Arkansas Judge Dismisses Richardson’s Lawsuit
A federal judge in Little Rock, Ark., on Thursday dismissed Nolan Richardson’s $8-million race discrimination lawsuit against the University of Arkansas, but said he understood why the fired basketball coach felt the way he did.
“This lawsuit is not about money in the pejorative sense,” U.S. District Judge William R. Wilson wrote. “It is primarily about wounded pride -- wounded pride in a man who started way behind, but climbed to the top by hard work, savvy, and most of all, perseverance.”
Wilson ruled that Richardson was fired because of comments he made after a February 2002 loss at Kentucky that the university could buy out his contract, not because of his race or comments Richardson made about race.
When told of the judge’s ruling Richardson said: “Just getting to court was a victory. People know Nolan Richardson, know he will fight
Richardson’s lawyer, John Walker, said he was considering an appeal.
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La Salle senior guard Michael Cleaves was charged with sexual assault Thursday, and authorities said they were waiting for a second player to turn himself in in connection with an alleged attack last month.
Meanwhile, school officials said men’s Coach Billy Hahn and women’s Coach John Miller had been put on administrative leave.
The charges stem from an alleged incident involving a 19-year-old woman who told Philadelphia police that she was assaulted by two players in a La Salle dormitory in June. Police are also investigating an allegation of another attack against a women’s player.
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Sean Miller was promoted to head coach at Xavier, replacing Thad Matta. Miller, 35, Matta’s top assistant at Xavier since 2001, has been an assistant coach for 12 years at five schools. Matta left Wednesday to coach Ohio State.
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The Villanova’s men’s basketball program was put on two years’ probation by the NCAA for recruiting and benefits violations. The Wildcats will not be subject to a postseason ban or loss of scholarships but will face strict supervision.
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The Arrowhead Pond has been selected as a site for first- and second-round games for the 2008 NCAA men’s tournament. The arena previously played host to regional competition in 1998, 2001 and 2003.
Tennis
Top-seeded Vincent Spadea overcame back pain and poor play to defeat Brian Vahaly, 6-1, 7-6 (5), and advance to the quarterfinals of the Hall of Fame Championships at Newport, R.I.
In other second-round matches, second-seeded James Blake was upset by Alex Bogomolov Jr., 6-3, 6-1, and No. 3 Jurgen Melzer beat Nicolas Mahut, 6-3, 6-1.
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Former champion Felix Mantilla beat sixth-seeded David Ferrer, 6-3, 7-6 (2), to reach the quarterfinals at the Swiss Open in Gstaad. In the only other match completed before rain wiped out play, third-seeded Rainer Schuettler defeated Florian Mayer, 6-3, 6-2.
Miscellany
Boston Bruin captain Joe Thornton has signed an agreement to play for a team in Switzerland next season if the NHL season is postponed by a lockout, his agent, J.P. Barry, confirmed in an e-mail to Associated Press. Thornton signed to play for Hockey Club Davos of the Swiss Elite League.
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Forward Brian Rolston signed a three-year contract with the Minnesota Wild, giving the team one of its highest-profile free agents in its four-year history. Rolston had 19 goals and 29 assists for the Boston Bruins last season.
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Former Olympic decathlon champion Dan O’Brien retired because a pelvic injury had ended his comeback plans.
O’Brien, 37, had planned to compete at this weekend’s U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Sacramento, where he hoped to begin a comeback six years after his last competition.