Penn State may get more time for Jerry Sandusky inquiry

With a Friday deadline looming, the NCAA signaled it would give Penn State more time to respond to its inquiry over the university’s handling of child sex abuse accusations against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

Penn State general counsel Cynthia Baldwin said in a letter to NCAA President Mark Emmert released Thursday that answers to the NCAA’s questions about the Sandusky case might come from other, separate probes already in progress. Among them is a university trustees investigation spearheaded by former FBI chief Louis Freeh.

Meanwhile, an attorney for Sandusky said his recent comments about some children needing instruction on how to shower did not apply to his client’s conduct.

Carlisle attorney Karl Rominger said during an interview with WHTM-TV this week that troubled youths sometimes have to be taught basic life skills “like how to put soap on their body.”

Rominger said in a statement Thursday that he only was giving a hypothetical example of why a person might shower with an adolescent. He noted he never said Sandusky touched boys in a shower.

Sandusky is charged with more than 50 counts of child sex abuse. Sandusky has admitted showering with boys but says he’s innocent of the abuse charges.

In fallout from the scandal and the uncertainty over the Nittany Lions’ next head coach, two prized Nittany Lions recruits have said they’ve changed their minds about attending Penn State.

More decommits may be on the way.

Five-star defensive tackle prospect Tommy Schutt from Glen Ellyn, Ill., said on Monday he was taking back his commitment to Penn State and that he’s headed to Ohio State. Offensive lineman Joey O’Connor of Windsor, Colo., also said he will not go to Penn State and is considering his options.

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The Dodgers on Thursday asked a court to deny Fox Sports an immediate stay of the ruling that lets the team sell its television rights, claiming that the Fox request is “nothing more than an attempt to delay and ... derail” the sale process.

Fox Sports asked the U.S. District Court for the stay late Wednesday. The Dodgers proposed filing their response Jan. 4 “without the need for the fire drill over the holiday season that Fox has proposed.”

In the meantime, Fox and the Dodgers are expected to begin discussions on a long-term TV rights extension next week, according to the filing. Fox has an exclusive negotiating window through Jan. 19.

That window had extended through Nov. 30, 2012, but the earlier date allows outgoing owner Frank McCourt to market the television rights along with the team. Fox says damages could top $1 billion, a claim dismissed by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross as “highly speculative and therefore unsubstantiated.”

In their filing, the Dodgers repeatedly cited Gross’ opinion and said Fox “grossly exaggerates the significance of its negotiation rights.”

The U.S. District Court has yet to say when it will consider the matter.

— Bill Shaikin

Galaxy captain Landon Donovan is heading back to the English Premier League, beginning a two-month loan with Everton next month.

Donovan played in 34 of the Galaxy’s 46 games this season, missing six due to injury and five others to his duties with the U.S. national team. That’s an average of more than a game a week between the opening of the Major League Soccer season in March and the Galaxy’s victory in the MLS Cup final in November.

But Donovan was hobbled by injury at the end of the season and Bruce Arena, the Galaxy’s coach and general manager, said he believes a return to Everton – where Donovan played in 2010 – could help the 29-year-old midfielder regain his fitness.

The coming year figures to be another busy one for Donovan with the Galaxy resuming both Champions League and MLS play in March and the U.S. national team resuming World Cup qualifying in June.

— Kevin Baxter

The NCAA plan to give athletes a $2,000 stipend has been shelved for now.

The NCAA said enough schools — 125 of them — had called for an override of the plan approved in October to suspend it until the board of directors convenes in January.

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Shani Davis and Heather Richardson won 1,000-meter races Thursday at the U. S. Speedskating Long Track Championships at West Allis, Wis.

Davis, the two-time Olympic gold medalist at that distance, won in 1 minute, 8.42 seconds. The champion from Chicago beat Brian Hansen of Norwood, Mass., who was second in 1:09.29.

Richardson, of High Point, N.C., won in 1:15.51, She beat out Brittany Bowe of Ocala, Fla. (1:16.27).

Richardson, who also won both 500-meter races, earned her second U. S. Sprint Title, which is based on times for the three races.

Tucker Fredricks of Janesville, Wis., won his second sprint title. He took both 500s and finished third in the 1,000 in 1:09.91.

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Lee Westwood shot a career-best 12-under 60 to lead the Thailand Golf Championship by five strokes over John Daly.

The Englishman reached the turn in 29 and finished his first round with 10 birdies and an eagle for a course record at the Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok.

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England’s Ian Poulter shot a six-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round at the Australian Masters at Melbourne. Local golfer Ashley Hall shot a 66 at Victoria Golf Club and former champion Peter Lonard was among a group of six two shots back.

Top-ranked Luke Donald opened with a 69 in his first professional tournament in Australia.

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American teenager Lexi Thompson held a two-shot lead after the second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters.

Thompson, 16, the youngest LPGA Tour winner, had six birdies en route to a bogey-free, six-under 66 Thursday and 136 total.

Swedish veteran Sophie Gustafson (67) and Margherita Rigon (68) shared second place. Michelle Wie was four shots behind after a 67.