FOOTBALL
NFL ratings riding high
National Football League television ratings haven’t been affected by a second week of criticism surrounding the handling of domestic abuse cases by players including Ray Rice. The third Sunday of the NFL season unfolded two days after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell rejected calls to resign while pledging to toughen the league’s personal conduct policy. Sunday’s games on Fox, CBS and NBC were seen in an average of 13.15 percent of homes in the top 56 television markets, a rise of 7 percent over Week 3 of the 2013 NFL season, according to Nielsen data. CBS’s national coverage of the NFL Sunday, which concluded with the Seattle Seahawks’ 26-20 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos in a rematch of February’s Super Bowl, drew a 16.9 major-market rating, the network said in a news release. That was 16 percent higher than the 14.6 rating CBS drew during Week 3 last year.
The San Jose home of San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald was burglarized Saturday night, authorities said. McDonald, who awaits the completion of a San Jose Police Department investigation into his Aug. 31 domestic-violence arrest involving his pregnant girlfriend, was in Arizona preparing for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals when the break-in was reported at 10:47 p.m. Pacific time. A witness told police at least one person made off with items from the home. Officers examined the scene for evidence, but no suspects have been identified.
Vandy back suspended
Vanderbilt has suspended running back Brian Kimbrow indefinitely for what Commodores coach Derek Mason described as “conduct detrimental to the team.” Kimbrow rushed for a combined 754 yards over his first two seasons at Vanderbilt, but he hasn’t contributed nearly as much this season. His only carry of the year resulted in a fumble in a 37-7 season-opening loss to Temple. Kimbrow, a junior from Memphis, Tennessee, rushed for 341 yards and three touchdowns on 81 carries last season. He ran for 413 yards and 3 touchdowns on 66 carries in 2012.
Tennessee has dismissed running back Treyvon Paulk from the team for what Volunteers coach Butch Jones described as a “personal conduct issue.” Paulk, a freshman from Alpharetta, Ga., hadn’t appeared in any of Tennessee’s first three games. Paulk was rated as a three-star prospect by most recruiting services when he signed with Tennessee in February.
TENNIS
Davis Cup on clay
France will play the Davis Cup final against Switzerland on indoor clay in a bid to thwart Roger Federer’s quest for a first victory in the team competition. The final will be held at the 27,000-capacity Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille from Nov. 21-23, under a retractable roof. France’s decision Monday looks like a strategic move because Stan Wawrinka and Federer, who are expected to play at the hardcourt tournament the week before, could struggle to adapt to clay.
Caroline Garcia followed up her first-round victory over Venus Williams with a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) upset victory over fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska on Monday at the inaugural Wuhan Open in China. Garcia, 20, went for broke, continuing to hit big ground strokes despite piling up unforced errors as she tried to keep Radwanska on the back foot. No. 4-seeded Maria Sharapova beat fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a second-round night match that lasted more than two hours.
BASKETBALL
NBA eyes abuse policies
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league will be proactive and “take a fresh look” at their domestic abuse policies in light of high-profile cases in the NFL and try to educate the players more. Speaking at a playground and basketball court dedication Monday in Midland Beach, an area in Staten Island hard hit by superstorm Sandy, Silver wasn’t critical of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. But Silver said the NBA is studying what has transpired, and is working closely with the Players Association on the best ways to prevent such incidents in his league. “We’ve been talking for several weeks and we’re going to take a fresh look at everything we do,” Silver said. “There’s a lot to be learned here, so I’m sure we’ll be increasing everything we’re already doing.”
The Chicago Bulls brought their roster to 14 on Monday by re-signing backup 6-10 center Nazr Mohammed, who will enter his 17th season. Over 977 career games, Mohammed has averaged 5.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 0.65 bpg in 16.1 mpg.
The Sacramento Kings have signed guard Ramon Sessions. Sessions joins Darren Collison and rookie Nik Stauskas in Sacramento’s new backcourt rotation, which also includes second-year players Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum. Milwaukee selected Sessions in the second round of the 2007 draft out of Nevada. He has averaged 11.7 points, 4.7 assists and 25.8 minutes in his NBA career. Sessions averaged 12.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 26.7 minutes per game last season with Charlotte and Milwaukee. He also has played for Minnesota, Cleveland, Charlotte and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Guard Wayne Ellington has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Ellington is a five-year NBA veteran who has played for Minnesota, Memphis, Cleveland and Dallas. He is averaging 6.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists over 312 career games.
The Dallas Mavericks have signed free-agent guard Doron Lamb. Lamb played 53 games for Orlando last season, averaging 3.6 points in 13 minutes.