Newsmakers
Fired South Florida fired football coach Jim Leavitt after a school investigation concluded he grabbed one of his players by the throat, slapped him in the face and then lied about it. The only coach in the program’s 13-year history said he was “disappointed” and the allegation was “absolutely false.”
Agreed A person familiar with the negotiations tells the Associated Press that pitcher Brett Myers and the Houston Astros have reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract that guarantees him $5 million.
•Outfielder Scott Podsednik and the Kansas City Royals agreed to a $1.75 million, one-year contract that includes a club option for 2011.
Staying Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is staying in college, passing up the NFL with an eye toward helping the Razorbacks become one of the nation’s elite teams.
Going Receiver Damian Williams announced he’s skipping his senior season at Southern California to enter the NFL draft.
•Junior wide receiver Demaryius Thomas says he is leaving Georgia Tech to enter the NFL draft.
•Texas All-American safety Earl Thomas is leaving school after his sophomore season to enter the NFL draft.
Fined New England Patriots defensive back James Sanders has been fined $7,500 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness, Arizona Cardinals linebacker Chike Okeafor was fined $7,500 for a facemask penalty and St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long was fined $7,500 for a head-butt.
Interviewed Browns president Mike Holmgren has interviewed Seattle pro personnel director Will Lewis to be Cleveland’s general manager.
Died Longtime Seattle SuperSonics broadcaster Bob Blackburn died of pneumonia. He was 85. Blackburn called SuperSonics games from 1967-1991.
Injured Former World Cup slalom champion Giorgio Rocca pulled a muscle in the thigh-groin area in training and may miss the Vancouver Olympics.
Resigned The general manager of the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, Eric Tillman, resigned after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting his children’s babysitter in 2008.