NBA to referee: Pay for your shoes
Associated Press
The NBA is so angry at disgraced referee Tim Donaghy that it wants him to reimburse the league for the cost of his basketball shoes.
The NBA said in a court filing it spent $750 over three seasons to buy sneakers for Donaghy, who pleaded guilty last year to taking payoffs from gamblers.
Now, the league wants its money back. It also wants a court to force the referee to repay his salary, his airfare expenses and meal allowances, and cough up at least $4,500 for complimentary tickets he received over the years. All told, the league is seeking $1.4 million from Donaghy.
The written demand was filed Thursday at a federal court in Brooklyn.
Donaghy's attorney has called the league's demands an attempt to retaliate against his client for alleging widespread misconduct by NBA executives and employees.
Donaghy has admitted betting on about half the games he officiated for three seasons, beginning in 2003.
GOLF
MILLER APOLOGIZES FOR COMMENTS ON MEDIATE
NBC Sports golf analyst Johnny Miller apologized for his description of U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate, saying the comments had "absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity."
Mediate, a 45-year-old Pennsylvanian of Italian heritage, held a one-stroke lead over Tiger Woods during the fourth round last Sunday. Miller said Mediate "looks like the guy who cleans Tiger's swimming pool." He also said, "Guys with the name 'Rocco' don't get on the trophy, do they?"
"I apologize to anyone who was offended by my remarks," Miller said in a statement Friday through NBC. "My intention was to convey my affection and admiration for Rocco's everyman qualities and had absolutely nothing to do with his ethnicity. I chose my words poorly and in the future will be more careful."
Woods beat Mediate Monday in a playoff that lasted 19 holes for his third U.S. Open title.
BASKETBALL
BILLUPS-CARMELO TRADE FLOATED, REPORT SAYS
The Pistons are in ongoing trade discussions with the Denver Nuggets with two All-Stars as the potential centerpieces, a team source told the Detroit Free Press yesterday.
The Nuggets want to bring point guard Chauncey Billups back to his hometown. And the Pistons want to make good on their botched 2003 draft and bring high-scoring forward Carmelo Anthony to Detroit, the person confirmed.
But while talks are ongoing, at this point, the Nuggets are reluctant to include Anthony in any proposal. The team source said the sides are "not even close" right now. It's unclear what it might take to pry him away.
ESPN.com reported, without citing a source, that the Pistons recently offered Billups and Tayshaun Prince for Anthony, but the Nuggets weren't interested. Denver countered with an offer of Allen Iverson or a package with Marcus Camby, but the Pistons are only interested in Anthony.
President Joe Dumars said at his season-ending news conference that he wanted to dismantle his core this summer and that he was open to moving any player besides point guard Rodney Stuckey.
WATER POLO
PUNAHOU ALUM BROOKS SAVES TEAM USA, 11-10
Punahou alum Brandon Brooks recorded 11 saves during the U.S. men's water polo 11-10 shootout victory over Australia yesterday in the semifinals of the 2008 FINA World League Super Final.
Team USA was able to pull out the victory after losing an early 5-2 lead in Genova, Italy. Brian Alexander's goal in the fourth round of the shootout proved to be the difference maker as both teams made their first three attempts and Australia would go on to miss its last two.
Team USA now meets Serbia in the championship game. This is the first appearance for Team USA in the FINA World League Super Final title game.
BOXING
ABRAHAM BATTERS MIRANDA IN REMATCH
"King" Arthur Abraham still reigns supreme.
The IBF middleweight champion left no question as to who is the better fighter, knocking down Edison "Pantera" Miranda three times in the fourth round to win by technical knockout in a much-anticipated rematch in Hollywood, Fla.
Abraham's title wasn't at stake in the bout.
Abraham (27-0, 22 knockouts) ended the fight in the fourth with a left hand to the head, bringing an automatic stoppage via the three-knockdown rule. The time of the knockout was 1:13.
Abraham defended his title against Miranda (30-3) on Sept. 23, 2006, in Germany, Abraham's adopted home country.
