<h4>Mutual respect: </h4>
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (left) and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin shake hands following the Penguins' 6-2 win in Washington on Wednesday, sending the Penguins to the next round of the NHL playoffs.
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In the case of USC basketball coach Tim Floyd’s recruitment of O.J. Mayo, it might come down to a case of he said vs. he said.
Louis Johnson, a former associate of Mayo’s, has told federal and NCAA investigators that Floyd gave $1,000 in cash to a man who helped steer the star player to the Trojans, according to Johnson’s attorney, Anthony V. Salerno.
Whatever happens, there was a sense of relief at the University of Arizona, which had courted Floyd this spring before hiring Xavier coach Sean Miller.
UA athletic director Jim Livengood denied he had offered Floyd the job. But he said he had asked Floyd about the reports and his relationship with Mayo.
“I asked him the question,” Livengood said. “He said there’s nothing to that. So end of question. We didn’t go any farther.”
Floyd has yet to respond to the allegations, which first appeared in a Yahoo! Sports report.
“That’s really the whole thing: who do you believe?” Salerno told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “Tim Floyd had a motive to pay O.J. Mayo to get there. Louis really doesn’t have any motives. He doesn’t have an ax to grind against Tim Floyd.”
Salerno said he thinks investigators believe Johnson’s story. Johnson has told them that he accompanied Mayo’s handler, Rodney Guillory, to a meeting with Floyd at a Beverly Hills cafe on Valentine’s Day 2007, and that Guillory emerged with an envelope stuffed with $100 bills.
“I don’t think they’ve expressed any indication that they don’t believe him,” Salerno said, referring to NCAA investigators. “And for what it’s worth, I think the U.S. government, through the Justice Department, believes him, too.”
Johnson’s account comes as USC deals with allegations that 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush received improper benefits from a sports marketing agent while at USC.
If the NCAA can prove Floyd paid Guillory for delivering Mayo to USC, that would be a major violation. The Trojans could be forced to forfeit victories, and could face recruiting restrictions and lose scholarships.
USC athletic department spokesman Tim Tessalone said the school could not comment on an ongoing NCAA investigation.
Mayo played one season at USC, leading the Trojans to a 21-12 record and an NCAA Tournament berth. He was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the third overall pick. He was runner-up for the NBA’s top rookie award to Chicago’s Derrick Rose.
Salerno said he wonders why Floyd has not disputed Johnson’s account if it’s false.
“Tim Floyd easily could have said, ‘That’s baloney, it’s slanderous and not true, I never did that,’” Salerno said. “In my opinion, it’s kind of damning, his being silent. It’s not like this is a criminal case for him. It’s not like this is a subtle allegation. It’s black and white.
Ex-Pistons honor Daly
TEQUESTA, Fla. – Chuck Daly’s team gathered around him one last time. Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn were side by side on one end, Joe Dumars on the right, Isiah Thomas and Vinnie Johnson standing together a few feet back.
The Bad Boys were together again, not as players but pallbearers who gave their coach a sad, fond farewell.
“He was coaching all of us until the day he died,” Thomas said.
Here’s how much Daly meant to Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, an ex-Daly assistant: His team was in Denver, a playoff game was six hours away, and Carlisle was still in South Florida, to help carry his mentor out of the church.
“Missing this was not an option,” Carlisle said.
Daly, 78, died Saturday of pancreatic cancer in Jupiter, Fla.
The Associated Press
Taylor rejoins Dolphins
MIAMI – Jason Taylor’s newest step has him back where he started. The dancing linebacker signed a $1.5 million, one-year contract with Miami.
He played his first 11 seasons with the Dolphins before being traded a year ago to Washington – a fallout from his stint on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars.” He was released by the Redskins in March after an injury-plagued season.
The Patriots courted Taylor, but he wanted to return to South Florida, where he still lives.
The Associated Press
Streaker pleads not guilty
NEW YORK – A streaker who disrupted a New York Mets game by jumping onto Citi Field naked except for a stuffed monkey tied around his waist pleaded not guilty to trespassing charges Wednesday.
Craig Coakley was arraigned in state Supreme Court in Queens on a charge of interfering with a professional sporting event and criminal trespassing.
The 38-year-old plumber jumped onto the field, with only the stuffed monkey and “Lets Go Mets” painted on his back.
The Associated Press
UW athletics lays off 12
SEATTLE – The University of Washington athletic department is trimming an additional $1.6 million from its operating budget by laying off a dozen staffers and streamlining operations.
Athletic director Scott Woodward announced the additional cuts on Wednesday. He had already decided to end the men’s and women’s swimming programs. Cutting those teams is expected to save the Huskies $1.2 million.
He said the cuts were necessary to “preserve the viability” of the UW’s remaining teams.
The Associated Press
It’s a girl for WNBA star
NEW YORK – Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker has given birth to a girl.
It is the first child for the WNBA’s reigning MVP and rookie of the year and husband Shelden Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The baby, born in Los Angeles on Wednesday, weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was 20 inches long.
Parker plans to rejoin the Sparks once she gets the OK from her doctor. The WNBA season begins June 6.
The Associated Press
NUMBER OF THE DAY
56
Consecutive games in which the Yankees’ Joe DiMaggio got hits in 1941 – the longest such streak in baseball history. The other top streaks:
Pete Rose, Cincinnati, 1978 44
Willie Keeler, Baltimore, 1897 44
Bill Dahlen, Chi. Cubs, 1894 42
George Sisler, St. Louis, 1922 41
Ty Cobb, Detroit, 1911 40
Paul Molitor, Milwaukee, 1987 39
Tommy Holmes, Boston, 1945 37
Jimmy Rollins, Phil., 2005 36
Chase Utley, Phil., 2006 35
QUOTABLE:
'It would have sucked a lot more if we had lost.'
RYAN ZIMMERMAN,
Washington third baseman, whose hitting streak ended at 30 games. He went 0-for-3 but the Nationals beat San Francisco 6-3.
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ON THIS DATE
1913: Washington’s Walter Johnson gives up a run in the fourth inning against the St. Louis Browns to end his streak of 56 scoreless innings.
1967: Mickey Mantle’s 500th home run, off Stu Miller, lifts the Yankees over the Orioles 6-5.
1999: Ex-UA Wildcat Annika Sorenstam shoots an 11-under 61, the best score in LPGA history on a par-72 course.
2004: Ex-UA Wildcat Richard Jefferson scores 18 of his 31 points after regulation to lead New Jersey to a 127-120 triple-overtime win over Detroit and a 3-2 lead in the NBA Eastern semifinals.
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SPORTS SOUND-OFF
If Cats don’t yowl, NCAA will do it again
Re: Candrea tells Cats: Let go of anger
• This is the second year in a row that Arizona gets the shaft (failing to host an NCAA softball first-round regional). And if Arizona does not do anything, then expect more of the same treatment. One was acceptable. Two is just personal. CLAUDIA44
• Truth is Arizona has won the regional out of state before, and here is one fan hoping the Wildcats do it again. AZMSKI
Amphi-CDO football series should be revived
Re: Amphi coach laments lapse in rivalry with Canyon del Oro
• What a shame! This was a great football rivalry. The games were always well-attended and usually were very well-played. Hopefully, the powers that be will look at picking this game up next year. 6652