Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
After report of abuse cover-up, Penn State still loves
Paterno
STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (Reuters) – Stacked atop a pile
of daisies were handwritten notes left by the stream of
visitors on Friday who converged at the 7-foot- tall (2-metre)
statue of Joe Paterno. One tribute read: ”I Stand By Joe,”
another ”Remember: He was a man, not a God.” Among those taking
in the scene at Pennsylvania State University was Bridget
Deromedi, a 2002 graduate who lives in State College. She stood
next to the bronze statue outside Beaver Stadium, home of the
team long coached by Paterno, winner of more games than any
other coach in the history of U.S. major college football.
G4S says unable to fulfill Olympics security contract
LONDON (Reuters) – Private security firm G4S said
on Friday it would be unable to completely fulfill its contract
to supply guards for this month’s London Olympics and would
incur a loss of up to 50 million pounds ($77.73 million). The
company has been at the centre of a political firestorm after
the government admitted on Thursday that extra troops would
need to be put on standby dye to G4S’s problems processing
applicants in time for the Games that start in two weeks’ time.
Ex-baseball star Lenny Dykstra pleads guilty to bankruptcy
fraud
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Onetime World Series hero Lenny
Dykstra pleaded guilty on Friday to bankruptcy fraud and other
charges stemming from a scheme to loot more than $200,000 in
sports memorabilia, home furnishings and other property from
his bankruptcy case. The 49-year-old former ballplayer, who is
already serving time in state prison for grand theft auto, lewd
conduct and assault with a deadly weapon, faces a maximum
sentence of 20 years behind bars years in the fraud case.
Scandal-hit Saints reach deal to keep QB Brees
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Made-in-China U.S. Olympic uniforms spark political row
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Ralph Lauren’s stylish uniforms for
the U.S. Olympic team, complete with a jaunty beret, have
sparked a political row because the red, white and blue outfits
were made in China. With U.S. unemployment hovering just above
8 percent, politicians have spoken out against the uniforms for
the London Games that start later this month, and six
Democratic senators said they plan to introduce legislation
requiring the ceremonial uniforms be produced in the United
States.
Gay warms up with chilly 100 victory
LONDON (Reuters) – Tyson Gay got a taste of the tough
conditions the world’s best sprinters may face at the Olympics
next month while winning the 100 meters in 10.03 seconds at the
London Diamond League meeting on Friday. The American’s planned
showdown with former world record holder Asafa Powell failed to
materialize when the Jamaican decided not to risk aggravating a
groin injury.
Powell says will be ready for Olympics
LONDON (Reuters) – Asafa Powell is not losing sleep over
his fitness for the Olympic Games despite pulling out of this
weekend’s Diamond League meeting in London to rest his injured
groin, the Jamaican sprinter said on Friday. ”I need to ensure
I’m ready for the Games and cannot take any risks. I will be
ready in August,” the former 100 metres world record holder
said in a statement.
Farah fires Olympic home hopes with London win
LONDON (Reuters) – World 5,000 meters champion Mo Farah
underlined his credentials to become Britain’s first Olympic
long-distance gold medalist by winning his final warm-up in
style at the London Grand Prix on Friday. Farah, who also won
world silver in the 10,000 in Daegu last year, was confronted
by a wall of sound from a bumper home crowd as he pulled away
from Australia’s Collis Birmingham on the final lap to win in
13 minutes, 6.04 seconds.
Terry cleared of racial abuse of QPR’s Ferdinand
LONDON (Reuters) – Former England captain John Terry was
cleared on Friday of racially abusing opposing player Anton
Ferdinand during a soccer match, in a case which could have
wrecked his glittering career. The 31-year-old, captain of
European Champions Chelsea, who earns a reported 150,000 pounds
($230,000) a week, was in Westminster Magistrates’ Court to
hear chief magistrate Howard Riddle read his verdict after a
five-day trial.
Davis to replace Griffin on Olympic squad
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