Sports in brief: Roddick, Blake win in Davis Cup openers
Andy Roddick and James Blake won opening singles matches Friday to give the defending champion United States a 2-0 lead over Austria in the first round of the Davis Cup in Vienna, Austria.
Roddick was taken to five sets by Jurgen Melzer, struggling on the slow indoor clay in beating his 57th-ranked opponent 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3.
Melzer, who was treated for a thigh injury in the fifth set, varied his game with drop shots from the baseline and unpredictable charges to the net.
“The court was terrible, the worst I ever played on in Davis Cup,” Roddick said. “It was the tough match I expected but I won and that means we accomplished our goal.”
Blake had far less trouble once he got past the first set, defeating Stefan Koubek 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.
College basketball
Illinois apologizes
Illinois athletic officials apologized after fans greeted Indiana and star freshman Eric Gordon with obscene chants and curses during the Hoosiers’ double-overtime win in Champaign, Ill.
Gordon was making his first appearance at Assembly Hall since reneging on an oral commitment to play for the Illini.
Students chanted “Liar! Liar!” and obscenities, booed every time he touched the ball and cheered every mistake.
“John Brady was fired as LSU’s basketball coach with his team struggling at 8-13, a dismissal that left him in tears at a farewell news conference. Brady was the third-winningest coach in the university’s history. His 192-139 record included two first-place finishes in the SEC and a trip to the 2006 Final Four.
“Missouri senior guard Stefhon Hannah returned to Columbus, Mo., for the first time since a nightclub brawl late last month that left him with a broken jaw – and was promptly arrested. He was charged with third-degree assault. He was released on his signature.
“Coach John Calipari of top-ranked Memphis said Robert Dozier will play but won’t start against Central Florida today, the second game since a former girlfriend filed a complaint with the police that Dozier struck her with an open hand.
“Tennessee women’s star Candace Parker has a bruised left knee, and is listed day-to-day by the school medical staff.
“A judge in Fresno, Calif., tossed out a $19.1 million judgment awarded former Fresno State women’s coach Stacy Johnson-Klein, who had sued the school claiming gender discrimination, and ordered a new trial unless she accepts a smaller sum.
College football
Huskies hire assistant
Washington has filled one of the remaining vacancies on its coaching staff by hiring Brian White as an assistant coach.
He was previously the offensive coordinator at Syracuse, but was fired after the 2007 season.
“Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis won’t be calling plays for the Fighting Irish next season.
Offensive coordinator Mike Haywood will call plays so Weis, coming off a dismal 3-9 season, can concentrate on his duties as head coach.