Two more Fiesta Bowl execs plead guilty
PHOENIX, April 3 (UPI) -- Two more Fiesta Bowl executives pleaded guilty in Arizona in an illegal campaign-contribution scheme, bringing the total number of convicted employees to six.
Anthony Aguilar, the Fiesta Bowl's director of community and corporate relations, and Shawn Schoeffler, former vice president of media relations, each pleaded guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court to misdemeanor charges Monday of making a prohibited campaign contribution.
Aguilar was sentenced to a year's probation and a fine. Schoeffler was sentenced to 66 hours of community service and a fine.
They join four other current or former employees of the football bowl game who have been convicted in state or federal court for illegal reimbursement of political campaign contributions, The Arizona Republic reported Tuesday.
Bosox: Bailey to have thumb surgery
BOSTON, April 3 (UPI) -- Newly acquired Boston Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey will undergo thumb surgery, the team announced Tuesday.
In an issued statement, the Red Sox said following a Monday examination, doctors determined Bailey "should undergo surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb."
"The surgery is scheduled to be performed by Dr. (Thomas) Graham tomorrow in Cleveland."
The Red Sox acquired the right-hander from Oakland in late December, after which he signed a one-year deal to avoid arbitration.
The team didn't say how long Bailey would be sidelined, but the recovery time from such surgery is typically three months, ESPN reported.
The broadcaster said Bailey apparently hurt the thumb in a collision during a March 21 spring training game against Pittsburgh.
The 27-year-old racked up 24 saves in 42 games for the A's last season, going 0-4 with a 3.24 earned run average.
Ubaldo Jimenez appeals suspension
GOODYEAR, Ariz., April 3 (UPI) -- Cleveland Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez is filing an appeal of a five-game suspension, Indians Manager Manny Acta said Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Dominican hurler was slapped with a suspension and fine stemming from a Sunday incident during a spring training game in Arizona. Benches cleared after Jimenez struck former teammate Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies on the left elbow with a pitch.
Tulowitzki yelled at the one-time Rockies all-star while the pitcher threw his glove to ground and ran toward the batter's box.
The incident delayed the game and later prompted Rockies Manager Jim Tracy to call the Jimenez pitch a "gutless act," The Denver Post reported.
Jimenez protested he hadn't meant to hit Tulowitzki, but Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig thought otherwise, hitting the right-hander with a five-game suspension and fining him an undisclosed amount.
The appeal will allow Jimenez to be available for his first start of the season Saturday against Toronto.
Lions' Fairley cited for pot possession
MOBILE, Ala., April 3 (UPI) -- Detroit Lions nose tackle Nick Fairley was arrested Tuesday on a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge, Alabama authorities said.
Police in Mobile took Fairley, 24, into custody after they received a complaint about a Cadillac Escalade sport utility vehicle repeatedly speeding through a neighborhood, the Mobile Press-Register reported.
Mobile police spokeswoman Ashley Rains said Fairley and a passenger, Eric Thomas Taylor Jr., 23, were arrested after marijuana was found in the vehicle.
Fairley, a Mobile native who last year signed a four-year, $10 million contract with the Lions, was later released on $1,000 bond, the newspaper said.
The Auburn University product was the 13th overall pick by the Lions in the 2011 draft. He logged 15 tackles and one sack last season as the Lions went 10-6 and made the playoffs.
Fellow 2011 Lions draft picks Mikel Leshoure and Johnny Culbreath have also been cited for marijuana offenses this off-season.
