HOCKEY
Stars say goodbye to Beliveau
Hundreds of fans, many clad in his famed No. 4 jersey, and a who's who of hockey stars and politicians paid an emotional farewell to Montreal Canadiens great Jean Beliveau on a snowy Wednesday. The afternoon funeral for Beliveau, who died last week at 83, was held at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in Montreal and featured affectionate eulogies from former Canadiens teammates Dickie Moore, Yvan Cournoyer, Serge Savard and Ken Dryden, as well as Canadiens owner Geoff Molson. After the service, a giant Canadiens flag that draped Beliveau's casket throughout the service was folded carefully and given to his widow, Elise. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper also attended the service, along with Gov. Gen. David Johnston and former prime ministers Jean Chretien and Brian Mulroney.
• Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard has been released from a hospital, diagnosed with multiple facial fractures and a concussion after a collision with the boards. The Wild announced Wednesday that Ballard will be out indefinitely. Ballard was hurt Tuesday when he tried to turn away from Matt Martin as the New York Islanders left wing charged toward him. Ballard was driven face-forward into the dasher board, and his head bounced hard on the ice after he fell. At one point, Ballard appeared to be convulsing back and forth as medics hustled out a stretcher, but he was able to get up after a few minutes before heading to the locker room with assistance. The Wild recalled defenseman Justin Falk from their AHL affiliate in Iowa to fill in.
• The NHL has suspended Minnesota Wild defenseman Marco Scandella for two games for a hit to the head of New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson. The ban was handed down by the league's Department of Player Safety on Wednesday, one day after the Wild's 5-4 home victory over New York. Scandella struck Nelson with 2:28 left in the game and was given a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head. Scandella will miss games at San Jose and Arizona this week and lose $11,021.50 in salary under terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
• The Arizona Coyotes recalled defenseman David Schlemko from Portland of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. Schlemko, 27, has 1 goal and 3 assists in 15 games for the Coyotes this season. He had 1 goal and 3 assists in 2 games for Portland.
BASKETBALL
New look for Warriors' arena
The Golden State Warriors have released new renderings for their planned San Francisco arena after the last design became an Internet punchline for its resemblance to a toilet. The updated concepts announced by the Warriors on Wednesday show a more curved look for the arena. Much of the viewing deck next to the arena -- which together previously gave the aerial appearance of a giant toilet seat with the lid down -- is now gone. The new renderings for the privately funded project -- expected to cost more than $1 billion -- in the city's Mission Bay neighborhood also show a waterfront park across the street and two public plazas. The team said the arena will seat 18,064 and is expected to open by the start of the 2018-19 season. The Warriors played their first nine seasons in San Francisco after moving from Philadelphia in 1962. They have played across San Francisco Bay in Oakland since the 1971-1972 season.
• Jameer Nelson sat out the Dallas Mavericks' game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night due to a sore right shoulder. J.J. Barea made his first start of the season in Nelson's place at point guard against the Pelicans. Nelson, who missed three games last month because of back spasms, had season highs of 18 points and four three-point field goals Tuesday at Memphis. Barea also had a season high with 17 points against the Grizzlies.
SOCCER
US women tie China
The United States women's soccer team conceded a second-half equalizer in a 1-1 draw against China in the opening match of the International Tournament of Brasilia on Wednesday. Carli Lloyd put the U.S. ahead in the 22nd minute but Hang Peng equalized in the 66th of the opening game of the four-team competition. Host Brazil and Argentina played in the late match at the Mane Garrincha Stadium, which hosted seven World Cup matches. Lloyd redirected the ball into the net from close range after a perfect low cross from the right side by Megan Rapinoe, scoring her 57th goal with the national team. China equalized thanks to its midfielder's remarkable right-footed shot from the right side of the box, finding the upper left corner over goalkeeper Hope Solo.
HORSE RACING
Doubledown Again rallies
Doubledown Again charged from sixth to win the $75,000 allowance feature Wednesday in the slop at Aqueduct. The 2-1 favorite, Doubledown Again took command at the top of stretch and held off Moments Notiz by a length. Jose Ortiz was aboard for trainer Michelle Nevin as the 4-year-old gray gelding got his sixth win in 26 starts. The time was 1:10.82 for six furlongs. Doubledown Again paid $6, $3.20 and $2.30. Moments Notiz returned $3.70 and $2.20, and Marriedtothemusic paid $2.50 to show.
FOOTBALL
Arizona’s Wright wins Lombardi
Arizona sophomore linebacker Scooby Wright won the Lombardi Award on Wednesday night as the nation’s best lineman. Wright edged Clemson senior defensive end Vic Beasley, Washington senior linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha and Ohio State sophomore defensive end Joey Bosa for the award presented by the Rotary Club of Houston. Wright won the Bronko Nagurski Award on Monday night as the top college defensive player, and was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He’s also in the running for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. The 6-1, 246-pound linebacker has 89 solo tackles — 27 tackles for losses — and 14 sacks to help the 12thranked Wildcats (10-3) earn a spot in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State.
Wisconsin running back and Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon made it official Wednesday, skipping his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. Unlike the departure of Coach Gary Andersen for Oregon State, this move was expected in Madison. Gordon has run for a Big Ten record 2,336 yards going into the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1, when the 17th-ranked Badgers face No. 19 Auburn.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Judge: No mediation in Penn State suit
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A judge overseeing a lawsuit over the $60 million fine imposed on Penn State by the NCAA as part of a consent decree after the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal said Wednesday the case will not go through a court-run mediation program.
Commonwealth Court Judge Anne Covey denied a request by the state treasurer and the senator who brought the lawsuit, saying they are free to keep negotiating with Penn State and the NCAA on their own.
"The court is wary of taking unwarranted action which may result in a lengthy delay of the trial" now set for January, she wrote. "Importantly, the parties have been and are continually free to mediate this case without the court's intervention or the commencement of a second process."
The parties previously worked with Covey to try to reach a deal, she said.
"A request to commence an entirely new and separate process, with no scintilla of evidence to support the application when there exist other clear avenues available to the parties to reach the desirous result of an amicable resolution, will not be granted," Covey wrote.
Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, said he did not consider Covey's ruling to be a major development.
"It's not a big deal," Corman said. "We were just trying to be as cooperative as possible."
His lawyer's Nov. 25 letter to Covey that sought mediation said they have "seen significant movement on [their] differences and that this matter is now within reach of a mediated resolution."
The lawsuit by Corman and Treasurer Rob McCord began as a way to enforce a state law requiring the fine to remain within Pennsylvania. It has since been widened to address the legality of the consent decree.
Sandusky, Penn State's former longtime defensive coach under Joe Paterno, was convicted in 2012 of 45 counts of child sexual abuse and is serving a lengthy prison sentence.
Sports on 12/11/2014