Newsmakers
Ruled A court ruling that documents concerning academic cheating at Florida State University are public records will “rip the heart out of the NCAA,” one of the organization’s top officials said Thursday. Circuit Judge John Cooper also rejected other legal and constitutional arguments by NCAA lawyers but will reconvene a hearing today to decide a few remaining issues including whether to put the documents’ release on hold pending appeal. Cooper rejected the NCAA’s claim that the documents are not public shortly before David Berst, the organization’s vice president for Division I, took the witness stand to testify on the other issues.
Postponed Oregon State split end Darrell Catchings may not miss the season after all. Catchings was scheduled to have season-ending surgery this week on his right wrist, but a doctor decided to postpone it following another exam. If it turns out that surgery isn’t required, Catchings might return by the third game of the season.
Arrested Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw and a female student identified as his girlfriend were free on bond after being arrested in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence and third-degree harassment.
Pleaded Chicago Blackhawks star forward Patrick Kane and his cousin have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges that they beat up a cab driver over a fare. Patrick and James Kane appeared before Buffalo (N.Y.) judge Thomas Amodeo on Thursday, a day after a grand jury indicted them on misdemeanor assault and theft charges.
Approved Nevada could start using instant replay in boxing and mixed martial arts within a month to help referees review crucial or controversial moments at the end of fights. The Nevada Athletic Commission approved limited use of the technology to help referees review hits that end fights, including knockouts and hits like low blows or head-butts if they cause the match to end because of injury.
Announced The new US F1 Formula One team has landed YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley as its primary investor for its 2010 debut racing campaign. US F1 is one of three new teams added to next year’s championship to push the starting grid from 20 cars to 26.