COLLEGES
The Final Four’s first two games are moving to cable next year. The national semifinals will air on TBS in 2014 and 2015, with the title game remaining on CBS, the companies said Tuesday. Under the 14-year deal that CBS and Turner Sports signed with the NCAA in 2010, CBS and TBS were scheduled to start alternating broadcasts of the entire Final Four starting in 2016, but Turner had the option to move that up to 2014. Network executives decided in recent months that the best approach for both companies was to split the coverage for the next two years before beginning to take turns . . . The supervising judge for the grand jury that investigated the handling of Penn State’s child sex-abuse scandal said Tuesday in a new court filing that the defendants are intentionally stalling their criminal case with repeated motions and appeals. Attorneys for defendants Tim Curley and Gary Schultz declined comment, and a spokesman for Attorney General Kathleen Kane blamed defense motions for the delays . . . Davidson will join the Atlantic 10 for the 2014-15 season, a source with direct knowledge told ESPN.com. The school will make the announcement Wednesday.
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BASEBALL
Closer Motte has Tommy John surgery
St. Louis closer Jason Motte had season-ending Tommy John surgery. Motte was placed on the Cardinals’ disabled list March 29 with right elbow soreness. After trying to rehab the injury and play catch, the team decided he should have the elbow-ligament replacement procedure . . . Athletics outfielder Josh Reddick is expected to be miss a few games with a sore right wrist. . . Rockies first baseman Todd Helton has been sentenced to a year of probation and 24 hours of community service after pleading guilty in a courtroom in Brighton outside of Denver to driving while ability-impaired.
NFL
Jets owner: Happy to have Geno Smith
Jets owner Woody Johnson is ‘‘extremely happy’’ to have Geno Smith on his team, and looks forward to a ‘‘fun’’ quarterback competition. Johnson, speaking to reporters at an NFL symposium, said the team gave Smith a ‘‘very high score’’ while scouting him and the former West Virginia star is ‘‘welcome to the competition’’ . . . John Kasay, who ranks among the NFL all-time leaders in field goals and scoring, retired after signing a one-day contract with the Panthers . . . The Jaguars signed free agent cornerback Marcus Trufant . . . Embarrassed by a federal investigation of fraud inside his truck-stop company, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam apologized to Cleveland fans and promised to bring the city a winning team. The FBI raided the headquarters of Pilot Flying J, Haslam’s family’s business, last month as part of an investigation into an alleged fraud scheme . . . According to a report in the Oakland (Mich.) Press, former Lions wide receiver Titus Young was arrested twice in a span of 15 hours on Sunday. Young was arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence in Southern California a little after midnight. A little after 2 p.m., he was arrested again when he tried to hop a fence at an impound lot where his car was being held.
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MISCELLANY
Nets unable to reel in Phil Jackson
A source confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com that Phil Jackson has turned down the offer to become the Brooklyn Nets head coach. The Nets were defeated in the first round of the NBA playoffs, 4-3, by the Bulls. After the defeat, the team fired interim coach P.J. Carlesimo . . . Tickets for the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston in Norton go on sale to the public Wednesday, May 8. The golf tournament takes place Aug. 28-Sept. 2 . . . Patrick Ball and Allen Chase teamed up to win the Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship at Stow Acres Country Club. Ball and Chase played a superb final round, shooting a 9-under-par 63 to finish at 10-under 134 for the tournament . . . University of Virginia senior Brittany Altomare of Shrewsbury was named the ACC Women’s Golfer of the Year . . . The US men’s hockey team fell to Russia, 5-3, at the IIHF World Championships in Helsinki. The United States’s next game is against Finland Wednesday at 1:15 p.m.
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Rolston sticks as Sabres’ head coach
Ron Rolston was hired as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, dropping the interim title he was given on Feb. 20. Rolston was the only candidate considered for the job by the Sabres. He led Buffalo to a 15-11-5 record after being promoted from the team’s AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans . . . Grigor Dimitrov stunned Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Madrid Open, beating the top-ranked Serb, 7-6 (6), 6-7 (8), 6-3. In the women’s half of the draw, defending champion Serena Williams defeated Lourdes Dominguez Lino, 6-2, 7-5. . . Registration for the Boston Athletic Association 10K will start at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8. The race will be held June 23 and will be limited to 6,500 entrants . . . Connecticut lawmakers are reconsidering the state’s ban on mixed martial arts in a bid to cash in on the sport’s growing popularity across the country . . . Penske Racing celebrated a small victory when NASCAR’s chief appellate officer issued a mixed ruling on penalties levied against the team for using what NASCAR alleged were unapproved parts. Although most everything was upheld, suspensions for seven key employees were reduced from six points races to two.
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