Newsmakers
Discharged Soccer great Pele says he went through a scare when he had to be hospitalized with a urinary tract infection. The 74-year-old Pele was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday, two weeks after being admitted. In a news conference broadcast live on Brazilian TV, the football great said he has “recovered,” and joked that he will be ready to play for Brazil at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Announced The NCAA says Louisville freshman forward Shaqquan Aaron can begin playing for the fourth-ranked Cardinals on Dec. 20 after sitting out nine games for receiving housing-related extra benefits. He has missed seven games but practiced for Louisville while his amateurism was being determined by the NCAA. The 6-foot-7 Seattle native is eligible to return against Western Kentucky.
• Syracuse safety Durell Eskridge has decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2015 NFL draft.
• Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess has declared for the 2015 NFL draft. The junior had 62 receptions for 733 yards and four touchdowns this season.
• Tom Gage of The Detroit News has won the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for meritorious contributions to baseball writing. Gage has been the newspaper’s traveling reporter with the Tigers for 36 years. Before the News, he wrote for the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Resigned Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay has resigned after a two-year tenure marked by failed efforts to stop the university’s athletic department from losing money. Jay cited family reasons for resigning at a news conference with University of Hawaii interim chancellor Robert Bley. Before he announced his resignation, Jay announced that football coach Norm Chow would be retained after a 4-9 season.
Approved The Michigan House has voted to prohibit college athletes at public universities from unionizing. Majority Republicans approved the bill Tuesday on a 59-50 party-line vote, with Democrats objecting. The measure next goes to the GOP-led Senate for possible consideration before lawmakers adjourn for the year next week.
Agreed Backup goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has agreed to a one-year, $2.88 million contract to return to the Anaheim Ducks.
Out Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry will be out for three to four weeks with a knee injury.