Two are charged in betting scheme with college athletes

Two Detroit-area businessmen were charged with paying and giving gifts to basketball and football players at the University of Toledo to take part in a point-shaving scheme, according to a federal indictment filed Wednesday.

Six former Toledo players also were accused of taking part in the alleged scheme by affecting the outcome of games or giving Ghazi Manni, 52, and Mitchell Karam, 76, information so that they could place wagers on the games.

Top-ranked Dinara Safina beat Zheng Jie, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (3), to reach the quarterfinals of the Italian Open in Rome, and defending champion Jelena Jankovic advanced after her opponent retired because of an illness.

TENNIS

Safina advances in Italian Open

Venus Williams beat Anna Chakvetadze, 6-0, 6-7 (8), 6-4.

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic beat Janko Tipsarevic, 6-2, 4-6, 6-0, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Serbia Open, Belgrade’s first ATP Tour event. . . . Second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko reached the quarterfinals of the Estoril Open in Oeiras, Portugal, with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Juan Carlos Ferrero. Mardy Fish and James Blake also advanced.

WINTER SPORTS

U.S. beats Finland in hockey, 3-2

The United States scored three goals in a four-minute span to beat Finland, 3-2, in the quarterfinals of the hockey world championships.

The U.S. will play Russia in a semifinal on Friday after Russia beat Belarus, 4-3.

Figure skating star Sasha Cohen said she has informed U.S. Figure Skating she would accept an invitation to Skate America next fall, a move that confirms she will make an effort to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

-- Philip Hersh

JURISPRUDENCE

Otis’ brother faces charges

The brother of legally troubled former Compton Dominguez High boys’ basketball coach Russell Otis has been charged by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office with five felonies, including grand theft of real property and embezzlement in connection with an alleged real estate con in Long Beach.

Donald Marshall Otis, who recently defended his brother at a Compton Unified school board meeting, turned himself into authorities when a $285,000 warrant was issued, and he pleaded not guilty to the counts.

Russell Otis faces charges in Compton for making unwanted sexual advances on a former student and allegedly committing commercial burglary and forgery.

-- Lance Pugmire

ETC.

Cycling event changes dates

Cycling’s Amgen Tour of California will move from its traditional mid-February date to its requested slot in May for 2010, Cycling News reported. The race will be held May 16-23, at the same time as the Giro d’Italia.

A Southern Section releaguing appeals committee has recommended that Westlake Village Oaks Christian’s sports teams move to the Marmonte League and that Calabasas’ teams move out effective with the 2010-11 school year. Calabasas would replace Oaks Christian in the Tri-Valley League under the proposal.

The committee also recommended that Ventura St. Bonaventure should remain part of the Tri-Valley League and compete in the Channel League only in football; that Brea Olinda move to the Freeway League in all sports and Western move to the Orange League in all sports; and that Glendora move to the Sierra League in all sports and West Covina South Hills move to the San Antonio/Miramonte League in all sports.

-- Ben Bolch

Pro beach volleyball star Holly McPeak is retiring from the AVP Tour immediately.

Doreena Campbell, a sophomore guard from UCLA, has been invited to try out for the U.S. women’s basketball team for the World University Games.