Sports News-August 24, 2012
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Lance Armstrong says it's over and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency agrees. The United States Anti-Doping Agency says it will strip Armstrong of his unprecedented seven Tour de France titles after he declared he was finished fighting the drug charges that threaten his legacy as one of the greatest cyclists of all time. Travis Tygart, USADA's chief executive, said Armstrong would also be hit with a lifetime ban on Friday. Still to be heard from was the sport's governing body, the International Cycling Union, which had backed Armstrong's legal challenge to USADA's authority. Armstrong says he will no longer fight the charges because he's tired of it. Says Armstrong: "There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, "Enough is enough." For me, that time is now." Armstrong called the USADA investigation an "unconstitutional witch hunt."
Mississippi State says it is working with the NCAA because of a "potential recruiting irregularity" in the football program. The school says the examination has lasted several months and that it is close to finished. NCAA spokesperson Stacey Osburn confirmed the NCAA and Mississippi State were "working cooperatively," but did not have any further comment. Mississippi State receivers coach Angelo Mirando resigned his position on Sunday, citing "unforeseen personal issues." It is unclear if Mirando's departure had anything to do with the current investigation. Head football coach Dan Mullen has not elaborated on the reason for Mirando's resignation. Mississippi State opens its season with a home game against Jackson State on Sept. 1 at Davis Wade Stadium.
Ohio State linebacker Storm Klein, kicked off the team when he was charged with domestic violence, has been reinstated by coach Urban Meyer after pleading guilty to a lesser charge earlier this week. Klein, a senior who started ten games last year, will not be allowed to play until at least the third game of the season. The 18th ranked Buckeyes open Sept. 1 against Miami (Ohio). Klein was involved in an altercation with the mother of his child in July. Klein pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge Tuesday.
The 17th ranked Nebraska football team believes its offense is about to make a big jump in Tim Beck's second year as coordinator. The Cornhuskers were 66th in offense nationally a year ago. Beck was just learning how to be a coordinator, and his players were just learning his system. He says quarterback Taylor Martinez now has a better understanding of the spread-option system. The Huskers also return their top four rushers and seven of their top eight receivers. That experience should allow the Huskers to run a wider array of plays. Beck said he also has matured as a coordinator. He said he sometimes became stubborn last season and repeatedly called plays that weren't going to work against certain defenses. Nebraska opens Sept. 1 at home against Southern Mississippi.
Nebraska infielder Kurt Farmer has decided to end his playing career according to the Omaha World Herald. He plans to stay at NU to earn his degree. Farmer, an all-state honoree out of Columbus, started every game at first base as a sophomore in 2011, but spent most of last season as a reserve third baseman. He hit .250 in 25 games. The Huskers will also be without the services of senior pitcher Tom Lemke, who's been granted a medical redshirt for 2013. Part-time starter Jon Keller and reliever Jeff Stovall are no longer with the program, both deciding during the summer to transfer. Fall practice begins next month.
Marcus Jordan, one of Michael Jordan's sons, has been fined $250 after pleading no contest to disturbing the peace during a disturbance outside a Nebraska hotel last month. Jordan was in Douglas County Court yesterday with his attorney, Steve Lefler. Jordan declined to comment. Jordan was in Omaha for the U.S. Olympic swim trials and was arrested after police responded to a call at a hotel early July 1. When police arrived, hotel security was trying to subdue Jordan as he argued with two women in the hotel driveway. A police report said Jordan was "very animated, intoxicated and uncooperative." Jordan averaged 13.7 points as a junior at Central Florida last season. He is not returning for his senior season.
Local Schedule: Nfk High at North Platte (FB-7:00); Nfk Cath at Columbus Lakeview (FB-7:00); Nfk High at Kearney Inv. At Meadowlark Hill GC (GG-9:00 AM); Nfk Cath at Columbus Scotus (GG Dual-4:00); Saint Louis Univ. At Nebraska (VB-7:00); Creighton Vs. Central Florida at South Florida Inv. At Tampa, FL (VB-4:00); Nebraska-Omaha Vs. Norfolk St. At Kristin Dickman Inv. At Annapolis, MD (VB-3:00); Northern Illinois at Creighton (M. Socc.-7:30); New Orleans at Omaha Storm Chasers (Bsbl-6:35).
Tonight: The Class “C-1” Two-time Defending State Champion Norfolk Catholic football team opens their season at fourth ranked Columbus Lakeview at 7:00. Pregame coverage at 6:30 on 106 KIX & 106KIX.com.
Saturday Morning: Sportstalk on 106 KIX & 106KIX.com from 9:00-10:00 from Hy-Vee West. This week: Nfk High’s Tom Olson & Sarah Klug; Nfk Cath’s Jeff Bellar; LHNE’s Darin Suckstorf & Kathy Gebhardt; & ESPN.com’s senior college football writer Ivan Maisel.
Local Scores: Kearney 4-2 Nfk High 1-10 (SB DH); Pierce 10 LHNE 2 (SB); Omaha Storm Chasers 11 New Orleans 1 (Bsbl).
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Detroit 3 Toronto 2, 11 Innings
Final L.A. Angels 14 Boston 13, 10 Innings
Final Tampa Bay 5 Oakland 0
Final Texas 10 Minnesota 6
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Colorado 1 N-Y Mets 0
Final St. Louis 13 Houston 5
Final Philadelphia 4 Cincinnati 3, 11 Innings
Final San Francisco 5 Atlanta 2
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Final Green Bay 27 Cincinnati 13
Final Baltimore 48 Jacksonville 17
Final Tennessee 32 Arizona 27
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