In brief: Braun’s 12th season final one at Cal
California fired men’s coach Ben Braun on Wednesday following another disappointing season in which the Golden Bears missed the NCAA tournament.
Braun spent 12 years at Cal and made the tournament five times. But the Bears only went to the NCAA tournament once in his final five seasons, leading to the decision by athletic director Sandy Barbour.
Cal finished in ninth place in the Pac-10 this season, going 17-16 overall and 6-12 in conference.
“Arizona interim coach Kevin O’Neill said he expects to return to Lute Olson’s Wildcats staff and succeed Olson when he retires.
“Ben Carnevale, 92, the longtime Navy coach who later headed the U.S. Olympic Basketball Committee, died Tuesday in Williamsburg, Va.
“Tyreke Evans scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the East to a 107-102 victory over the West in the McDonald’s All-American High School boys game at Milwaukee.
In the girls game, Brooklyn Pope scored 13 points and future Rutgers teammate Nikki Speed added nine points, four assists and two steals as the West beat the East 80-64.
Football
Extension for Polian
The Indianapolis Colts have signed president Bill Polian to a contract extension through 2011.
“When NFL owners, team officials and coaches gather for the annual spring meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. on Monday, the league’s image, especially in light of Spygate, will be a key component of several issues discussed.
There also will be continued discussion of labor issues.
Skiing
Ross-Ross finish
Lauren Ross beat Laurenne Ross with a come-from-behind win in the women’s giant slalom as the U.S. Alpine Championships ended in Carrabassett Valley, Maine.
Lauren Ross finished in 2 minutes, 15.22 seconds to overtake Laurenne Ross (2:15.31).
“Women’s coach Patrick Riml has resigned from the U.S. Ski Team after five seasons.
Men’s soccer
U.S. tops Poland
Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu headed in first-half goals and the United States beat Poland 3-0 in an exhibition game in Krakow, Poland.
“David Beckham got a yellow card in his 100th international game for England and was taken off in the 62nd minute of his team’s 1-0 loss at Saint-Denis, France.
Miscellany
Toomey in court
Bill Toomey, the 1968 Olympic decathlon champion, pleaded no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs after crashing his Mercedes-Benz into two parked cars in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
“Art Aragon, boxing’s original “Golden Boy,” who never won a world title but whose brashness, good looks and celebrity lifestyle made him popular in the 1940s and 1950s, died in Los Angeles at age 80.