Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — BASKETBALL

Police: Wright shot to death

Former NBA and University of Memphis player Lorenzen Wright, 34, whose body was found in woods outside Memphis, was shot to death and the case is being investigatedas a homicide, police said Thursday. Family members had said Wednesday that police told them Wright’s body had been found near an apartment complex. Police delayed confirmation, awaiting an autopsy that confirmed theidentity based on dental records, authorities said in a statement. The Shelby County medical examiner’s office reported that Wright died of a gunshot wound, police said. Wright, a Memphis native, was last seen around midnight July 18. His family filed a missing person report with police July 22, but investigators said as recently as Monday that they didn’t suspect foul play. Police said a 911 call was placed from Wright’s cell phone early on July 19. Investigators determined the call came from the area where the body was found and on Wednesday searched the woods and found Wright. The 6-11 Wright played 13 years in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and most recently the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wright left the University of Memphis early for the NBA, and the Clippers made him a lottery pick with the No. 7 selection overall. He averaged 8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 778 career NBA games.

The NCAA placed the Arizona men’s basketball program on two years’ probation and vacated 19 victories from the 2007-2008 season for violations involving Hall of Fame Coach Lute Olson. The NCAA upheld numerous self-imposed sanctions by the school, but took away an additional scholarshipin 2012-2013 and vacated victories in games played by two players deemed ineligible. The NCAA also reduced more recruiting visits than the school had initially proposed for the next two school years. The sanctions stem from Olson’s involvement with a booster club and promotion of an AAU tournament. The NCAA did not reprimand Olson because he retired in 2008 and had suffered a stroke.

Louisville basketball Coach Rick Pitino, worried that his wife and kids would find out he had a onenight stand with a woman he met in a bar, acknowledged Thursday that he didn’t immediately tell police about demands for cars, cash and housing in order to keep the tryst secret. He told jurors he kept quiet for nearly two months, hoping he could “contain” the damaging information. Intimate details emerged over the past two days as Pitino, 57, testified against the woman, Karen Cunagin Sypher, at her federal extortion trial. He recounted the sex, the threatening calls he said left him “sick to mystomach” and strongly denied allegations he raped Sypher.

FOOTBALL

Cowboys sign DB, DL

The Dallas Cowboys signed defensive back Teddy Williams, who was a sprinter at Texas-San Antonio for the past four years. The 6-3, 200-pound Williams last played football at John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas, as a senior in 2005, but he was on the field with the Cowboys working out with defensive backs for the team’s only practice Thursday. Coach Wade Phillips said Williams could also return kicks. The Cowboys also signed 6-3, 298-pound defensive lineman Jimmy Saddler-McQueen from Texas A&M-Kingsville, whom the Chicago Bears cut in the spring.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have reached terms with five-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Flozell Adams, 35, on a two-year contract.The 6-7, 340-pound Adams played 12 seasons with Dallas but was cut last spring before receiving a $2.5 million roster bonus. Two years ago, Adams signed a six-year contract with Dallas that guaranteed him about $15 million.

Terrell Owens, the Cincinnati Bengals’ newest receiver, missed an overnight flight that would have brought him to town early Thursday, allowing for a proper introduction. Instead, he got a later flight, rolled in less than an hour before an evening practice and decided to suit up. Owens was wearing his customary No. 81 when he emerged in a white practice jersey, part of a deal he made with the previous owner. Receiver Antonio Bryant got No. 81 when the Bengals chose him over Owens in the off-season, giving him a four-year deal. Bryant said that he had already talked to Owens and agreed to give up his number.

Quarterback Tim Tebow agreed to a contract with the Denver Broncos on Thursday. The two-time national champion from Florida and 25th pick in the NFL Draft missed the first three workouts for rookies and selected veterans while his agent, Jimmy Sexton, and General Manager Brian Xanders hammered out a deal believed to be worth about $11 million over five years with more than $8 million of that guaranteed. ESPN reported that Tebow could earn as much as $33 million over the course of the contract.

The first Washington Redskins training camp practice is over - and Albert Haynesworth wasn’t a part of it. The two-time All-Pro defensive lineman failed his conditioning test Thursday and wasn’t allowed to take part in the late afternoon session. The Redskins told Haynesworth he had to take the test because he skipped the entire offseason workout program. Washington Coach Mike Shanahan said Haynesworth will have to take the test every day until he passes.

BASEBALL

Strasburg heads to DL

Rookie right-hander Stephen Strasburg went on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, the latest indication of how careful the Washington Nationals are being with their prized pitcher. It’s the first trip to the DL for Strasburg, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft and signed a record $15.1 million contract. Strasburg is 5-2 with a 2.32 ERA, 75 strikeouts and 15 walks in 54 1 /3 innings since making his debut for the Nationals on June 8.

HORSE RACING

Haskell choice: Lookin At Lucky

Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky has drawn the No. 1 post and is the 5-2 favorite in a field of eight entered for Sunday’s $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver is the co-second choice at 3-1 and drew the No. 6 post in the first race for both 3-year-olds since Lookin At Lucky won the Preakness in May with Super Saver finishing eighth. Trappe Shot also is 3-1. Also entered in the 1 1 /8-mile race were Derby runner-up Ice Box, Preakness runner-up First Dude, Afleet Again, Uptowncharlybrown and Our Dark Knight.

MOTOR SPORTS Roush transferred

NASCAR team owner Jack Roush has been transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., following surgery on facial injuries he sustained in a plane crash in Wisconsin. Roush Fenway Racing said that Roush was taken to the Mayo Clinic on Wednesday and is in serious but stable condition. The team did not say what kind of injuries he has from the accident Tuesday night. Roush’s passenger, friend Brenda Stricklin, was treated and released from a Wisconsin hospital Wednesday afternoon.