Wisconsin running back Ball attacked
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Five men roughed up star Wisconsin running back Montee Ball near campus early Wednesday, inflicting head injuries serious enough to send him to the hospital, authorities said.
Ball was walking down a street around 2:15 a.m. after “socializing” with friends, police spokesman Joel DeSpain said. Two friends walking ahead of him turned around and saw Ball on the ground. The men had surrounded him and were kicking him in the head and chest, DeSpain said.
One of his friends and a man across the street moved to help Ball and the attackers fled, DeSpain said. No other Badger players were with Ball, he said.
Witnesses said Ball may have exchanged words with the men before they attacked him, DeSpain said. The motive for the attack remains a mystery. Ball told investigators his cellphone is missing, but it’s unclear whether the attackers stole it or someone just happened to pick it up, DeSpain said.
Ball, a Heisman Trophy finalist last season as a junior, was taken to a hospital with head injuries, police said. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said Ball was released and under the care of the school’s sports medicine staff.
Goodell approves replacement refs
NFL: With no end in sight to the labor dispute between the NFL and its officials, commissioner Roger Goodell said that he is comfortable with the idea of using replacement officials in preseason games.
Goodell said he doesn’t think using officials with less experience will pose a safety risk to players.
“That’s why we’ve been training them for the last two months and why they’re on the field now, is to make sure they’re prepared, they understand the rules,” Goodell said during a visit to Green Bay’s training camp.
Members of the NFL Referees Association were locked out in June after talks broke down.
• Coughlin decries suspension: New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin feels the NFL didn’t use common sense in suspending safety Tyler Sash for a violation of the league’s performance enhancing drug policy.
The league announced the suspension, saying Sash would be ineligible for the first four games of the season.
Sash said he took a prescription drug (Adderall) while under a doctor’s care for an anxiety condition in March, having no idea it was banned by NFL policy. The league denied his appeal.
Coughlin defended his second-year player after a rain-shortened practice.
“This kid really had no intention of doing anything illegal,” Coughlin said.
Canseco files for bankruptcy
BASEBALL: Former Oakland Athletics slugger Jose Canseco filed for bankruptcy protection in Nevada.
The 1986 American League rookie of the year and 1988 league MVP with the A’s is seeking asset liquidation in Chapter 7 documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Las Vegas.
The document lists less than $21,000 in assets and almost $1.7 million in liabilities, including more than $500,000 owed to the Internal Revenue Service.
Jones optimistic following sanctions
BASKETBALL: Central Florida basketball coach Donnie Jones says that though he’s still digesting the sanctions handed down this week by the NCAA for major recruiting violations, he’s optimistic about his program going forward.
Jones said that though the school has only publicly announced an intention to appeal the football program’s one-year postseason ban, all penalties – including the 2013 postseason ban for basketball – are being reviewed by UCF officials.
Allmendinger out after drug test
AUTO RACING: A.J. Allmendinger had a ride to envy with one of NASCAR’s top teams end in stunning disgrace.
He can only hope his failed drug tests don’t cost him his career.
Allmendinger’s first season with Penske Racing was an abbreviated one after team owner Roger Penske announced that he had fired his suspended driver three weeks after he tested positive for a banned amphetamine.
“A.J. is a terrific driver, a good person and it is very unfortunate that we have to separate at this time,” Penske said.
Sam Hornish Jr. will drive the No. 22 Dodge this weekend at Pocono Raceway and “for the foreseeable future,” the team said.