Pepperdine fires Westphal after 5 years
Paul Westphal was let go as coach of Pepperdine’s men’s basketball team Wednesday after a 7-20 season.
Westphal, who previously coached Seattle and Phoenix in the NBA, was with the Malibu, Calif., school for five seasons.
“Coach Westphal is among the most outstanding people I’ve known or had the pleasure to work with,” athletic director John Watson said in a statement. “We extend him our best wishes for the future.”
Pepperdine ended its season with eight straight losses, its longest losing streak since losing eight in a row in the 1995-96 season.
Westphal also previously coached at Grand Canyon College and Southwestern Baptist Bible College, both in Phoenix.
“Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton has started an alcohol treatment program while he rehabs from back surgery. After Sutton got into a car accident and was charged with drunken driving and speeding last month, the coach promised to enter an alcohol treatment program. He first had surgery to correct nagging back problems but began the treatment program last week.
“Temple guard Mardy Collins was released from the hospital, a day after he was wheeled off the floor in a neck brace in the closing seconds of the Owls’ 80-73 overtime loss to Akron in the opening round of the NIT.
“Tim Buckley, 10-18 this season and 143-139 in six seasons, was fired as Ball State coach and reassigned to a new job with university development.
Soccer
U.S. women lose
World Cup women’s champion Germany beat the United States 4-3 in a penalty shootout to win the Algarve Cup at Faro, Portugal, for the first time.
With the game scoreless after 120 minutes, Shannon Boxx’s penalty was saved by Germany goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg and Abby Wambach sent her shot off the crossbar to give the European champions the title.
The U.S. women’s team, ranked No. 2 in the world, was trying to win its fourth straight title at the 11-nation tournament in southern Portugal.
“Clint Dempsey was left off the U.S. roster for next week’s exhibition game at Germany after the midfielder was suspended by the New England Revolution following a practice-field fight with a teammate.
“ABC will televise 12 of the 64 games at this year’s World Cup, including the final on July 9 and the first-round matchup between the United States and Italy on June 17.
Skiing
Miller places second
Bode Miller came in second, but at least he got on the podium in the last men’s downhill event of the World Cup season.
Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal covered the Olympia course at Are, Sweden, in 1 minute, 42.40 seconds for his first downhill win and second career win, edging Miller by .20 seconds. Miller, who has been hampered by a left knee injury, was pleased with his performance.
“The jumps were a little bit harder for me,” Miller said. “But when it’s time to race, I usually don’t feel much of my knee pains.”
Defending World Cup downhill champion Michael Walchhofer of Austria held on to his title despite finishing in 11th place.
Miscellany
IOC suspends Park
At Lausanne, Switzerland, Park Yong-sung of South Korea was suspended as a member of the International Olympic Committee pending the final outcome of his corruption case.
“Jockey Sunny Ho, who sustained a serious brain injury in a fall at Golden Gate Fields last month, has been transferred from an Oakland, Calif., hospital to a San Francisco medical center for rehabilitation.
“Former Temple football coach Bobby Wallace was hired to be the head coach at West Alabama, returning to the Division II conference where he won national championships.