Newsmakers

Sat., May 7, 2011

Decided Kentucky freshman Brandon Knight announced Friday that he will keep his name in June’s NBA draft, forgoing his final three years of eligibility. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard said he made his decision after a combine for league scouts, where he was told he could be among the first 10 selections.

Dropped The Champion sports apparel company ended its endorsement deal with Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall over Twitter remarks the player made criticizing people for celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden. Champion said it “strongly disagreed” with the tweets and ended the four-year contract the player recently signed.

Scheduled Sixth-ranked Tiger Woods is returning to competition at The Players Championship. A PGA Tour official confirmed Woods has entered the tournament, which starts Thursday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Woods decided not to play the Wells Fargo Championship this week because of what he called a “minor injury” to his left knee.

Died Authorities say a junior cornerback for Wayne State’s football team has been fatally shot in a downtown Detroit parking lot. Wayne State University campus Police Chief Tony Holt said Cortez Smith was killed during around 1 a.m. Friday near a popular nightclub. No arrests have been made.

Pleaded Oregon linebacker Kiko Alonso pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of trespassing and criminal mischief stemming from his arrest last Sunday in Eugene, Ore. Alonso was sentenced to two years of probation, 200 hours of community service and alcohol treatment.

Announced George Washington University announced that Mike Lonergan will be the school’s new men’s basketball coach. The 45-year-old will succeed Karl Hobbs, who was fired last month. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Ruled Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook has been found not guilty of pulling a gun on his neighbor, Omar D. Goode. General District Court Judge Edwin Burnette issued the ruling after a 2-hour bench trial in Lynchburg, Va. Cook was accused of a misdemeanor count of brandishing a firearm. Several witnesses agreed an argument occurred between the two men, but Cook denied pulling a gun.

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Newsmakers

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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