Fast Break

Hall of Fame

Riley, six others to be inducted

Pat Riley stood on the stage in the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk ballroom Monday with his 2008 Hall of Fame jersey in his hands surrounded by giants of the sport and a giant grin on his face.

He knew this Hall of Fame class would be one of the most memorable ever. His wife, Chris, told him so.

“She said, ‘Just think, if Dick Vitale gets in this year, this is going to be the greatest class – unbelievable! – of all time,’ ” Riley said, drawing a laugh from those gathered to watch the announcement of the 2008 Naismith Hall of Fame class.

Vitale also is among the seven legends to be inducted in Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 5, joining Riley, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Adrian Dantley, former Immaculata University head coach Cathy Rush and Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson.

College basketball

Beavers select Robinson

Craig Robinson, who spent the past two seasons as coach at Brown University, was named the new head men’s coach at Oregon State.

Robinson is the 20th coach of the Beavers, who were 6-25 this season and have had one winning season since 1990.

Oregon State fired coach Jay John on Jan. 21 and replaced him with assistant Kevin Mouton in the interim.

Robinson was 30-28 in two seasons at Brown. He is the brother of Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama.

This season Brown went 19-10, finished second in the Ivy League and lost 80-74 at Ohio University in the first round of the inaugural CBI.

College basketball

OSU, Sutton reach settlement

Oklahoma State will pay Sean Sutton $2.7 million over 10 years as part of a settlement between the school and former men’s coach who resigned under pressure last week.

Details of the agreement were released by the university. Oklahoma State will pay Sutton $300,000 immediately and the remaining $2.4 million the next 10 years at $20,000 per month. He will receive the money even if he gets another coaching position.

MLS

Sounders FC Seattle nickname

The newest Major League Soccer team will be called Seattle Sounders FC.

About half the 14,500 who voted on the name wrote in Sounders. That was about 20 percent more than the choices offered by the club: Alliance, Republic or Seattle FC.

Club officials didn’t want the traditional Sounders name, but fans had the write-in option. Sounders has been identified with soccer in Seattle since 1974. The 15th MLS team will begin play in March 2009.