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Tuberville out at Auburn; NFL suspensions blocked |
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Written by The Associated Press
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Thursday, 04 December 2008 |
AUBURN, Alabama — Tom-my Tuberville stepped down af-ter 10 years as Auburn’s coach, a reign that included a perfect season and a string of overachieving teams but ended with the worst record of his tenure.
Tuberville was 85-40 in his decade with Auburn, including a 13-0 season in 2004 when the Tigers finished No. 2 in the nation and won the Southeas-tern Conference title for the first time in 15 years.
But Auburn went 5-7 this year and was routed 36-0 at the end by rival Alabama, currently ranked No. 1.
The Tigers lost six of their last seven games this season after a failed move to the spread offense that was abandoned — along with first-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklin — at midseason.
Their first five SEC losses came by a combined 23 points, falling just short of the end zone on final drives against Arkansas and Georgia and twice losing by one point after missed PATs.
PRO FOOTBALL
MINNEAPOLIS — A Min-nesota judge temporarily blocked the NFL’s suspension of Vikings stars Kevin and Pat Williams for violating the league’s anti-doping policy, but the players’ status for Sunday’s game at Detroit remained un-certain.
Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson issued the temporary restraining order at the players’ request, saying he wanted more time to hear arguments in the case. No further hearing date immediately was set.
The Williamses were among six players suspended for four games for testing positive for a diuretic that can be used as a masking agent for steroids. They have argued that the substance containing the diuretic didn’t list all its ingredients, and that league scientists and lawyers had information about the substance but withheld it from players.
ESPN.com reported that the NFL Players Association will file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis on Thursday, seeking to overturn all suspensions issued Tuesday by the league for any player who took the substance.
The NFL argues that the league’s policy on banned substances is collectively bargained with the players’ association and players are responsible for what is in their bodies.
PRO BASKETBALL
TORONTO — The Toronto Raptors fired coach Sam Mitchell and replaced him with assistant Jay Triano, one day after an embarrassing loss at Denver.
Mitchell led the Raptors to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and was honored as the NBA’s coach of the year in 2006-07. Toronto is off to a sluggish 8-9 start this season, due in part to injuries.
General manager Bryan Colangelo said Tuesday night’s 132-93 loss to the Nuggets was the final straw. Toronto allowed Denver to shoot 60 percent from the field and the Nuggets’ 37 assists were the most by an NBA team in regulation this season. The 39-point difference marked the fifth-worst loss in franchise history.
Mitchell is the third NBA coach to be replaced this season. Oklahoma City fired P.J. Carlesimo and Washington dismissed Eddie Jordan last month.
BASEBALL
BOSTON — American League Most Valuable Player Dustin Pedroia and the Boston Red Sox agreed to a $40.5 million, six-year contract which includes a club option for 2015.
Pedroia led the AL with 213 hits, 118 runs and 54 doubles in helping the Red Sox win a wild-card berth. He batted .326 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs and also stole 20 bases to become the first AL second baseman to win the MVP award since Nellie Fox in 1959 with the Chicago White Sox.
Heading into his third year in the majors, the 5-foot-9 second baseman has already won the Rookie of the Year and MVP — joining Cal Ripken Jr. and Ryan Howard as the only players in baseball history to follow a rookie award with an MVP.
He also has a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, World Series ring and a level of financial security rare for a player with such limited experience — and limited height.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 05 December 2008 )
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