UPI NewsTrack Sports

Titans' owner fined $250,000 for gestures

NEW YORK, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The NFL Monday fined Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams $250,000 for making obscene hand gestures at a game, and Adams apologized for his behavior.

The NFL said the fine was for "conduct detrimental to the league," The New York Times reported.

Adams, 86, was fined hours after apologizing for his actions during a 41-17 Titans' win over the Buffalo Bills Sunday in Nashville.

The (Nashville) Tennessean reported that Adams apologized for "flipping the bird" to the Bills' bench at least twice during the game.

"I need to apologize for my actions yesterday near the end of the game," Adams said. "I got caught up in the excitement of a great day, but I do realize that those types of things shouldn't happen.

"I need to specifically apologize to the Bills, their fans, our fans and the NFL. I obviously have a great deal of respect for (Bills' owner) Ralph Wilson and the history we have shared. I also understand there will probably be league discipline for my actions and I will accept those."

The Tennessean said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spent most of the game in Adams' suite at LP Stadium, but after he left Adams was captured by cameras flashing an obscene gesture toward the Buffalo sideline, followed by a similar incident later on the field.

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Iverson's brief Memphis stint is over

MEMPHIS, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Ten-time all-star guard Allen Iverson, who played just three games for Memphis, is no longer with the team, General Manager Chris Wallace said Monday.

Iverson joined the club in September, later expressed displeasure with not being a starter and then took a leave of absence Nov. 7.

"The Grizzlies and Allen Iverson have come to a mutual agreement that because of personal matters that forced him to leave the team ... Allen will step away from the game at this time, allowing him to focus on those matters," Wallace said. "As a result, we will be ending our contractual agreement with Allen, which will allow both parties to move forward. We wish Allen the best."

The 34-year-old Iverson has a 27.1 scoring average in the NBA. He averaged 12.3 points and 3.7 assists in the three games he played with the Grizzlies.

Iverson, who starred at Georgetown in college, played 10 years for the Philadelphia 76ers, winning the NBA's Most Valuable Player award for the 2000-01 season. He went to the Denver Nuggets in 2006 and was with both Denver and the Detroit Pistons last season.

The Grizzlies signed veteran point guard Jamaal Tinsley to a one-year contract during the weekend.

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Randy Johnson files for free agency at 46

NEW YORK, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Forty-six-year-old left-hander Randy Johnson filed for free agency Monday, raising the number of baseball free agents to 174.

Pitchers Kip Wells and John Grabow also filed. The filing deadline is Thursday.

Strikeout ace Johnson pitched for San Francisco, Wells for Cincinnati and Grabow for Pittsburgh and the Chicago Cubs in 2009.

Johnson has pitched 22 seasons in the major leagues for the Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees and San Francisco, compiling a record of 303-166 with 4,875 strikeouts. He was 8-6 with the Giants in 2009.

Wells, who has also pitched for the Washington Nationals, was 2-5 last season with the Reds.

Grabow was 3-0 in 75 relief appearances in 2009.

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San Jose State's Tomey says he'll retire

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 16 (UPI) -- San Jose State football Coach Dick Tomey announced Monday he will retire after five years with the Spartans.

Tomey, 71, who has coached major college teams for almost three decades, said his retirement is effective Jan. 15, 2010.

"This is a big-picture decision made jointly by me and my wife Nanci in our best interests and in the best interests of San Jose State University," Tomey said at a news conference. "The reason I've coached this long is because the relationships with the players and the coaches are the most gratifying part of the job for me."

San Jose State has a 1-8 record with three games remaining this season.

Tomey has a 182-143-7 overall record. He coached at Hawaii (1977-86) and Arizona (1987-2000).