In brief: Alabama football put on probation

COLLEGES: The NCAA placed Alabama’s football program and 15 other of the school’s athletic teams on three years’ probation Thursday for major violations due to misuse of free textbooks, stripping the Crimson Tide of 21 football wins over a three-year period.

The NCAA said 201 athletes in 16 sports obtained “impermissible benefits” by using their scholarships to obtain free textbooks for other students. Alabama identified 22 athletes, including seven football players, as “intentional wrongdoers.”

As a result, the NCAA ruled the football team must vacate any wins in which any of those seven players took part from 2005 through 2007. Alabama said that pending a successful appeal, the decision would cost the program 21 wins, including the 2005 Cotton Bowl victory over Texas Tech and an upset of Florida earlier that season.

Eight of the wins using ineligible players occurred in 2005, Mike Shula’s best season as coach. Neither the football team nor any other sport lost postseason eligibility or scholarships.

•New A.D. at Houston: The University of Houston has hired Mack Rhoades to be the school’s athletic director. Rhoades had been at Akron.

Mickelson four back; Daly returns to tour

GOLF: Returning to work for the first time since disclosing last month that his wife has breast cancer, Phil Mickelson got off to a solid start in the St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn., with a 2-under-par 68 that left him four shots behind Brian Gay.

John Daly played on the PGA Tour for the first time since a six-month suspension for off-course activities that brought unwanted publicity. Daly opened with eight straight pars and a birdie, but his putter failed him miserably. He followed with three straight bogeys for a 72.

•Castrale leader in LPGA Championship: Nicole Castrale birdied six of the first nine holes and carded a 7-under 65 to take a one-shot lead over rookie Anna Nordqvist after the opening round of the LPGA Championship on the Bulle Rock Course in Havre De Grace, Md.

Michelle Wie, seeking her first win on the tour, shot a 70. Lorena Ochoa carded a 72, and Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., opened with a 74.

GM cutting support for Chevrolet teams

Motor racing: General Motors is cutting factory support for Chevrolet teams competing in NASCAR’s Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series as the automaker restructures under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to a story that will appear in today’s edition of SportsBusiness Journal.

According to SBJ’s Michael Smith, who wrote the story, the cost-cutting measures are likely to have the greatest affect on larger organizations, such as Kevin Harvick Inc., which fields teams in both series, and Rusty Wallace Inc. and JR Motorsports, which field teams in the Nationwide Series.

As Smith points out, support from manufacturers typically comes in the forms of engines, parts and cash. In most cases, factory support goes to larger, more substantial organizations, while smaller teams receive little assistance, if any.

Vickie Johnson to retire after season

Basketball: San Antonio Silver Stars veteran Vickie Johnson, one of the four players remaining from the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997, has decided to retire.

The two-time All-Star, who holds the league record for games played, announced she will end her career at the end of the season.

She is one of three players to have played every season, joining Los Angeles’ Tina Thompson and Indiana’s Tamecka Dixon.

Los Angeles star Lisa Leslie, who previously announced this will be her last season, has played in all but one season. She sat out the 2007 season after giving birth to a daughter.

•Smith to return to Vols: Tennessee forward Tyler Smith says he will withdraw his name from consideration for the NBA draft and return for his senior season with the Volunteers.

Smith led the Vols in scoring, assists and free-throw percentage last year.

Bolt has enough to beat Americans

Track and field: Usain Bolt beat three Americans to win the 100 meters at the Festival of Excellence meet in Toronto.

The Olympic champion from Jamaica finished in 10.00 seconds in a steady downpour at University of Toronto’s Varsity Stadium.

American Shawn Crawford was second in 10.25, while Ivory Williams finished third in 10.28. Bernard Williams was fourth in 10.47.

Eagles agree to give McNabb raise

Football: Donovan McNabb got a big raise instead of a longer contract. McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to restructure the final two years of his contract. McNabb’s new deal is worth $24.5 million over the next two seasons, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press.

The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback was due to make $19.2 million over the next two seasons.