Dwyane Wade is SI Sportsman of the Year
NEW YORK, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Dwyane Wade, who led the Miami Heat to the NBA title last season, has been selected the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
Wade, 24, was the choice for his play in the NBA Finals last year against the Dallas Mavericks and for his nonprofit foundation that promotes social enrichment, education and physical fitness among youth, the magazine's editors said Monday.
"This award has always stood for more than the victory alone," Sports Illustrated Group Editor Terry McDonell said in a release. "It recognizes the manner of an athlete's striving and the quality of his or her efforts. Dwyane embodies that winning spirit by playing for his team, not himself, and by working in the community to ensure young people have the chance to realize their own dreams."
Wade is the fifth NBA player to be named SI Sportsman of the Year following Bill Russell (1968), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1985), Michael Jordan (1991) and Tim Duncan and David Robinson (2003). In addition, NBA player Rory Sparrow was selected one of eight Athletes Who Care in 1987.
Stanford fires football coach Harris
PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Walt Harris was fired Monday as football coach at Stanford University, which this season posted its worst record in more than 40 years.
The Cardinal dropped its rivalry game with California, 26-17, last Saturday and ended the season 1-11. The 11 losses mark the team's worst season since Stanford went 0-10 in 1960.
Harris was two years into a 5-year contract and had a combined 6-17 record.
"Let me first say that I appreciate the work and dedication of Coach Harris on behalf of Stanford University," said Stanford Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby. "It is unfortunate that things played out the way they did. In some measure, the change in leadership is not fair to Coach Harris. But, given the situation, it is my opinion that we have to start anew and identify new leadership."
Harris was hired at Stanford after building a 52-43 record over eight seasons at Pittsburgh.
Anthony, Redd take NBA weekly awards
NEW YORK, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Milwaukee's Michael Redd were chosen the NBA's players of the week, the league announced Monday.
Anthony, who was also the NBA's Western Conference player of the week last week, averaged 36.7 points, 5.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds while helping the Nuggets to a 2-1 record for the week. He shot 57 percent from the floor, including 50 percent from three-point range.
Redd averaged 35.3 points, had 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the Bucks' three games last week to take the NBA Eastern Conference honor. He had 45 points last Tuesday as Milwaukee won on the Los Angeles Lakers' home court for the first time since 2000.
Kozlov leads NHL weekly honors
NEW YORK, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- New York Islanders right wing Viktor Kozlov, who led all NHL scorers last week, has been selected one of three of the league's players of the week.
Also chosen were Chicago goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and Atlanta right wing Marian Hossa, the NHL announced Monday.
Kozlov piled up nine points, with seven goals and two assists over four games. Two of his scores were game-winners for the Islanders, who went 2-2 for the week. He had four goals in the Islanders' 7-4 victory Sunday over the New York Rangers.
Khabibulin helped the Blackhawks to a 3-0 record on the week with a 2.00 goals against average. He stopped a total of 74 shots in the three games.
Hossa had back-to-back four-point games for the Thrashers, including a hat trick during Atlanta's 5-0 victory over Toronto last Thursday.
Brian Kelly becomes Cincinnati's head coach
CINCINNATI, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Brian Kelly is leaving Central Michigan to become the head football coach at the University of Cincinnati.
Mike Thomas, the Cincinnati director of athletics, said that Kelly has "been a winner everywhere he has coached."
"Brian Kelly is a proven commodity, as a championship football coach and a great leader of young men," Thomas said. "From the first time that I had a chance to meet him I was taken by his personality and his drive for success."
Kelly has been a head coach for 16 years, with an overall 157-51-2 record.
Mark Dantonio, the Cincinnati head coach, is moving to Michigan State after guiding the Bearcats to a 7-5 record this season. Cincinnati plays Western Michigan on Jan. 6 in the International Bowl.
