Published: Monday, December 25, 2006
LOCAL
LOCAL
City bowling
YOUNGSTOWN — The Greater Youngstown Bowling Association is accepting entries for its 75th city bowling tournament, which runs Jan. 19-28.
The team championships will again include two divisions: upper (1,000 average and higher) and lower (999 average and below). The ranges for the doubles event are 400-up and 399-under, while singles and all-events are divided into 200-up and 199-under.
Entry fee is $17 per event per bowler with all-events $2 optional.
Forms may be obtained at all area centers or by calling the GYBA at 758-8367.
Entries close Jan. 12.
REGION
Ohio State players leave fundraiser
AKRON — Two Ohio State players left a fundraiser to help their families attend the upcoming national championship game because of concerns the benefit violated NCAA rules, the team's offensive coordinator said.
Running backs Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells, both of Akron, were at the spaghetti dinner fundraiser Saturday when Wells' mother called Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Bollman to explain the situation.
Bollman told the Akron Beacon Journal that he informed her that NCAA rules do not allow benefit dinners for players' families, and he advised her to have Wells and Pittman leave, which they did.
Bollman said he didn't know if the players could get in trouble.
"I don't think anybody had intentions of doing anything illegal," Bollman said. "But people did some things without thinking about it. They are reacting after the fact.
"And I don't know how the boys being there will be viewed. That [being there] would be the root of some people's concern," he said.
Senior defensive back De'Angelo Haslam and sophomore defensive end Lawrence Wilson were also involved in the benefit but did not attend.
Based on Bollman's advice, the families of the four players declined the money raised, which organizers said was intended to help them attend the Jan. 8 national championship game against the Florida Gators in Glendale, Ariz.
Organizer Dawn Stigger-Ferguson said the funds instead will go to two local peewee football associations.
"Our intentions were good," Stigger-Ferguson said.
Wells and Pittman said they appreciated the thought behind the benefit, which attracted nearly 100 people.
"That says a lot about the community we live in," Pittman said.
Ohio State sports information director Steve Snapp said Sunday he had no information about the event. A message seeking comment was left with the NCAA.
NATION
Brewers sign pitcher
Jeff Suppan
MILWAUKEE — Jeff Suppan, the MVP of the NL championship series for the St. Louis Cardinals this season, has signed a four-year free agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers said Sunday they also have an option for a fifth year.
The 31-year-old right-hander went 12-7 with a 4.12 ERA for St. Louis last season, and was 1-1 in four postseason starts — including a win in Game 3 and seven solid innings in Game 7 of the NLCS against the New York Mets.
"With 44 wins in the last three seasons, Jeff is not only a proven winner, he is also one of the most durable pitchers in baseball," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said in a statement.
"This agreement makes us feel very good about the depth of our rotation. Jeff's experience and durability should have a positive influence on our entire pitching staff."
WORLD
Wallet closing
for Chelsea owner
LONDON — Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's billionaire owner, won't be emptying his wallet quite so quickly to land star talent.
Since Abramovich took over Chelsea in 2003, the Premier League club has spent about $540 million on player transfers.
This year alone, Chelsea signed striker Andriy Shevchenko on a British-record transfer fee of $59 million and agreed to pay midfielder Michael Ballack one of the highest salaries in world soccer.
"Our strategy is to bring up our own players through the academy, which we have invested a lot in, and we hope that will give results," Abramovich said in his first interview in three years, with The Observer newspaper published Sunday. "We will be spending less in the transfer market in future years."
Ex-champion
runner retires
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican runner Sandie Richards, a former world champion who competed at four Olympics, retired Sunday and will become a coach.
The 38-year-old Richards won the 400-meter gold medal at the 2001 world championships and the bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics as part of the 1,600-meter relay.
"I've been toying with (retirement) for two years now," she said. "It's a hard thing to do. My body couldn't handle the training any more, and I don't want to do anything else on the track internationally."
Richards also won the 400 at the 1993 and 2000 world indoor championships and at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Vindicator staff/wire reports
Monday, December 25, 2006
LOCAL
City bowling
YOUNGSTOWN — The Greater Youngstown Bowling Association is accepting entries for its 75th city bowling tournament, which runs Jan. 19-28.
