Taylor’s December title defense.