FOOTBALL
Nicholls State coach resigns
Charlie Stubbs is resigning as head football coach at Nicholls State University, citing “major health reasons” that a university spokesman isn’t elaborating on. A long-time assistant at a number of colleges, Nicholls State was the first collegiate head coaching job Stubbs, 59. He took over in 2010, finishing with a 10-38 record in his four-plus seasons. The Colonels lost 27-10 to Division II Henderson State on Saturday, falling to 0-3 this year which included a 73-7 loss at Arkansas the week before. Nicholls State President Bruce Murphy accepted Stubbs’ resignation Sunday. Spokesman Jamie Bustos said he doesn’t know anything more about Stubbs health problems, or what would cause him to resign in midseason. He said the school had planned to announce it today, but news leaked out Sunday.
TENNIS
Lisicki breaks skid
Sabine Lisicki won her first WTA title in three years by defeating Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 6-3 in the final of the Hong Kong Open on Sunday. No. 36-ranked Pliskova squandered a 5-1 lead in the match after she twice broke the top-seeded German in the first set before losing the next six games. Lisicki fired five aces in the second set and twice broke her Czech opponent’s serve, in the fourth and eight games, to clinch the final in just under 90 minutes. Lisicki won her last WTA title in Dallas in 2011. It was also her third victory against Pliskova this year after victories at Wimbledon and at the Madrid Open.
GOLF
Norman OK after accident
Greg Norman is recovering from a chain-saw accident that nearly cost him his left hand, but not his sense of humor. Norman said Sunday morning, “At least I can still play tennis.” Norman was cutting back some trees in his South Florida home when the weight of a branch pulled his left hand toward the chain saw. He said he was lucky the saw wasn’t running full speed or it would have taken off his hand. He posted a photo on Instagram from the hospital bed of his heavily bandaged left hand protected by a large piece of purple foam. The post said: “Work with a chainsaw ALWAYS be respectful of the unexpected. I was one lucky man today. Damaged, but not down & out. Still have left hand.”
BASKETBALL
Team USA world champs again
Kyrie Irving made all six three-pointers and scored 26 points, and the U.S. repeated as world champion for the first time by crushing Serbia 129-92 on Sunday in the Basketball World Cup.
James Harden added 23 for the Americans, who made 11 of 16 three-pointers in a sensational-shooting first half, adding one final romp to a tournament full of them.
This depleted team that was supposedly weak enough to lose was too good to be touched.
The Americans were supposed to have All-Star forwards Kevin Durant, Kevin Love and Blake Griffin, who all informed USA Basketball not long before the tournament that they would be unavailable.
But Irving and Harden stuck around, and despite sending the youngest U.S. team since NBA players debuted in 1992, the Americans remained as dominant as ever.
They have won 63 consecutive games — 45 in official FIBA events and 18 in exhibition play — and are automatically qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
It was the fifth world title for the Americans, tying Yugoslavia for the most all-time. And the second for Derrick Rose, who used this tournament as his return after missing most of the last two seasons following a pair of knee surgeries, along with Stephen Curry and Rudy Gay.
It was the first medal for Serbia, which had been a part of Yugoslavia when it won five. The Yugoslavians had been the last repeat champions, winning in 1998 and 2002.
The Serbians were only 2-3 in the group stage but then routed previously unbeaten Greece and Brazil before building a big lead and holding on for a 90-85 semifinal victory over France, which had beat then in the group stage and knocked out tournament co-favorite Spain in the quarters.
MOTOR SPORTS
Rossi wins in Italy
Valentino Rossi won the San Marino Grand Prix on Sunday, at his home track, after MotoGP world championship leader Marc Marquez fell. Rossi clocked a time of 44 minutes, 14.586 seconds to finish 1.578 seconds ahead of Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo for his first victory of the season. Dani Pedrosa was third, more than four seconds behind Rossi. The Misano circuit is located near Rossi’s home town of Tavullia. Rossi had qualified third on the grid, behind Lorenzo and Andrea Iannone, with Marquez starting from the second row for the first time this season as he looked for his 12th win in 13 races. Marquez and Rossi battled from the start, until the young Spaniard fell on lap 10.
HORSE RACING
Lubash, Humor on top
Lubash and Invading Humor won the $125,000 turf stakes for New York breds on Sunday at Belmont Park. Lubash beat King Kreesa by a neck in the Ashley T. Cole. It was the 11th win in 37 races for the 7-year-old trained by Christophe Clement. Junior Alvarado was aboard for the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.83. Lubash paid $6.10 to win. Invading Humor extended her winning streak to four in the John Hettinger for fillies and mares. A 4-year-old trained by Bruce Levine and ridden by Rajiv Maragh, Invading Humor prevailed by one length over Strike Accord for her first stakes victory. She paid $12.80 to win. The time was 1:49.47.
m The New Orleans Advocate reports that Churchill Downs Inc. is trying to sell New Orleans’ Fair Grounds racing track. Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper reported that Churchill Downs, which has owned the Fair Grounds and 11 off-track betting facilities since 2004, has hired JPMorgan Chase to seek bids with a deadline of Wednesday. Churchill Downs bought the Fair Grounds when the track was in bankruptcy for an estimated $70 million. Horsemen criticized conditions at the Fair Grounds, especially problems with the turf course that led to nearly half of turf races being cancelled or moved to the dirt track over two years. The Louisiana Racing Commission had demanded an improvement plan. The company derives most revenue in Louisiana from slot machines at the track and video poker in off-track facilities. The canceled races contributed to the track reducing purses for non-stakes races by 10 percent and lowering the purse or canceling some stakes events during the latter part of this year’s meet. A threat of legislative action remains. A bill by Rep. Patrick Connick, R-Metairie, mandating that CDI dedicate 10 percent of its slots revenue for track upkeep gained unanimous approval in the House of Representatives, but it was withdrawn after assurances from CDI about the upgrades. Churchill Downs officials have said they are interested in reducing the number of racing days at the Fair Grounds to reduce expenses. That would require legislative approval.