Clarett in football
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Wearing the same No. 13 he wore so well as an Ohio State freshman eight years ago, Maurice Clarett began his bid to return to football Monday night on a high school field where the minor-league Omaha Nighthawks practiced before a handful of onlookers.
Clarett signed a one-year contract with the United Football League team earlier in the day after meeting with team officials and UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue, who gave his blessing.
It was Clarett’s first football activity since he was a bust with the Denver Broncos and spent 3-1/2 years in prison for having a hidden gun and holding up two people outside a Columbus, Ohio, bar, in 2006.
Clarett went through a private workout and physical Sunday. The Nighthawks list him at 6-foot and 220 pounds, 10 lighter than his playing weight at Ohio State.
Golf a social view
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) — This city on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan is beset with troubles: violent crime, racial strife, steep unemployment, and neighborhoods dotted with vacant homes and businesses.
In short, Benton Harbor is no one’s idea of a vacation destination. But local leaders are looking for hope from an unlikely source: a huge luxury golf resort under construction just a tee shot away from the half-empty downtown.
Supporters say the Golf Club at Harbor Shores could bring a steady stream of well-heeled tourists, along with jobs, housing and tax revenue. Opponents are skeptical.
Adding to the improbability of the project is the matter of race. The resort dedicated to an overwhelmingly white sport is taking shape in a town that is more than 90 percent black.
The centerpiece of the project is a new Jack Nicklaus-designed course. When complete, the 530-acre resort will also offer 800 cottages, homes and condominiums; restaurants and shops; a boutique hotel and spa; and deep-water marinas.
Welcome, BYU
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Gonzaga coach Mark Few is welcoming the addition of a strong Brigham Young basketball program to the West Coast Conference.
On Tuesday, BYU announced it would play as an independent in football and join the low-profile WCC, which Gonzaga has dominated for more than a decade, in other sports.
Few said BYU is a quality basketball program that has appeared in the Top 25 and many NCAA tournaments. He said it is positive for the league to add the Cougars next year.
NBA in England
LONDON (AP) — Tickets have gone on sale for the first regular-season NBA games in Europe.
The New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors will play a pair of games at the O2 Arena in London on March 4-5. The NBA is planning a week of activities across Britain, including basketball clinics and 3-on-3 competitions.
Nets guard Devin Harris says “everyone involved in bringing the games to London is excited about playing in one of the world’s great cities.’’
The NBA has been playing preseason games in London for several years. The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 4 in this year’s installment of the league’s European tour.
Transactions
FOOTBALL
National Football League
NFL—Suspended Tampa Bay CB Aqib Talib one game for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Fined Cleveland NT Shaun Rogers a one-game check for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
ARIZONA CARDINALS—Placed LB O’Brien Schofield on the reserve/non-football injury list and FB Nehemiah Broughton on injured reserve. Waived WR Darren Mougey.
ATLANTA FALCONS—Terminated the contract of S Matt Giordano with an injury settlement. Waived DT Thomas Johnson.
CAROLINA PANTHERS—Placed WR Wallace Wright and DE Hilee Taylor on injured reserve and LB Thomas Davis on the reserve-physically unable to perform list. Waived WR Dexter Jackson and WR Oliver Young.
CHICAGO BEARS—Placed FB Will Ta’ufo’ou on the waived-injured list.
CLEVELAND BROWNS—Placed DL Titus Adams on injured reserve. Waived DB John Bowie, DB Gerard Lawson, WR Taurus Johnson and OL John Malecki.
DALLAS COWBOYS—Released S Patrick Watkins. Placed TE John Phillips on injured reserve and LB Stephen Hodge on the physically unable to perform list.
DETROIT LIONS—Traded OT Tyler Polumbus to Seattle for a 2012 draft choice. Placed CB Jack Williams on the physically unable to perform list.
GREEN BAY PACKERS—Placed CB Al Harris, RB James Stark and S Atari Bigby on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and RB Quinn Porter on injured reserve.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS—Released CB Josh Gordy, C Cecil Newton, WR Roren Thomas and DE Julius Williams. Signed C Bradley Vierling. Placed DT D’Anthony Smith and C John Estes on injured reserve.
MIAMI DOLPHINS—Placed OL Nate Garner on injured reserve and DE Phillip Merling on the reserve non-football injury list.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS—Placed WR Sidney Rice on the physically unable to perform list. Waived WR Marko Mitchell and OT Bill Noethlich. Placed LB Jeremy Leman on injured reserve.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS—Placed CB Leigh Bodden, S Josh Barrett, DB Brett Lockett and DL Darryl Richard on injured reserve. Released DB Terrence Johnson.
NEW YORK GIANTS—Placed QB Jim Sorgi, WR Sinorice Moss and LB Adrian Tracy on injured reserve. Transferred OL Kevin Boothe to the reserve-physically-unable-to-perform list.
NEW YORK JETS—Waived QB Kevin O’Connell. Claimed LB Ricky Foley off waivers from Seattle.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES—Claimed DE Pannel Egboh off waivers from Houston. Placed DE Ricky Sapp on injured reserve.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS—Waived LB Andre Frazier from the injured reserve list. Placed G Chris Scott on the physically unable to perform list. Released G Adrian Jones, CB David Pittman, LB Brandon Renkart and FB Dwayne Wright.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS—Waived DL Ryon Bingham, RB Marcus Mason, WR Gary Banks, G Lee Grimes and LB Darry Beckwith. Claimed CB Fred Bennett off waivers from Houston. Signed P Glenn Pakulak. Placed LB Donald Butler on injured reserve.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS—Traded CB Josh Wilson to Baltimore for a 2011 conditional draft pick. Placed CB Josh Pinkard on the reserve/non-football injury list. Signed DE James Wyche. Restructured the 2009-10 contract of LB Linebacker Leroy Hill and wiped out the remaining years of his contract, making his a free agent following this season.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS—Released RB Derrick Ward and WR Terrence Nunn. Placed LB Jon Alston on injured reserve.
TENNESSEE TITANS—Activated DT Tony Brown from the physically unable to perform list.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS—Placed WR Malcolm Kelly on injured reserve.
