USC's Matt Leinart wins Unitas Award
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Southern California's Matt Leinart has won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the nation's top senior quarterback.
Leinart became the third Trojan to win the award, joining Rodney Peete in 1988 and Carson Palmer in 2002.
The award will be presented on Dec. 9 in Louisville.
Leinart won last year's Heisman Trophy and is again a candidate for college football's top honor this year. He has completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,217 yards with 24 touchdowns for the top-ranked ranked Trojans in 2005.
Other finalists for the award were Brett Basanez of Northwestern, Kellen Clemens of Oregon, Brodie Croyle of Alabama, Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt, Drew Olson of UCLA and D.J. Shockley of Georgia.
Jason White of Oklahoma was last year's winner.
Denver coach suspended for criticizing officials
NEW YORK, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl was suspended Wednesday for two games for criticizing officating Monday night.
Karl was punished for vehemently criticizing the officiating after Denver's 101-92 loss to the New Jersey Nets. He will begin his suspension Wednesday, when the Nuggets host the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets.
Karl was named the head coach of the Nuggets on Jan. 27, 2005 and helped the team to the playoffs. They were beaten in the first round by the eventual NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.
During his coaching career, Karl has a 748-514 record. He went 32-8 at the helm of the Nuggets last season.
Assistant Coach Scott Brooks was to coach the team for Wednesday's game and for Friday's game at Phoenix.
Rice football coach resigns after 1-10 season
HOUSTON, Tex., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Rice Football coach Ken Hatfield has resigned, despite announcing during a Tuesday news conference that he would return for his 13th season.
The Houston Chronicle said Hatfield informed his players Tuesday night of his decision.
Hatfield's resignation came just hours after the longtime head coach told local media members that he was looking forward to the 2006 season and that he did not plan to make any changes to his staff. The Owls finished just 1-10 in 2005, the program's worst mark since going 0-11 in 1988.
Hatfield, 62, took over at Rice in 1994 after successful tours at Air Force, Arkansas and Clemson. He directed the Owls to back-to-back 7-4 seasons in 1996 and 1997 as well as an 8-4 campaign in 2001.
Rice's 2005 finish was Hatfield's worst in 27 years as a head coach.
Bruins' defenseman Jonathan Girard retires
BOSTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The Boston Bruins said Wednesday defenseman Jonathan Girard is retiring from the NHL.
Girard's retirement marks the end of the defenseman's comeback attempt from injuries he suffered in a car accident on July 24, 2003, in Quebec. Girard missed the entire 2003-04 season due to the injuries.
"We were hoping that Jonathan would be successful in his comeback attempt," said Bruins General Manager Mike O'Connell. "But his doctors have advised him that he is not physically able to compete at the level of professional hockey."
Girard, a native of Rawdon, Quebec, was Boston's first pick (48th overall) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and has played four full seasons in the Bruins organization. His first full NHL season was in 2002-03, when he recorded six goals and 16 assists for 22 points and 21 penalty minutes in 73 games.
Clippers' center out for at least a month
Los Angeles, CA (UPI) -- Los Angeles Clippers center Zeljko Rebraca underwent a successful bypass procxedure Wednesday and will be sidelined for at least one month.
The procedure was designed to help prevent a recurrence of the symptoms of an irregular heartbeat.
Rebraca was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat at the end of the Clippers 103-100 win over Toronto on Nov. 23.
Dr. Fred Morady performed the procedure for the second time in Rebraca's career. On Aug. 7, 2003, Rebraca had the procedure done when he missed 50 games for the Detroit Pistons during the 2002-2003 season because of a recurring irregular heartbeat.
The seven-foot Rebraca is averaging 4.6 points per game with 2.4 rebounds. In 197 career games, he has averages of 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.
