COLLEGE FOOTBALL-WINSTON
Woman accuser files lawsuit against Winston
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) β A former Florida State University student has filed a lawsuit against Jameis (JAYM’-ihs) Winston accusing the NFL prospect of sexually assaulting her in 2012.
Erica Kinsman filed the lawsuit in Orange County, Florida. Winston, a former Seminoles quarterback, is projected to be a top pick in this month’s NFL draft.
John Clune, a lawyer for Kinsman, said in a statement there are consequences for Winston’s behavior “and since others have refused to hold him accountable, our client will.”
Kinsman eventually left school after the investigation against Winston was reported. Winston was not charged in 2013 and was cleared by the university following a two-day student conduct hearing.
NFL-VIKINGS-PETERSON
Vikes’ Peterson reinstated
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) β The NFL has reinstated Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. That clears the way for him to return after missing most of last season while facing child abuse charges in Texas.
Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’) sent Peterson a letter advising him of his reinstatement. Goodell wrote that Peterson will have to fulfill all the obligations of his plea deal with authorities after he reached a plea deal to reduce a felony charge to a misdemeanor.
Goodell also told Peterson he would have to continue attending counseling while adhering to the league’s new personal conduct policy to avoid further discipline.
Peterson’s agent has said the star running back wants to play elsewhere next season. But the Vikings say they have no plans to trade him.
NBA-HGH TESTING
NBA to start HGH testing
NEW YORK (AP) β NBA players will be blood tested for human growth hormone beginning next season. The league and the Players Association have that HGH testing will start during training camp next fall. All players will be subjected to three random, unannounced tests annually β two during the season and once in the offseason.
A positive test will result in a 20-game suspension for a first violation and a 45-game ban for a second violation. A player would be dismissed and disqualified from the NBA for his third violation.
NBA-ATTENDANCE RECORD
NBA sets attendance mark
NEW YORK (AP) β The NBA heads into the post-season on the heels of a record year in attendance. The league drew nearly 22 million fans during the 2014-15 regular season.
The league said Thursday that the final total of 21,926,548 fans surpassed the 21,841,480 from 2006-07. It also represented a 2.4 percent increase from last season’s final attendance of 21,392,721.
There were 700 sellouts, shattering the previous best of 676 from 20 years ago. NBA arenas were filled to 94 percent capacity, another record and the 11th straight season at 90 percent or higher.
The league’s average attendance of 17,826 was also its best ever, edging the 17,757 from 2006-07.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Lackey baffles the Brewers…Twins top Royals again
UNDATED (AP) β John Lackey tossed seven scoreless innings and Matt Carpenter doubled twice in helping the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers this afternoon at Busch Stadium. Lackey gave up five hits, struck out eight and walked one in winning his first decision of the year.
In other baseball:
β Kennys Vargas and Kurt Suzuki each hit a two-run homer to help power Minnesota past Kansas City 8-5. The win earned the Twins their first series win this season. Joe Mauer had three RBIs to help Tommy Milone (mih-LOHN’) improve to 2-0. Lorenzo Cain hit a two-run homer in the first and finished with three RBIs for the Royals, who dropped their second straight after winning their opening seven games.
In other baseball:
The Mets have won four in a row heading into tonight’s home meeting with Miami. Right-hander Dillon Gee (jee) is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in six starts against the Marlins and has not given up a home run to them since Aug. 29, 2011. The Mets are 3-0 at home this season, thanks to their just-completed, three-game sweep of Philadelphia. The Marlins have won two in a row since a 1-6 start, scoring 14 runs during the winning streak after scoring just 10 times in their six losses.
The Phillies look for their first win in four road games this season when they open a series at Washington. Lefty Cole Hamels starts after allowing one run and two hits over seven innings against Washington on Saturday. He is opposed by Doug Fister, who gets the start for Washington tonight after tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings in Philadelphia on Saturday.
The Giants could give manager Bruce Bochy (BOH’-chee) a 60th birthday present by ending a six-game losing streak when they take on Arizona tonight. World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner looks to bounce back after surrendering 10 hits and five runs in just three innings Saturday at San Diego.
