Posted: 12:11 PM Jul 23, 2012
Reporter: Associated Press

PENN STATE-SANCTIONS
Nittany Lions paying steep price
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Penn State didn't get the death penalty, but
the NCAA has slammed the school's football program with an
unprecedented series of penalties in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky
child sex abuse scandal.
The organization fined the university $60 million and vacated
all of former coach Joe Paterno's victories from 1998-2011,
It also slapped the Nittany Lions with five years of probation
and a four-year bowl ban.
The NCAA says the $60 million is equivalent to the annual gross
revenue of the football program.
Sandusky is a former Penn State defensive coordinator who was
found guilty in June of sexually abusing young boys, sometimes on
campus. The school's investigation into the matter, conducted by
former FBI chief Louis Freeh (LOO'-ee free), concluded that Paterno
and several other top officials at Penn State stayed quiet for
years about accusations against Sandusky in order to protect the
program.
NCAA president Mark Emmert (EM'-urt) says Penn State players may
transfer immediately without loss of eligibility.

PENN STATE-PATERNO-BOWDEN
Bowden moves up
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Sanctions handed the Penn State football
program in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse
trial are causing a change atop the college football hierarchy.
By vacating 112 Penn State victories over a 14-year period, the
sanctions cost Joe Paterno 111 wins. That means former Florida
State coach Bobby Bowden (BOW'-dihn) now holds the top spot in the
NCAA record book with 377. Paterno was fired days after Sandusky
was charged and died not long afterwards from lung cancer. He's now
credited with 298 wins.

GOLF-LONG PUTTERS
Officials discussing rule for using long putters
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) -- One day after Ernie Els won the
British Open to become the third major champion using a belly
putter, the Royal & Ancient says long putters are "firmly back on
the radar" and that a decision could come soon on whether players
can keep using them.
R&A chief executive Peter Dawson says discussions with the U.S.
Golf Association about longer putters anchored to the body began
before Els holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the
claret jug at age 42.
The objection being heard the most is that if players can't putt
with a conventional club, why should they have a crutch to compete
with those who can?
Tiger Woods is among those recommending that the putter simply
be the shortest club in the bag.

NHL-PANTHERS-VERSTEEG
Panthers and Versteeg agree
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida Panthers and right wing Kris
Versteeg have bypassed arbitration by agreeing to a four-year
contract.
The deal was one of the top offseason priorities for the
reigning Southeast Division champions.
Versteeg had career bests with 23 goals and 54 points last
season, along with three goals and two assists in Florida's
first-round playoff loss to New Jersey.

MLB-SCHEDULE
Full NL slate tonight
UNDATED (AP) -- The closest division race in baseball continues
tonight with Cincinnati and Pittsburgh separated by just a-half
game. The first-place Reds will be working on a four-game winning
streak at Houston while the Pirates ride a five-game winning streak
into their home game against Chicago.
Elsewhere round the NL, the L.A. Dodgers shoot for a fifth
straight W when they take the field at St. Louis to face a
Cardinals club that's won three straight, Philadelphia will be
aiming for its first two-game winning streak in nearly a month when
it hosts Milwaukee, the New York Mets will be out to avoid a fourth
straight loss when they entertain Washington, Arizona hunts a
fourth straight win when it hosts Colorado, Miami will be out to
end a four-game skid when it hosts Atlanta and San Francisco is
home to San Diego.
There are just five games on the AL slate. New York will be
looking to snap a four-game losing streak when it plays at Seattle,
Baltimore puts a five-game winning streak on the line at Cleveland,
Chicago looks to avoid a sixth straight loss when it hosts
Minnesota, Texas hosts a Boston club that's dropped three in a row
and the L.A. Angels entertain Kansas City.

OLYMPICS-ROGGE-MUNICH MASSACRE
IOC president honors Israelis
LONDON (AP) -- IOC President Jacques Rogge (ROH'-guh) has paid
tribute to the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches killed in Munich 40
years ago at a ceremony in the athletes village.
Rogge has rebuffed calls to hold a minute of silence during
Friday's opening ceremony for the Israelis killed by Palestinian
gunmen at the 1972 Munich Games.
On Monday, Rogge led a minute of silence during a ceremony
promoting the Olympic truce.
Rogge says "we owe it to them to keep that spirit alive and to
remember them."

OLYMPICS-OPENING CEREMONY-WEATHER
Keeping an eye on the sky in London
LONDON (AP) -- British meteorologists say there is a chance of
rain during the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday.
The five-day forecast is considered the first that offers a
close chance of accuracy.

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