SEC punishes football officials
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The Southeastern Conference announced Wednesday it has suspended an officiating crew involved in two recent controversial decisions.
The rare public reprimand involved the crew headed by referee Marc Curles. Conference Commissioner Mike Silve identified those involved only as "the officiating crew from Saturday's Arkansas-Florida game."
"A series of calls that have occurred during the last several weeks have not been to the standard that we expect from our officiating crews," Silve said. "I believe our officiating program is the best in the country. However, there are times when these actions must be taken."
Silve said the crew would be removed from its next scheduled assignment Oct. 31, but would be assigned a game Nov. 14.
With Arkansas trying to hold off unbeaten Florida Saturday, a personal foul penalty was called on Razorbacks defensive lineman Malcolm Sheppard. Conference officials later said their study of videotape did not find any reason for that penalty to be called.
Instead of facing a 2nd-and-9 situation at the Arkansas 20, Florida wound up being awarded a first down at the 10-yard line. The Gators went on to score a touchdown that tied the game and they kicked a field goal with 2:59 to play on their next possession to win it.
The crew was also responsible for a questionable unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called during the Georgia-LSU contest in early October.
The SEC did not specifically mention the plays involved.
"While only a few calls have been identified, the entire crew shoulders responsibility for each play," Silve said.
Bruins hand Predators sixth straight loss
BOSTON, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Steve Begin gave Boston its first lead 8:33 into the third period Wednesday and the Bruins held on to defeat Nashville 3-2.
The Predators lost their sixth straight game after opening the season with two consecutive victories.
Boston twice overcame a one-goal deficit before Begin beat Nashville goaltender Dan Ellis.
Although he suffered the loss, Ellis had his second straight solid outing after giving up three goals on the only three shots he faced against Dallas last week.
Jerred Smithson and Colin Wilson both scored their first goal of the season for Nashville. Michael Ryder and Patrice Bergeron tallied for the Bruins.
Tim Thomas made 28 saves to get the victory. Thomas has a 3-3 record this month, having given up a total of four goals in the victories and 14 in the losses.
Glover wins Grand Slam of Golf
SOUTHAMPTON PARISH, Bermuda, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Lucas Glover, playing his best golf since winning the U.S. Open this summer, earned a five-shot victory over Angel Cabrera Wednesday at the Grand Slam of Golf.
Glover shot a 5-under 66 over the Port Royal Golf Club course for a two-day total of 131.
The event brings together the winners of the year's four major championships and was played for the 27th time.
Glover began the day with a two-shot lead over British Open champion Stewart Cink and fell into second place behind Cink through seven holes. Glover, however, birdied the 10th and 11th holes and Cink bogeyed the 12th and 13th along with a double-bogey on the 15th.
Cabrera, who won the Masters in a three-way playoff, got hot on the back nine and also shot a 66 to finish the two-day event at 136. Cink wound up at 137 and PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang closed at 141.
"Everybody else was off to a pretty quick start," Glover said. "I got it turned around towards the end of the front nine and played pretty good golf from there."
Glover's five-shot margin of victory was the tournament's largest since Tiger Woods defeated Phil Mickelson by seven in 2005.
Pittsburgh loses Gonchar to broken wrist
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar for 4-6 weeks because of a broken left wrist, the team said Wednesday.
The 35-year-old Gonchar was hurt in Tuesday's 5-1 win over St. Louis when he landed awkwardly following a collision with St. Louis forward David Backes late in the second period.
"Surgery was not a consideration at all," Coach Dan Bylsma said Wednesday on the team's Web site. "(The bone is) not displaced. It's a small fracture (and) will heal on its own."
Gonchar, a 14-year NHL veteran and a key cog in Pittsburgh's defense, has compiled eight points (two goals, six assists) while leading the reigning Stanley Cup champion Penguins to an 8-1 start in the 2009-10 season. He is in the final season of a five-year, $25 million contract.
Gonchar missed most of last season following surgery for a shoulder injury he suffered in an exhibition game.