NHL-PLAYOFFS
Blackhawks to go with Crawford again
UNDATED (AP) β Chicago coach Joel Quenneville (KWEHN’-vihl) is going back to veteran goaltender Corey Crawford for Game 2 against Nashville. Crawford gave up three goals on 12 shots in Chicago’s series-opening double-overtime win. Scott Darling came on in relief and stopped all 42 shots he faced in his postseason debut.
In other news:
β Ottawa says forward Mark Stone has suffered a microfracture of his right wrist after being slashed by Montreal’s P.K. Subban in the Canadiens Game 1 win on Wednesday. General manager Brian Murray says Stone’s status for the rest of the series is “very questionable. Subban was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Four more Game 1s
UNDATED (AP) β The Rangers open up NHL playoff action tonight at home against Pittsburgh, hoping it will be the start of a run to the Stanley Cup. New York went through a record-breaking regular season with a franchise-best 113 points and 53 wins on the way to the Presidents’ Trophy for best record in the league. Top goalie Henrik Lundqvist looks sharp after missing two months with a vascular injury.
The Penguins limped into the postseason needing a win over last-place Buffalo in the season finale to qualify. Still, they have firepower in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, while goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (FLOOR’-ee) posted a league-leading 10 shutouts.
Western Conference champ Anaheim opens at home against Winnipeg tonight. The Ducks boast one of the NHL’s most talented first lines with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Winnipeg goalie Ondrej Pavelec (AHN’-dray PAV’-lehk) finished the regular season with three consecutive road shutouts as Winnipeg held off the defending Stanley Cup-champion Los Angeles Kings for the final postseason spot. The Ducks won all three regular-season meetings.
The St. Louis Blues are going with the hot hand in goal to start the playoffs, choosing rookie Jake Allen over veteran Brian Elliott for the series opener against Minnesota. The 24-year-old Allen was 5-1-1 with 1.32 goals against average and .950 save percentage in his last eight games.
Tampa Bay hosts the Red Wings in Game 1 of their series. The Lightning were the highest-scoring team in the NHL and posted franchise bests with 50 wins and 108 points. Detroit coach Mike Babcock has decided to go with young Petr Mrazek (muh-RAH’-zehk) to make his first postseason start in goal over Jimmy Howard. Mrazek finished with a 2.38 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in 29 games.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-NEBRASKA-PETTEWAY
Petteway to go pro
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) β Nebraska’s Terran Petteway says he will skip his senior season and declare for the NBA draft.
He was the leading scorer in the Big Ten as a sophomore and ranked fourth this past season. The guard’s career average of 18.1 points per game ranks second in program history.
Petteway is the third player from this past season’s team to leave the program. Forward Walter Pitchford also declared for the draft, and guard Tarin Smith plans to transfer.
TRACK AND FIELD-2021 WORLDS-EUGENE
Eugene, Oregon, to host 2021 world athletics championships
BEIJING (AP) β The IAAF has awarded the 2021 world athletics championships to Eugene, Oregon, the first time the event will be held in the United States.
The IAAF says the decision, which bypassed the usual bidding process, was driven by the popularity of track and field in the American market.
It says the financial support offered by the governor of Oregon and the United States Olympic Committee, as well as NBC’s commitment to produce and broadcast the event, led to the decision.
SWIMMING-PHELPS
Phelps still has it
MESA, Ariz. (AP) β Michael Phelps has qualified fastest in the 100-meter butterfly at his first meet in eight months.
The 18-time Olympic gold medalist had a time of touched first in 52.92 seconds, more than three seconds off the world record he set in 2009.
Phelps has returned to competition for the first time since serving a six-month suspension for his second drunken driving arrest.
He is entered in four other events this weekend.
SWIMMING-PHELPS-OLYMPICS
Phelps could swim in Worlds
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) β Swimming’s governing body wants to give Michael Phelps a special invitation to race at the world championships.
FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu has told The Associated Press it would be no problem to offer Phelps an extra place.
KENTUCKY DERBY-NO SELFIE STICKS
Venerable race track bans selfie sticks
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) β If you’re going to the Kentucky Derby on May 2, leave your selfie-stick at home.
Joining a growing list of museums, music festivals and sports venues around the world, Churchill Downs has banned the pole-like contraptions that grasp cellphones and allow people a longer reach to snap their self-portraits.
The race track says it’s a safety issue.
