DUKE-JONES
Duke’s Jones: ‘Never a rivalry’ with senior Cook
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) β Duke freshman point guard Tyus Jones says he and veteran Quinn Cook “don’t look at it as a competition.”
The highly touted recruit could beat out Cook when the season gets started in a few months. In an interview with The Associated Press, Jones says it’s “never a rivalry” because “we all have one goal in mind.”
Jones arrived on campus last month as one of four members of one of the nation’s top-rated recruiting classes, along with big man Jahlil Okafor, small forward Justise Winslow and guard Grayson Allen.
They’ve spent plenty of time in the weight room and on the court in pickup games this summer, getting used to playing with each other and with a solid group of returners that includes Cook and fellow guard Rasheed Sulaimon.
NASCAR-WATKINS GLEN
Ambrose eyes Watkins Glen for that elusive victory
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) β Eleven drivers have at least one Sprint Cup victory and are locked into the Chase for the championship. Marcos Ambrose wants to make it an even dozen.
Next stop, the Cheez-It 355 on Sunday on the road course at Watkins Glen. A win would earn the Australian his first berth in the Chase and give Richard Petty Motorsports a second car in NASCAR’s version of the postseason. Aric Almirola drove Petty’s famed No. 43 to victory in the rain-shortened July race at Daytona.
Ambrose has established himself as the latest master of the speedy 2.45-mile road course in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. He has won twice in the past three years, outdueling Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch in the final laps in both 2011 and 2012.
NASCAR-WATKINS GLEN-PATRICK
Danica Patrick crashes at The Glen; walks away
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) β Danica Patrick has crashed in final Sprint Cup practice at Watkins Glen International.
Patrick’s No. 10 Chevrolet careened straight into a tire barrier coming out of the chicane at the top of the high-speed esses, crumpling the front end. She walked away, was evaluated at the infield care center, and released.
Patrick was 32nd in the first practice and 36th in the final session.
Last year at The Glen, Patrick qualified 35th and finished 20th. She’s had the same chassis for her first three Cup road course races but likely will have to go to a backup car for qualifying Saturday and the race Sunday.
MARYLAND-ACC SETTLEMENT
ACC, Maryland settle legal dispute for $31M
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) β The Atlantic Coast Conference and the University of Maryland have settled their legal dispute over the Terrapins’ exit from the league.
Under terms of a settlement announced Friday, the ACC will keep the roughly $31 million it had previously withheld from Maryland and the school will not owe the conference any more money.
In addition, lawsuits filed by both sides will be dismissed.
After Maryland’s 2012 announcement that it would leave for the Big Ten, the ACC sued the school seeking full payment of the $52 million exit fee.
Maryland then sued the ACC, calling the fee an illegal penalty, and earlier this year filed a $157 million counterclaim against the conference.
Maryland President Wallace D. Loh says the settlement “helps usher in exciting new eras” for the school and conference.
REDSKINS-KICKERS
Draft pick takes lead in Redskins kicker battle
WASHINGTON (AP) β The rookie leads the incumbent in the early returns in the competition for the Washington Redskins kicker’s job.
Kai Forbath was short with a 46-yard field goal attempt and sent a kickoff out of bounds during Thursday night’s 23-6 preseason win over the New England Patriots.
Forbath also hit the upright with a 34-yard try but was bailed out because the Redskins were whistled for delay of game. He made the subsequent 39-yarder.
Seventh-round draft pick Zach Hocker made both of his field goals and even had a tackle on a kickoff.
Coach Jay Gruden says he’ll wait until the preseason games are done to decide which kicker to keep.
AUTOGRAPH VOW
Steeler player swamped by mail since autograph vow
LaTROBE, Pa. (AP) β The post office at the small college where the Pittsburgh Steelers hold training camp has been swamped with mail since wide receiver Antonio Brown made a vow on Facebook to autograph anything fans send him.
Brown posted the message on July 28 saying, “If I don’t get a chance to sign something for you at camp just send info to me.” He listed his dormitory room at St. Vincent College, the private, Catholic school where the Steelers have held training camp for more than 40 years.
Now, Brown’s room is full of mail. And Maria Schifano, assistant manager of the post office, says it’s still pouring in.
Schifano tells The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, which first reported the player’s posting, that Brown received more than 100 packages on one day.
