NBA suspends World Peace for 7 games
NEW YORK, April 24 (UPI) -- The NBA Tuesday suspended Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace for seven games for throwing an elbow at Oklahoma City's James Harden.
Commissioner David Stern said the substantial penalty was levied on World Peace partly because Harden sustained a concussion from the blow, which was delivered during the Lakers' double-overtime win Sunday.
"The concussion suffered by James Harden demonstrates the danger posed by violent acts of this kind, particularly when they are directed at the head area," Stern said in a statement. "We remain committed to taking necessary measures to protect the safety of NBA players, including the imposition of appropriate penalties for players with a history of on-court altercations."
Harden fell to the floor after being struck and World Peace was assessed a flagrant foul-2, earning an ejection from the contest.
The Lakers have one regular season game remaining, so the suspension will carry into the playoffs.
"Metta has for the most part been a model citizen both on and off the court since joining the Lakers," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. "Still, his most recent lapse in judgment is not to be condoned or accepted. His actions could have seriously injured another player, and his absence during this suspension will hurt our team as well. While we accept the league's decision, we will be supportive of Metta and try to help him be more professional on the court."
Saints hit by eavesdropping allegations
NEW YORK, April 24 (UPI) -- Louisiana authorities said Tuesday they're probing allegations the New Orleans Saints had the capability to eavesdrop on opposing coaches for years.
Louisiana State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson told CNN his department is assisting the FBI in looking into a complaint that General Manager Mickey Loomis rewired a recording system in his Superdome suite so it could pick up the conversations of opponents' coaches.
"By placing an investigator with the FBI team, we'll go through the allegations and see where they take us. All we have now are allegations of illegal use of wiretapping and eavesdropping," Edmonson told the broadcaster.
He confirmed the allegations involved Loomis.
Citing "sources familiar with Saints game-day operations," ESPN reported Monday the complaint alleges Loomis set up a listening device capable of eavesdropping from 2002 to 2004.
ESPN, however, said it was unclear whether Loomis actually ever used the system.
If Loomis listened in on opposing coaches, it could be interpreted as a violation of state and federal wiretapping laws, but Louisiana has a six-year statute of limitations in such cases, which could have expired, NFL.com reported.
"This is 1,000 percent false. This is 1,000 percent inaccurate," Greg Bensel, Saints vice president of communications, said Monday on behalf of the Saints and Loomis.
Interim Saints head Coach Joe Vitt told reporters Tuesday the report was "ludicrous."
"That's something from 'Star Wars,'" Vitt said.
Loomis was slapped with an eight-game suspension this year for his role in the Saints' bounty scandal.
Colts confirm Luck will be No. 1 pick
INDIANAPOLIS, April 24 (UPI) -- The Indianapolis Colts confirmed Tuesday they will take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with their first-overall draft choice.
Colts General Manager Ryan Grigson said after a voluntary minicamp session the team will select Luck, thus making it likely the Washington Redskins will claim Baylor signal-caller and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III when they pick second overall.
"In fairness to Andrew Luck and fairness to the whole process -- the media gauntlet he's going to be enduring the next couple of days -- I thought it was the right thing to do to announce we're going to take him," Grigson told the Indianapolis Star. "I didn't see the point in prolonging what the world already knows."
The newspaper cited sources saying the Colts' management made the decision last week and had already informed the junior quarterback, who guided the Cardinal to a Fiesta Bowl appearance last season.
Indianapolis got the No. 1 pick after finishing 2-14 in the absence of all-time franchise passing leader Peyton Manning, who sat out the season with a neck injury.
Manning has since been released by the Colts and signed with the Denver Broncos.
Knicks tap Grunwald as general manager
NEW YORK, April 24 (UPI) -- Interim New York Knicks General Manager Glenn Grunwald has been named to the position full-time, the team announced Tuesday.
Grunwald, who has served as the interim GM since July 2011, was officially named the Knicks' executive vice president and general manager by team owner James Dolan.
"Glen has done a terrific job this season," Dolan said. "He is an intelligent, seasoned executive and we look forward to him continuing in the role of general manager for many years to come."
Before taking over as interim GM, Grunwald had been the team's senior vice president of basketball operations for five years. That followed 10 seasons working for the Toronto Raptors.
"It has been a great honor to be a part of this storied franchise for the past six seasons," he said.
The Knicks have posted a 34-30 record with two games to play this season and hold the seventh playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
