Richmond inks Mooney to 10-year deal
RICHMOND, Va., March 27 (UPI) -- The University of Richmond said Sunday it has signed men's basketball Coach Chris Mooney to a 10-year contract extension.
The deal will run through the 2020-21 season, Athletics Director Jim Miller said.
"Chris Mooney has demonstrated that he is the right fit for the University of Richmond. He has attracted quality student-athletes and guided them to success both on the court and in the classroom," Miller said.
The big contact comes after Mooney took Richmond to a 29-8 season, during with the Spiders won their first-ever Atlantic 10 Conference title and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before bowing to Kansas.
Mooney, the team's head coach since 2005-06, has compiled a 112-87 record.
Franchitti dominates IndyCar season opener
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 27 (UPI) -- Dario Franchitti started his defense of his IZOD IndyCar Series championship Sunday with a convincing win in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Franchitti, of Chip Ganassi Racing, busted past pole-sitter Will Power after a restart on the fifth lap and never looked back, turning in a dominating performance in the season-opening IndyCar event.
He was out of the top only during his two pit stops, finishing 7.2 seconds ahead of Team Penske's Power.
Tony Kanaan of KV Racing Technology-Lotus came in third, holding off a hard-charging Simona de Silvestro down the stretch.
De Silvestro, meanwhile, notched a career-best fourth-place finish and Takuma Sato rounded out the top five finishers.
Cubs release veteran starter Silva
MESA, Ariz., March 27 (UPI) -- Veteran Chicago Cubs starter Carlos Silva was officially released Sunday, a day after he said he wouldn't report to the minors.
The Cubs said Silva was granted his unconditional release Sunday and is free to negotiate with another squad after spending one season with the team.
Cubs Manager Mike Quade chose Andrew Cashner as the team's fifth starter Saturday, leaving the 31-year-old Silva off the team's 25-man roster. But the sinkerballer told reporters at a spring training game in Surprise, Ariz., he wasn't going to go to Class AAA Iowa.
"No chance," Silva told MLB.com. "That's not in my mind right now, not at all. I'm not an insurance player. My guess is that's what they want."
"I wish the best for him," Quade said. "If he can pitch somewhere, that would be fantastic."
Silva, who was one of the team's more dependable pitchers last year going 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA in 21 starts, struggled this spring, logging a 1-2 record with a 10.90 ERA over 17 1/3 innings.
He sports a 70-70 record and a 4.68 ERA over a nine-year career with Philadelphia, Minnesota, Seattle and the Cubs.
Eagles' Peters hit with resisting arrest
SHREVEPORT, La., March 27 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jason Peters was jailed in Louisiana Saturday, accused of resisting arrest, authorities said.
Sgt. Bill Goodin of the Shreveport, La., police department told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Peters' vehicle was stopped in a downtown area after police heard loud music coming from inside.
Police said Peters wouldn't provide identification or turn down his stereo as he was being arrested for disturbing the peace, resulting in an additional resistance count.
Peters was later released on bond.
The celebrity news Web site TMZ.com reported Peters was in Shreveport as a guest of rapper Rick Ross.
Ross, whose real name is William Roberts II, was also arrested this weekend and charged with possessing marijuana at his Shreveport hotel, police said.
