Sports briefs: 12/28/11

NCAA schools override plan to offer multiyear scholarships

For the second time in less than two weeks, schools are objecting to a reform measure sought by university presidents and endorsed by NCAA president Mark Emmert.

More than 75 schools are asking to override a plan approved in October to allow multiyear athletic scholarships rather than the one-year renewable awards schools currently provide. That's the minimum number of dissenters needed for reconsideration by the Division I Board of Directors when it meets next month in Indianapolis at the annual NCAA convention. The NCAA announced the change Friday.

On Dec. 15, the NCAA suspended plans to give athletes a $2,000 stipend for living costs not covered by scholarships after at least 125 schools objected. The higher number of protests allows the organization to immediately put the change on hold.

Both measures were pushed by Emmert and adopted as emergency legislation after a presidential summit in August.

Golf

Five Americans were picked for the Curtis Cup, the biennial women's amateur event which will be June 8-10 at Nairn in Scotland. Amy Anderson, Lindy Duncan, Austin Ernst, Tiffany Lua and Brooke Pancake made the team. Three others will be selected in January

Tennis

Defending champion Spain hired former French Open finalist Alex Corretja as its new Davis Cup captain. The Spanish federation said that Corretja has a two-year contract. He replaces Albert Costa, who left this month after leading Spain to two Davis Cup titles in three years.

Sailing

Supermaxis Wild Oats XI and Investec Loyal were locked in a tight tactical struggle in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race after trading the lead on the way toward Tasmania. Wild Oats XI, winner in five of the past six years, lost the lead for the first time since the fleet of 88 yachts left Monday from Sydney, Australia. Investec Loyal moved in front during an eventful night of racing in light wind. Wild Oats XI is about 125 miles from the finish in this 700-mile race. The leading yachts are expected to reach Hobart today.

Judo

Japanese prosecutors filed rape charges against two-time Olympic champion Masato Uchishiba. Tokyo prosecutors said Uchishiba, 33, is accused of raping a teenager at a hotel in September after intoxicating her with an alcoholic drink and taking advantage of her inability to resist. Her identity is being withheld because she is a minor. Police arrested Uchishiba in earlier this month. He has denied the accusation, saying the sex was consensual. If convicted, he could face more than three years in prison.

First published on December 28, 2011 at 12:00 am

Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11362/1199644-139.stm?cmpid=sports.xml

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