U.S. sporting events alerted after attack
The attack on a cricket team in Pakistan this week prompted intelligence officials to caution local authorities Thursday to be on the lookout for possible similar assaults at U.S. sporting events.
The notice, along with details of the attack, is part of an intelligence assessment that points out there are no known plots against sporting events in the United States.
In a separate assessment dated Wednesday, the FBI and Homeland Security reminded Indiana law enforcement officials that the Big Ten basketball tournaments this month in Indianapolis and other large sporting events are inviting targets for terrorists. The Big Ten bulletin noted that U.S. intelligence agencies were unaware of any threats against the tournaments.
Copies of the intelligence assessments were obtained Thursday by the Associated Press.
The review of Tuesday’s attack in Lahore, Pakistan, noted that the Sri Lankan cricket team was traveling with a security detail at the time. Six police officers and a driver were killed. Seven players, a coach and an umpire were wounded during the half-hour assault.
OLYMPICS
USOC chief Scherr resigns
Jim Scherr has stepped down as the chief executive of the U.S. Olympic Committee, a surprising resignation that comes with the federation facing financial difficulties and in the midst of trying to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago.
Scherr will be replaced on an interim basis by Stephanie Streeter, a member of the USOC board of directors.
SOCCER
Donovan to return to Galaxy
Landon Donovan, whose 20 goals led Major League Soccer last season, will return to the Galaxy on Tuesday after spending the last two months on loan with Bayern Munich in Germany.
Donovan, who turned 27 on Thursday, had been hoping to secure a permanent move to the Bundesliga club, but failed to do so. He scored four goals in seven friendly matches for Bayern but has been shut out during the 131 minutes he has played in four actual league games.
-- Grahame L. Jones
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Chivas USA defender Bobby Burling will miss up to six weeks after having surgery for a sports hernia. He had the operation Wednesday in Philadelphia, the team said.
GOLF
Allenby has lead at Honda Classic
Robert Allenby shot a four-under-par 66 at the Honda Classic to take a one-shot lead after the opening round at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
By the time darkness suspended play, six players -- Charlie Wi, Jeff Overton, Angel Cabrera, Stewart Cink, Will Mackenzie and Sergio Garcia -- all were one shot behind Allenby.
ETC.
Coker to coach at new program
Former Miami coach Larry Coker has been hired to lead the new Texas San Antonio football program, his first coaching job since the Hurricanes fired him in 2006.
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The University of Alabama has told the NCAA that athletes improperly got free textbooks for other students and that the school failed to adequately monitor distribution.
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Sean Avery needed only one day of practice with the New York Rangers to make his way into the lineup. The agitating forward, claimed off waivers Tuesday after being banished by the Dallas Stars, got into his first NHL game since Nov. 30 on Thursday night when the Rangers took on the New York Islanders.
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Dara Torres won the 50-meter freestyle in her first competition after the Beijing Olympics.
The 41-year-old who won three silver medals in Beijing took the Austin Grand Prix with a time of 24.91 seconds.
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Unbeaten Riverside heavyweight Chris Arreola will fight former world-title challenger Jameel McCline on the undercard of the April 11 middleweight fight between Paul Williams and Winky Wright at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, boxing sources told The Times.
Arreola (26-0, 23 knockouts) was impressive in his most recent bout, when he scored a third-round TKO victory over Travis Walker in Ontario.
Against McCline (39-9-3, 23 KOs), he’ll fight a 38-year-old boxing veteran who has lost world-title bouts to Wladimir Klitschko, Chris Byrd and Nikolai Valuev.
-- Lance Pugmire
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Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge and was sentenced to community service and probation.
