West Virginia may be headed to Big 12

The Big 12 Conference has approved bringing in West Virginia to replace Missouri when the Tigers complete their move to the Southeastern Conference, a person with knowledge of the decision told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the school nor the Big 12 had announced that its board of directors unanimously approved inviting West Virginia when Missouri’s spot comes open.

The move would allow the Big 12 to maintain 10 members and would be another blow to the embattled Big East Conference, which already has lost two members and one member-to-be in the last six weeks.

Because there is no timetable for Missouri to complete its expected departure from the Big 12 — and the league’s board of directors announced that it expressed “a strong desire” for Missouri to stay during a Monday meeting — there is no timetable for West Virginia to receive a formal invitation, the AP’s source said. But the school will accept an invitation once it is offered, the person said.

BASEBALL

Lackey to miss 2012 season after surgery

John Lackey will undergo reconstructive elbow surgery and miss the 2012 season, the latest setback in his rough year with the Boston Red Sox.

General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement Tuesday during a news conference at which he was introduced as the successor to Theo Epstein, who left to become president of baseball operations with the Chicago Cubs.

Lackey, a former Angels right-hander, was 12-12 with a 6.41 ERA in the second year of a five-year, $82.5-million contract. The Boston Globe reported after the season that he and fellow starters Josh Beckett and Jon Lester drank beer and ate fried chicken in the clubhouse during games in which they were not pitching.

Cherington said the Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery probably would be performed by orthopedist Lewis Yocum, but he did not know when.

ETC.

NBA, players’ union to resume labor talks

Officials from the NBA and players’ association will meet Wednesday, less than a week after three days of talks with a mediator couldn’t produce a deal to end the lockout, a person with knowledge of the plans said.

Talks broke down Thursday after players said owners insisted they agree to a 50-50 split of revenue before they would further discuss the salary cap system. By not reaching an agreement last week, the NBA will probably be forced to cancel more games to go with those already scrapped.

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Canada beat the United States, 2-1, to win the baseball gold medal in the Pan American Games at Lagos de Moreno, Mexico.

The Americans took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Canada came back with two runs in the top of the sixth to win its first gold medal at the quadrennial Games.

The United States had been the favorite after upsetting Cuba in the semifinals. Canada beat Mexico.

The Cubans beat the host Mexicans, 6-0, to claim the bronze medal.

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A former Olympic gymnastics coach facing allegations of sexual abuse has resigned from his coaching and director positions at a prominent Orange County club.

The Orange County Register reported that Don Peters, who coached the 1984 U.S. women’s Olympic team, resigned from SCATS following an investigation the newspaper published last month alleging sexual and physical abuse of underage gymnasts.

A Nov. 11 hearing has been scheduled in Indianapolis by gymnastics’ national governing body to decide whether Peters should be banned from the sport.

He declined to comment to the Register.

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The English Football Assn. and London police began investigations into whether England soccer captain John Terry racially abused a black opponent while playing for Chelsea.

Video footage posted on the Internet appeared to show Terry directing a racial slur at Anton Ferdinand, a black defender for Queens Park Rangers, on Sunday.