Miami players under investigation
College Football: University of Miami officials are looking into the eligibility of 15 players as part of the investigation into claims that a former booster provided cash, gifts and other improper benefits to Hurricane athletes and recruits over an eight-year period.
Miami President Donna Shalala released a video statement, without naming any of the athletes involved. The booster, Nevin Shapiro, told Yahoo Sports for an article published last week that he had provided benefits to 12 current football players and one men’s basketball player.
The football players whom Shapiro cited as taking improper benefits from him were Jacory Harris, Vaughn Telemaque, Ray Ray Armstrong, Travis Benjamin, Aldarius Johnson, Marcus Forston, Olivier Vernon, Marcus Robinson, Adewale Ojomo, Dyron Dye, JoJo Nicholas and Sean Spence. Shapiro also alleged to Yahoo Sports that he paid $10,000 to ensure that basketball player DeQuan Jones signed with the Hurricanes.
• Fiesta Bowl moved up to Jan. 2: The 2012 Fiesta Bowl has been moved up three days to Jan. 2.
The Fiesta Bowl was originally scheduled for Jan. 5 and officials bumped it up in an attempt to boost television ratings and visitors to the game.
McHale upsets Kuznetsova
Tennis: Christina McHale upset sixth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the New Haven Open at New Haven, Conn.
• Melzer upset at Winston-Salem: Second-seeded Jurgen Melzer was upset by Russian Igor Andreev in the second round of the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Open.
Georgia eliminates Kentucky
Little League World Series: In South Williamsport, Pa., Jake Fromm hit a two-run homer in a three-run ninth that helped propel Warner Robins, Ga., to an 8-5 win over LaGrange, Ky.
Fromm returned to the mound in the bottom of the ninth to finish off Kentucky.
In other games, Langley, British Columbia beat Kaoshiung, Taiwan, 5-3; Hamamatsu City, Japan, beat Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 13-4; Oranjestad, Aruba, shut out Rapid City, S.D., 5-0; and Clinton County, Pa., routed Lafayette, La., 10-0.
Lastras wins Vuelta’s 3rd stage
Cycling: Pablo Lastras of Spain took the overall lead of the Spanish Vuelta by winning the race’s third stage at Totana, Spain.
The Movistar rider completed the 101-mile ride from Petrer to Totana in 3 hours, 58 minutes.
• Gretsch wins USA Pro Cycling Challenge prologue: In Colorado Springs, Colo., Patrick Gretsch got off to a fast start in the inaugural USA Pro Cycling Challenge, finishing almost two seconds ahead of American Christian Vande Velde to win the prologue.
Swim doping tests negative
Miscellany: Swimming governing body FINA says all 362 doping tests from last month’s world championships in Shanghai have come back negative.
• Man United signs training sponsor: Manchester United has become the first English club to sign a sponsor for its training uniforms, securing a deal with express delivery and freight firm DHL worth around $66 million.
• Wenger gets two-match ban: UEFA gave Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a two-match touchline ban for breaching the terms of a previous suspension during last week’s Champions League playoff against Udinese.