Syracuse fires Fine in wake of allegations
Syracuse University associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine was fired Sunday in the wake of an investigation of child molestation allegations against him.
“At the direction of Chancellor Cantor, Bernie Fine’s employment with Syracuse University has been terminated, effective immediately,” Kevin Quinn, the school’s senior vice president for public affairs, said in a statement.
The 65-year-old Fine was in his 36th season at his alma mater.
Fine’s firing comes in the wake of new revelations Sunday, including a third accuser. Fine had been placed on paid administrative leave when the accusations were first made public.
Two former Syracuse ball boys were the first to accuse Fine, who has called the allegations “patently false.”
Zach Tomaselli, 23, of Lewiston, Maine, said Sunday that he told police that Fine molested him in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room. He said Fine touched him “multiple” times in that one incident.
Tomaselli, who faces sexual assault charges in Maine involving a 14-year-old boy, said during a telephone interview with the Associated Press that he signed an affidavit accusing Fine following a meeting with Syracuse police last week in Albany.
Tomaselli’s father, meanwhile, maintains his son is lying.
Bobby Davis, now 39, told ESPN that Fine molested him beginning in 1984 and that the sexual contact continued until he was around 27. A ball boy for six years, Davis told ESPN that the abuse occurred at Fine’s home, at Syracuse basketball facilities and on team road trips, including the 1987 Final Four.
Davis’ stepbrother, Mike Lang, 45, who also was a ball boy, told ESPN that Fine began molesting him while he was in fifth or sixth grade.
Spezza leads Senators past Hurricanes
NHL: Jason Spezza scored twice, including his 200th regular-season goal, to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Ottawa.
Spezza reached the milestone with his second goal of the game on a power play late in the first period. His first tally, a highlight-reel effort 55 seconds in, ended a personal 11-game goal drought.
In other games, David Backes scored a power-play goal in the third period to lift visiting St. Louis past the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1, giving coach Ken Hitchcock the win in his first game against his former club.
In St. Paul, Minn., Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla had third-period goals to pad Calgary’s lead and help stop a three-game losing streak for the Flames with a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild.
In Anaheim, Calif., Tyler Bozak scored two goals, Joffrey Lupul had two assists against his former Anaheim teammates, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Ducks 5-2 for their fourth victory in five games.
• Detroit’s Eaves out 6-8 weeks with broken jaw: Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Eaves is scheduled to have surgery on his broken jaw today and is expected to be out six to eight weeks. Eaves was taken off the ice on a stretcher late in Saturday night’s game against Nashville after he was struck near the right ear by Roman Josi’s slap shot.
Kuchar, Woodland win at World Cup
Golf: Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland ended the United States’ 11-year drought in the World Cup, finishing with a 5-under 67 in alternate-shot play for a two-stroke victory in Hainan, China.
The Americans finished at 24 under on Mission Hills’ Blackstone Course. They gave the United States its 24th victory in the event and first since Tiger Woods and David Duval in 2000.
England’s Ian Poulter and Justin Rose (63) and Germany’s Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka (69) tied for second.
• Chalmers wins Australian PGA in playoff: Greg Chalmers won the Australian PGA Championship for his second straight major Down Under tournament victory, beating Australian countrymen Robert Allenby and Marcus Fraser in Coolum, Australia, with a par on the first hole of a playoff.
The left-handed Chalmers, the Australian Open winner two weeks ago at The Lakes in Sydney, will have a chance to complete the Australian Triple Crown next month in the Australian Masters in Melbourne.
• Otto tops Wisberger, wins South Africa Open: South Africa’s Hennie Otto won the South African Open in Johannesburg, closing with an even-par 72 for a one-stroke victory over Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger. Otto finished at 14 under at Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate.
LeBron, others cancel “Homecoming Tour”
Basketball: With the NBA lockout over, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and other stars have canceled their “Homecoming Tour.” They’ve got to get ready for other games.
The four-city tour was supposed to open in James’ hometown of Akron, Ohio, on Thursday, but that game and three others have been scrapped now that the league and its players have a tentative labor agreement.
• No. 1 Baylor gets 76-67 win over No. 6 Tennessee: Brittney Griner scored 26 points as No. 1 Baylor beat sixth-ranked Tennessee 76-67 in Knoxville, Tenn., for its second win of the season over a Top 10 opponent.
The preseason All-American had 17 second-half points.
Svindal wins super-G at Lake Louise
Skiing: Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal raced to his third World Cup super-G victory at the Lake Louise, beating Switzerland’s Didier Cuche by 0.23 seconds.
Svindal finished in 1 minute, 23.47 seconds.
• Schild captures season-opening slalom race: Marlies Schild of Austria won the season-opening World Cup slalom in Aspen, Colo., easily holding off Maria Pietilae-Holmner of Sweden with a blistering final run.
Leading after the morning run, Schild didn’t hold back and beat Pietilae-Holmner by 1.19 seconds.
Webber wins Brazilian GP ahead of Vettel
Auto racing: Mark Webber won the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo after Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel struggled with a gearbox problem.
Vettel, who had already secured the Formula One title, still finished second after letting Webber pass him almost halfway through the race at the 2.6-mile Interlagos track.