The team championships will again include two divisions: upper (1,000 average and higher) and lower (999 average and below). The ranges for the doubles event are 400-up and 399-under, while singles and all-events are divided into 200-up and 199-under.
Entry fee is $17 per event per bowler with all-events $2 optional.
Forms may be obtained at all area centers or by calling the GYBA at 758-8367.
Entries close Jan. 12.
REGION
Ohio State players leave fundraiser
AKRON — Two Ohio State players left a fundraiser to help their families attend the upcoming national championship game because of concerns the benefit violated NCAA rules, the team's offensive coordinator said.
Running backs Antonio Pittman and Chris Wells, both of Akron, were at the spaghetti dinner fundraiser Saturday when Wells' mother called Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Bollman to explain the situation.
Bollman told the Akron Beacon Journal that he informed her that NCAA rules do not allow benefit dinners for players' families, and he advised her to have Wells and Pittman leave, which they did.
Bollman said he didn't know if the players could get in trouble.
"I don't think anybody had intentions of doing anything illegal," Bollman said. "But people did some things without thinking about it. They are reacting after the fact.
"And I don't know how the boys being there will be viewed. That [being there] would be the root of some people's concern," he said.
Senior defensive back De'Angelo Haslam and sophomore defensive end Lawrence Wilson were also involved in the benefit but did not attend.
Based on Bollman's advice, the families of the four players declined the money raised, which organizers said was intended to help them attend the Jan. 8 national championship game against the Florida Gators in Glendale, Ariz.
Organizer Dawn Stigger-Ferguson said the funds instead will go to two local peewee football associations.
"Our intentions were good," Stigger-Ferguson said.
Wells and Pittman said they appreciated the thought behind the benefit, which attracted nearly 100 people.
"That says a lot about the community we live in," Pittman said.
Ohio State sports information director Steve Snapp said Sunday he had no information about the event. A message seeking comment was left with the NCAA.
NATION
Brewers sign pitcher
Jeff Suppan
MILWAUKEE — Jeff Suppan, the MVP of the NL championship series for the St. Louis Cardinals this season, has signed a four-year free agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Brewers said Sunday they also have an option for a fifth year.
The 31-year-old right-hander went 12-7 with a 4.12 ERA for St. Louis last season, and was 1-1 in four postseason starts — including a win in Game 3 and seven solid innings in Game 7 of the NLCS against the New York Mets.
"With 44 wins in the last three seasons, Jeff is not only a proven winner, he is also one of the most durable pitchers in baseball," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said in a statement.
"This agreement makes us feel very good about the depth of our rotation. Jeff's experience and durability should have a positive influence on our entire pitching staff."
WORLD
Wallet closing
for Chelsea owner
LONDON — Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's billionaire owner, won't be emptying his wallet quite so quickly to land star talent.
Since Abramovich took over Chelsea in 2003, the Premier League club has spent about $540 million on player transfers.
This year alone, Chelsea signed striker Andriy Shevchenko on a British-record transfer fee of $59 million and agreed to pay midfielder Michael Ballack one of the highest salaries in world soccer.
"Our strategy is to bring up our own players through the academy, which we have invested a lot in, and we hope that will give results," Abramovich said in his first interview in three years, with The Observer newspaper published Sunday. "We will be spending less in the transfer market in future years."
Ex-champion
runner retires
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican runner Sandie Richards, a former world champion who competed at four Olympics, retired Sunday and will become a coach.
The 38-year-old Richards won the 400-meter gold medal at the 2001 world championships and the bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics as part of the 1,600-meter relay.
"I've been toying with (retirement) for two years now," she said. "It's a hard thing to do. My body couldn't handle the training any more, and I don't want to do anything else on the track internationally."
Richards also won the 400 at the 1993 and 2000 world indoor championships and at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Vindicator staff/wire reports
Monday, December 25, 2006
The Greater Youngstown Bowling Association is accepting entries for its 75th city bowling tournament, which runs Jan....
More Stories from Thu, Dec 28, 2006
