Sports in brief: NCAA erases Memphis’ wins from 2007-08
College basketball: Memphis has lost every one of the 38 victories it piled up in a basketball season that ended with John Calipari’s Tigers just missing out on a national title.
The NCAA stripped Memphis of all its wins from 2007-08 Thursday, saying the Tigers used an ineligible player who is believed to be NBA star Derrick Rose.
The university isn’t accepting the punishment, not yet.
Memphis president Shirley Raines said shortly after the NCAA’s announcement that the school is appealing what she called an unfair penalty.
“We know the rules,” Raines said. “We did our due diligence. We did everything we could to determine the student-athlete was eligible and that the rules were being followed.”
The NCAA announcement came 16 months after the Tigers lost the national championship to Kansas in overtime at the end of the 2007-08 season. It marks the second time both Memphis and coach John Calipari had to vacate Final Four seasons. The Tigers were stripped of their 1985 appearance and Calipari’s Massachusetts team lost its 1996 berth.
Now the basketball coach at Kentucky, Calipari said in a statement he was “very disappointed and disheartened by the NCAA’s findings” and that he would not comment again until Memphis’ appeal is concluded.
Memphis finished 38-2 in 2007-08, including a win over Gonzaga, to set the NCAA record for wins in a season.
Burress accepts two-year sentence
Football: Facing the prospect of spending at least 31/2 years behind bars, one-time Super Bowl star Plaxico Burress accepted a plea bargain with a two-year prison sentence for accidentally shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub.
The former New York Giants wide receiver pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a lesser charge than he had faced. He will be sentenced Sept. 22, and lawyer Benjamin Brafman said he expects Burress to begin serving his sentence immediately after.
Burress got into a black SUV without speaking to reporters outside Manhattan state Supreme Court, but Brafman said, “After an agonizing period of discussion, Plaxico decided that he wanted to do this, to put this behind him as quickly as possible.”
•Roethlisberger hurt: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger injured his right ankle or foot during the last half-hour of the team’s final training camp practice at Latrobe, Pa. It was not immediately certain how badly he was hurt or how long he would be out.
•Favre won’t play much: Brett Favre likely will play only a series or two when Minnesota hosts Kansas City in a preseason game at the Metrodome tonight.
•Bucs hold Talib out of practice: Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib was held out of practice after police say he punched a taxi driver outside a St. Petersburg, Fla., nightclub and was jailed on charges of simple battery and resisting arrest without violence.
•Marshall may miss Seattle game: Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said he hasn’t decided if recalcitrant receiver Brandon Marshall will play in Denver’s preseason game at Seattle this weekend.
•Ochocinco boots Patriots: With Shayne Graham nursing a tender groin, Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati’s career leader in catches, yards receiving and name changes, booted an extra point late in the first half – a point that gave the Bengals a 7-6 win over the New England Patriots in preseason play at Foxborough, Mass.
By that time, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was done for the night after being knocked down twice on his 13 snaps. He got up quickly both times, his left knee passing the test after surgery that followed a season-ending knee injury in last year’s opener.
•Manning looks sharp: Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes to lead the host Indianapolis Colts to a 23-15 preseason victory over Philadelphia.
Manning finished 10 of 14 for 167 yards.
The Eagles scored on a 39-yard strike from Donovan McNabb to DeSean Jackson late in the first quarter and again when Adam DiMichele threw a 21-yard TD pass to Brandon Gibson (Washington State) with 26 seconds to go.
QB Michael Vick was not eligible to play for Philadelphia.
Revolution hand host Sounders rare loss
Soccer: Shalrie Joseph sent a slow rolling shot into the net in the 21st minute and the New England Revolution edged the Seattle Sounders 1-0 at Seattle.
The Revolution (7-6-6) handed the Sounders (8-6-8) their second loss in 12 home games.
Bryant takes lead with record 62
Golf: Brad Bryant matched a tournament record with a 10-under-par 62 in the first round of the Jeld-Wen Tradition at Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver, Ore.
Bryant had 11 birdies and one bogey for a three-shot lead in the fourth of five majors this year on the Champions Tour.
Loren Roberts shot a 65, while Tom Watson and Tom Lehman each had 67s.
•Moore shares lead: Three players share the lead during a delayed first round at the Wyndham Championship at Greensboro, N.C.
Ryan Moore of Tacoma, Chez Reavie and former winner Brandt Snedeker each shot a 64 at Sedgefield Country Club at the PGA Tour’s final event before the playoffs.