Brown, Torretta lead Hall of Fame class
NEW YORK, April 30 (UPI) -- Tim Brown and Gino Torretta, who each won the Heisman Trophy, were among 16 players and two coaches chosen for the College Football Hall of Fame.
Brown was a wide receiver for Notre Dame when he won the Heisman after the 1987 season. Torretta, a Miami (Fla.) quarterback, won the trophy in 1992.
Dick MacPherson, the Syracuse coach from 1981-91, and John Robinson, who coached Southern California from 1976-82 and 1993-97, were also chosen for induction.
The other players to be inducted in the 2009 class of the College Football Hall of Fame are:
New Mexico State running back Pervis Atkins, Arizona defensive back Chuck Cecil, Auburn fullback Ed Dyas, West Virginia quarterback Major Harris, Brigham Young tight end Gordon Hudson, Harvard center William Lewis, Alabama linebacker Woodrow Lowe, Stanford wide receiver Ken Margerum, Texas defensive tackle Steve McMichael, Ohio State linebacker Chris Spielman, Iowa linebacker Larry Station, Georgia Tech defensive end Pat Swilling, Penn State running back Curt Warner and Nebraska defensive end Grant Wistrom.
New book links A-Rod with more steroid use
NEW YORK, April 30 (UPI) -- Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees third baseman and highest-paid player in baseball, may have used steroids after moving to New York, a new book says.
Rodriguez admits to dabbling in steroids while with the Texas Rangers early in his career but the book, "A-Rod," disputes his claim that it ended there. It also claims the steroid usage may have begun in high school.
Jose Canseco, an ex-teammate and friend of Rodriguez, was quoted as saying said he believes him to still be using human growth hormone HGH.
Author Selena Roberts of Sports Illustrated, who broke the story that Rodriguez flunked a steroid screening in 2003, provides a highly unflattering portrait of a needy "me-firster" who had to have his ego constantly stroked, the New York Daily News said.
The book, published by HarperCollins, is scheduled to be released May 12.
Roberts writes that Yankee teammates kidded Rodriguez about his new-found bulk in 2005 after he put on 15 pounds in the off-season and seemed to develop round pectorals, a condition called gynecomastia, which reportedly can be caused by anabolic steroids.
"No one ever asked Alex directly (about steroids) that I know of, but there was a lot of suspicion in-house," an unnamed Yankee employee said.
New deal keeps Saints in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS, April 30 (UPI) -- The New Orleans Saints have reached an agreement that will keep the NFL team in Louisiana through 2025 and create a sports development district.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who appeared at a news conference Thursday with Saints owner Tom Benson, said the agreement would save the state $280 million in payments to the team over 17 years.
The deal involves an $85 million updating of the Superdome, which would be paid for by the state. Benson would buy a nearby vacant office building and the Saints and the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District would develop an area featuring an interactive entertainment venue, commercial office space, entertainment and parking.
"This new partnership results in a long-term lease agreement with the Saints -- plus an innovative investment that will dramatically revitalize the Superdome area," Jindal said. "By modernizing the Superdome, we will enable the site to be more competitive with venues around the country. At the same time, we have the opportunity to revitalize an area of downtown New Orleans that has remained dormant for four years -- and generate further economic development in the region."
The agreement is subject to approval by the Louisiana state legislature.
Report: Indiana dismisses its quarterback
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., April 30 (UPI) -- Indiana University has dismissed quarterback Kellen Lewis for violating unspecified team rules, HoosierNation.com said.
The Jacksonville, Fla. native was a fifth-year senior, meaning he has only one option if he wants to continue his college career -- to enroll at a Division II school.
Lewis' tenure in Bloomington included a four-month team suspension when he was a sophomore.
Lewis, who was dismissed Wednesday, ranks first in school history with 48 touchdown passes, second in total offense (8,072 yards), and third with 6,395 passing yards.
"Today's action underscores that no individual student-athlete, regardless of talent or popularity, is above the expectations of Indiana University," Athletic Director Fred Glass said after Lewis was dismissed by Coach Bill Lynch.
"We are disappointed to have to make this decision," Lynch said. (But) when you have expectations of those on your team that are not met, you need to do what is ultimately in the overall best interest of your program."
