Newsmakers: Ottawa fires coach Dave Cameron
Fired Pierre Dorion has made his first major move as Ottawa Senators general manager, firing coach Dave Cameron. It’s the second major change in Ottawa after the Senators finished a disappointing 38-35-9 season and missed the playoffs. Dorion is wasting no time shaking up his coaching staff, with the changes coming just two days after he took over the GM role from Bryan Murray. Assistant coaches Andre Tourigny and Rick Wamsley were also fired. Assistant Jason Smith was relieved of his coaching duties and offered another position with the organization. Dorion said hiring a new coach before the NHL draft in June would be ideal.
Denied The NFL has denied suspended Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon’s application for reinstatement. A league spokesman confirmed that the application was denied and that Gordon can apply again at a future date. Gordon was suspended for all of 2015 for testing positive for alcohol.
Announced Arkansas’ Moses Kingsley says he will enter the NBA draft without hiring an agent, leaving open the possibility of his return to the Razorbacks. Kingsley says he thinks receiving an evaluation from NBA scouts while keeping his eligibility at Arkansas is “the right thing to do,” while Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson says he supports the center’s decision.
Deyonta Davis is entering the NBA draft after one season at Michigan State, jumping at a chance to fulfill his dream. Davis is projected to be a first-round pick June 23. Davis is leaving a day after highly touted recruit Josh Jackson announced he wasn’t coming to Michigan State, choosing to commit to Kansas. He departs with seniors Denzel Valentine, Matt Costello and Bryn Forbes along with transfers Marvin Clark and Javon Bess.
Notre Dame’s V.J. Beachem says he will enter the NBA draft but won’t hire an agent, leaving open the possibility of returning for his senior season. Coach Mike Brey said he encouraged Beachem to explore the draft, saying it would be “another step forward in his confidence as a player and as a leader in our program.”
Indiana forward Troy Williams is declaring for the NBA draft, though he is not hiring an agent and could return for his final season with the Hoosiers. The 6-7 Williams, who is from Hampton, Virginia, says he is excited to explore his options and he had the support of coach Tom Crean.
Russia says Maria Sharapova is still in its plans for the Olympic tennis tournament in August despite her provisional suspension for failing a drug test. Sharapova admitted she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open.
Settled The University of Illinois said it will pay $375,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed by seven former female basketball players and another $250,000 to resolve any legal claims made by fired football coach Tim Beckman. The players will split the one-time payment, campus officials said. and the university Board of Trustees must approve the settlement at its May 19 meeting. The players had sought at least $10 million in damages.
Named Steve Stricker is the next American captain for the Presidents Cup, for the 2017 matches at Liberty National. Stricker played on five Presidents Cup team and had a 14-10 record while playing on nothing but victorious teams. He Stricker will go up against Nick Price, who will be International captain for the third straight time.
Failed FIFA says Gordon Derrick, the general secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association, has failed an integrity check and won’t be allowed to run for president of CONCACAF, the sport’s regional governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean. Domenico Scala, chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, said Derrick had been disqualified but added that “for privacy reasons, we are not in a position to go into further details.”