Majerus hired by St. Louis

Rick Majerus, 59, decided to return to coaching basketball after a three-year absence, agreeing Friday to a six-year contract with St. Louis, the school announced in a statement.

“I missed it,” Majerus told the Associated Press. “I missed practice. I missed coaching.”

An analyst with ESPN the last three years, Majerus has a coaching record of 422-147 with 15 postseason appearances.

St. Louis fired Brad Soderberg after he failed to lead the school to the NCAA tournament in any of his five seasons.

Majerus coached Utah to the national championship game in 1998 before losing to Kentucky, leading the school to 10 NCAA appearances in 15 seasons. He accepted the USC job in December 2004 only to change his mind three days later.

“I don’t think I’m going to go anywhere else. Maybe I’ll coach until I’m 80, but I don’t think I’m a [Joe] Paterno,” Majerus said.

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Kansas sophomore standout Brandon Rush plans to make himself available for the NBA draft but told Coach Bill Self he would not immediately sign with an agent, leaving the door open to another year in college.... Also making themselves available for the draft were Oklahoma State junior guard JamesOn Curry and New Orleans junior Bo McCalebb. Neither will immediately hire an agent.

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Jeffrey Jordan, the son of Michael Jordan, plans to attend Illinois next year and play basketball as a walk-on.

PRO FOOTBALL

David leaves Colts for New Orleans

Cornerback Jason David signed a four-year contract with New Orleans, filling a Saints trouble spot and leaving the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts with another hole to fill.

David, who attended Covina Charter Oak High, was the second starting cornerback to leave Indianapolis this off-season; Nick Harper signed with Tennessee.

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According to a Kansas City Star report, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. The Star reported that the penalty stems from two drunk-driving charges. The NFL declined to comment. No suspension has been announced.

TENNIS

Nadal keeps streak on clay going

Rafael Nadal extended his unbeaten run on clay to 70 matches and advanced to the semifinals of the Open Seat Godo in Barcelona, Spain, by beating Potito Starace, 6-2, 7-5.

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Albert Montanes upset top-seeded Dominik Hrbaty, 7-6 (5), 6-3, to reach the semifinals at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco.... Gisela Dulko defeated Olga Savchuk, 6-3, 6-4, to advance to the semifinals of the Gaz de France Budapest Grand Prix in Hungary.

JURISPRUDENCE

Six Penn State players face felony charges

Six Penn State football players, including stars Anthony Scirrotto and Justin King, turned themselves in to State College, Pa., police to face allegations that they barged into a party and started a violent fight at an off-campus apartment earlier this month. Each player faces at least one felony count of criminal trespass.

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Idaho sophomore defensive tackle Marvin Jones, accused of selling cocaine to undercover police officers, was arrested Thursday after a two-week investigation, assistant police chief David Duke said. Jones posted $10,000 bond and was released.

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WNBA player Deanna Jackson was arrested on suspicion of assault after slugging an opponent in a parking lot after a game in Jerusalem. She will not be allowed to leave Israel until after the Chicago Sky’s exhibition opener.

BOXING

Morrison pulled from fight for late lab results

Former heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison was pulled from a scheduled bout in Houston because state boxing officials didn’t get the results of lab tests in time.

Dick Cole, boxing administrator for the state’s Department of Licensing and Regulation, said a Houston doctor, Jorge Guerrero, examined Morrison on Thursday and cleared him to fight. But Guerrero never filed the paperwork required by the agency, Cole said.

Morrison is attempting to come back after an 11-year retirement after the discovery that he was HIV-positive. He claims he has taken several HIV tests during his comeback bid and all have been negative.

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Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s rocky relationship with his father suffered its latest breakup this week when Floyd Mayweather Sr. walked out of his son’s Las Vegas training camp, the elder Mayweather said.

Mayweather Sr., a former professional boxer and veteran trainer who has most recently worked as Oscar De La Hoya’s trainer, stepped back into his son’s life this year after a long estrangement.

De La Hoya will fight the unbeaten Mayweather Jr. for the World Boxing Council super-welterweight title on May 5 in Las Vegas.

-- Lance Pugmire

HOCKEY

Kings sign Maine forward Purcell

The Kings signed forward Teddy Purcell to a multiyear entry-level contract. Purcell, 21, played in 40 games as a freshman for Maine and had 16 goals.

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St. Louis Blues forward Lee Stempniak had a goal and an assist to lead the United States past Austria, 6-2, in the preliminary round Group B match at the world hockey championships in Mytischi, Russia.

MISCELLANY

NASCAR fines Stewart, who backs off statement

NASCAR fined two-time champion Tony Stewart $10,000 for missing a post-race news conference. The penalty came three days after he compared the racing circuit to professional wrestling on his radio show.

Stewart backpedaled from his remarks Friday, saying that he had hurt the integrity of the sport.

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UCLA finished fourth at the NCAA gymnastics championships, following winner Georgia, Utah and Florida.