Paterno family releases report

Joe Paterno’s family on Sunday released its response to Penn State’s report on the Jerry Sandusky scandal, attacking Louis Freeh’s conclusion that the coach hid sex abuse allegations against his longtime assistant.

In a report commissioned by the family, former U.S. Atty. Gen. and Pennsylvania Gov. Dick Thornburgh said the investigation by former FBI director Freeh resulted in a “rush to injustice.” That report, authorized by the university, found that Paterno and three former administrators covered up child sexual abuse allegations against former assistant coach Sandusky.

Those findings last July were unsupported by the facts, said the family critique released.

Months in the making, the report was billed as an independent analysis of the work by Freeh, who defended his report Sunday.

“I stand by our conclusion that four of the most powerful people at Penn State failed to protect against a child sexual predator harming children for over a decade,” he said in a statement issued through a spokesman.

ETC.

U.S. knocked out of Fed Cup

The United States was eliminated in the first round of the Fed Cup, losing to Italy, 3-2, when Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci defeated Varvara Lepchenko and Liezel Huber in the decisive doubles match at Rimini, Italy.

Errani and Vinci, the top-ranked doubles team, won 6-2, 6-2 against an understrength American team.

The U.S. was without Serena and Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens because of injuries.

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Rafael Nadal lost to Horacio Zeballos in three sets in the VTR Open final at Vina del Mar, Chile, settling for a runner-up finish in his first tournament after being sidelined for seven months because of a left knee injury.

Nadal was an overwhelming favorite, shooting for this 37th singles title on clay. But Zeballos won 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-4 for his first title on any surface.

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Rocco Mediate birdied the 18th hole and finished with a one-under-par 71 to win the Allianz Championship at Boca Raton, Fla.

He finished the tournament at 17-under 199 and became the 16th player to have a winning debut on the Champions Tour.

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A day after taking his first stakes since his comeback attempt began last month, Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens won another at Santa Anita, guiding Purim’s Dancer to a breakaway win in the $75,000 Wishing Well stakes.

Stevens and Purim’s Dancer, a 4-year-old filly from the barn of Thomas Proctor, were fourth in the early going on the special downhill course but had a two-length lead by the time they reached the main turf track and pulled away to beat longshot Dancingtothestars by 31/4 lengths, covering about 61/2 furlongs in 1:12.25.

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Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka agreed to a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians.