Boston College Wins Lawsuit

The Big East Conference can’t impose a $5-million fine on Boston College for defecting to the Atlantic Coast Conference, and it can’t force the university to remain in the conference for an extra 15 months, a Massachusetts Superior Court judge has ruled.

The decision by Judge Allan van Gestel keeps Boston College on track to join the ACC next July and pay a $1-million withdrawal fee to the Big East.

Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese said the conference was “extremely disappointed” in the decision and was considering an appeal.

In a related story, the ACC chose Jacksonville, Fla., on Thursday as host of its first two championship games. The first game will be played Dec. 3, 2005, at Alltel Stadium, and is expected to earn the revamped conference about $6 million.

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A grand jury investigating Colorado football recruiting practices began deliberating on whether to bring any criminal indictments in an embarrassing sex-and-alcohol scandal.

“It’s in the hands of the jurors,” Atty. Gen. Ken Salazar said.

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Police are investigating a 17-year-old girl’s allegations that she was gang-raped by men who may have been Brigham Young University football players.

A police affidavit for a search warrant said the incident was at University Villa Apartments, which is approved by BYU for student housing. An apartment manager said four apartments were for football players.

Boxing

Former heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe is coming out of retirement after a 17-month prison stint, with a scheduled return to the ring Sept. 25.

His first fight in seven years will be against heavyweight veteran Jeff Lally (23-23-1, 10 KOs) at Fire Lake Casino in Oklahoma, a spokesman for the facility said.

Bowe (40-1, 32 KOs), 37, was released from federal prison in May; he had kidnapped his first wife and their five children in 1998.

Soccer

Real Madrid is about to sign Newcastle United central defender Jonathan Woodgate, Spanish news agency Efe reported.

In other soccer developments: FC Barcelona has agreed to transfer forward Luis Garcia to Liverpool for approximately $11 million; Spanish international striker Salva Ballesta has joined Atletico de Madrid on loan from league champion Valencia; Malaga has signed Brazilian striker Marcio Amoroso to a one-year contract; and Bolton signed Senegal striker El Hadji-Diouf from Liverpool on a season-long loan.

Tennis

Alex Bogomolov Jr., ranked 110th in the world, was among eight young American men given U.S. Open wild-card entries.

Brian Baker, Amer Delic, KJ Hippensteel, Scoville Jenkins, Wayne Odesnik, Rajeev Ram and Bobby Reynolds also were granted wild cards by the U.S. Tennis Assn. for the year’s last Grand Slam event, which begins Aug. 30.

Miscellany

Damaine Powell has been selected as the new men’s basketball coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Powell has coached at Compton College the last seven years.

Right wing Sami Kapanen, who said he considered retiring after last year’s NHL playoffs, signed a three-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Flyers, and center Sergei Brylin signed a multiyear contract with the New Jersey Devils.

Attorneys for former Baylor basketball player Carlton Dotson, who is accused of killing one of his teammates, asked Judge George Allen for a delay until there is a decision on whether Dotson is competent to stand trial.

Dotson’s murder trial is set for Oct. 11, but a defense psychologist says the defendant is incompetent for trial.

The Sparks will hold an academic and basketball skills clinic for boys and girls in grades seven through 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Crenshaw Christian Center.