BASKETBALL
Texas under investigation
Texas says it has contacted the NCAA as the school investigates allegations of academic misconduct in its men's basketball program. The school issued a statement Wednesday following a report in The Chronicle of Higher Education that mentioned potential allegations from the tenure of former coach Rick Barnes, who is now at Tennessee. In the statement, the university said it "has no information that suggests" Barnes knew of or was involved in any academic improprieties. The statement added that "we determined that the university had no knowledge of two former student-athletes allegedly receiving improper help with high school coursework before they enrolled." That stems from a December report by The Chronicle of Higher Education. "We now are reviewing three other cases purported to have occurred over a nine-year period since 2006 to determine if any university or NCAA rules were violated and if any action is needed," the school said. Those three cases are detailed in Wednesday's report. In the article, Adam Creasy, a former academic counselor for the Texas football team, says that math instructor Pamela Powell told him she saw former basketball player Martez Walker cheating on an exam, and that Walker passed the class anyway. Walker has since transferred. Also in the article, a former academic mentor in the athletic department says he helped write papers for former Texas guard J'Covan Brown. Creasy, one of the tutors for former player P.J. Tucker, says he believes Tucker received impermissible help with a paper while preparing for the NBA draft. Creasy says he didn't provide the assistance but believes someone other than Tucker did the work.
BASEBALL
Braves' catcher suspended
Atlanta Braves catcher Chris O'Dowd, a son of former Colorado Manager Dan O'Dowd, has been suspended for 80 games under baseball's minor league drug program. The 24-year-old tested positive for Testosterone metabolites of external origin, the commissioner's office said Wednesday. O'Dowd is hitting .304 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 79 at-bats for Mississippi of the Double-A Southern League. He attended Dartmouth after he was taken by Oakland on the 40th round of the 2009 amateur draft and decided not to sign. There have been 54 suspensions this year under the minor league drug program.
• Outfielder Gregor Blanco has been put on the seven-day concussion disabled list by the San Francisco Giants, who appear likely to also put All-Star Hunter Pence on the DL. Pence didn't make his season debut until mid-May because of a broken left forearm sustained during spring training, and the right fielder has not played since June 2 because of a sore left wrist. San Francisco could make a DL stint retroactive and Pence would be eligible to be activated June 17. Blanco was hit on the head by a throw from Brandon Belt during warmups on Sunday in Philadelphia and was scratched from Tuesday's lineup when he experienced a headache during batting practice.
• Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings has had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The Rays said Jennings, out since April 26, had tissue inflammation. Dr. Steven Singleton operated Wednesday in Vail, Colo. Tampa Bay Manager Kevin Cash said there is no timetable for Jennings' return.
• The Los Angeles Angels have recalled third baseman Kyle Kubitza from Triple-A Salt Lake and designated outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis for assignment. The moves were made before Wednesday night's game against Tampa Bay. Kubitza was scheduled to make his major league debut Wednesday, filling in for David Freese, who left Tuesday night's 8-2 win over the Rays with right hamstring tightness.
FOOTBALL
Dolphins sign DT Mosley
Free agent defensive tackle C.J. Mosley has signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins, where he rejoins former teammate Ndamukong Suh. Mosley played with Suh and the Detroit Lions in 2013-14, and started eight games last year. Mosley has 31 career starts in 10 NFL seasons for five teams, and has missed only two games in the past four years. He signed Wednesday with the Dolphins, who were in the market to improve their depth behind starting tackles Suh and Earl Mitchell. Miami waived defensive tackle Kamal Johnson. Mosley played for the New York Jets in 2006-08 when Mike Tannenbaum was with them. Tannenbaum is the Dolphins' new executive vice president of football operations.
• Gayle Benson, the third wife of New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, is the latest witness to testify in a trial examining whether her husband was mentally competent when he chose her as his primary successor and disowned relatives who'd previously been in line to take over his business empire. Tom Benson's daughter, Renee Benson, and her children, Rita and Ryan LeBlanc, allege that Gayle Benson, who testified Wednesday, has isolated her 87-year-old husband from family. The estranged heirs also allege Gayle Benson has manipulated her husband while he's been in a weakened mental state. The courtroom is closed to the public. But Tom Benson's lawyers have argued that the Louisiana billionaire simply decided after years of evaluation that the plaintiffs failed to prove they'd be worthy successors.
U.S. beats champion Germany in friendly
COLOGNE, Germany — Substitute Bobby Wood scored in the 87th minute to give the United States a 2-1 victory over World Cup champion Germany in a friendly on Wednesday.
Wood drilled a low shot inside the post to cap a good second half performance in which the Americans missed several clear chances. Wood has also scored a 90th-minute winner in the United States’ 4-3 victory over the Netherlands in another friendly on Friday.
The Americans equalized through Mix Diskerud late in the first half to cancel out Mario Goetze’s goal for the hosts in the 12th minute.
Wood’s strike gave U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann a winning return to his homeland and the United States its first victory on German soil. Klinsmann, who sang both national anthems before kickoff, led Germany to the 1990 World Cup title as a player and coached it to third place in 2006.
“Bobby is a work in progress,” Klinsmann said of the striker whose German club team Erzgebirge Auehas has been relegated to the third division.
“An entertaining game with a happy ending with us,” Klinsmann said. “To win against the world champion in Germany is something special, but we deserved it. It’s an important step toward the Gold Cup.”
Klinsmann said his players “had a lot of respect” for Germany but “the team realized after 20, 25 minutes that there was a whole game to play.”
Germany, which rested several of its first-choice players, lost some of its pace after the break as a series of substitutions disrupted its rhythm.
Klinsmann praised the work of substitute Kyle Beckerman, who started the second half.
“Beckerman calmed down things defensively. He is doing the dirty work and makes us look better,” Klinsmann said. “In the second half we closed down the passing lanes and we turned the momentum.”
Klinsmann also praised captain Michael Bradley “as the best man on the pitch.”
Germany Coach Joachim Loew, who began as Klinsmann’s assistant with Germany in 2004, said he was very pleased with how his team played in the first half.
“But we should have scored a second. We lost pace through a lot of substitutions in the second half. The result is frustrating, but we can live with that,” Loew said. “The Americans have improved a lot over the past couple of years.”
The Germans got off to a better start and grabbed the early lead when Shkodran Mustafi sent Patrick Herrmann racing. Herrmann, making his Germany debut, left three defenders behind and set up Goetze to slot the ball inside the far post.
U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan made a point-blank save from Goetze, who later set up Andre Schuerrle for a weak header that Guzan was able to collect.
The Americans equalized in the 41st minute when Bradley sent a long diagonal pass to Diskerud, who chested the ball a step ahead of defender Sebastian Rudy and sent a right-foot shot past goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
Sports on 06/11/2015