Pro team inks high schooler to special deal
The talk of today’s trade deadline will dominate anything surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers, and that’s understandable since the team is actively seeking to make a move, or moves, with Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner as the centerpieces.
But for a time Tuesday night, trades, stats, victories and losses took a back seat to Kevin Grow.
The Bensalem, Pa., senior, who has Down syndrome, has become somewhat of a national star.
The manager for his high school varsity for four seasons, Grow played in two games recently that included a 14-point effort in which he made four three-pointers.
Grow, 18, signed a two-day contract with the Sixers on Monday, and he practiced with the team that day. Tuesday night before the Sixers faced the Cleveland Cavaliers, Grow had his own locker just a couple of stalls down from Turner, complete with a No. 33 jersey, sneakers, warmups - the whole getup.
Grow made his way around the locker room, greeting his new teammates who took turns making their way over.
“We have to make sure he has to get taped and everything before the game and get him in here and watch some film and stuff,” Hawes said. “It’s good fun to have him around. For as much bad that comes out of social media, it’s good to see stories like that go viral.”
Grow was introduced by public address announcer Matt Cord as the sixth man before the game, stood in line with the players during the national anthem and was honored during the second quarter along with his other teammates from Bensalem.
Sorority fight over
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Alabama football Coach Nick Saban’s daughter by her sorority sister after a fight.
Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge James H. Roberts Jr. ruled Wednesday that Kristen Saban was justified in using force to defend herself during a 2010 scuffle with Sarah Grimes.
Grimes claimed Kristen Saban injured her during a brawl that followed a night of drinking.
The judge said evidence showed Grimes initiated the confrontation. He also said Kristen Saban was allowed to defend herself under Alabama’s “stand your ground” law.
Grimes sued in state court in 2012, seeking an unspecified amount of money for injuries.
A lawyer for Kristen Saban said the family refused to pay “hush money” to avoid bad publicity over the fight.
No incentive needed
According to tax returns, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell earned a salary of $35.1 million in the 2012 calendar year, plus a $5 million incentive payment.
“That makes sense,” wrote Reggie Hayes of The News-Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind. “Most would agree that $35.1 million is hardly enough incentive on its own.”
Quote of the day
“Good Lord, if those kids hadn’t won all those ballgames, hey, my highlight would have been mayor of Hamlin.” Don Campbell, the former Wynne High School football coach and 2014 inductee into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame
Sports, Pages 18 on 02/20/2014