SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Jim Boeheim has known for a while who he wanted to succeed him as head coach of the Syracuse Orange when he decides to retire, and now it’s official that assistant coach Mike Hopkins is the man.
Hopkins said Tuesday he had reached an agreement on a plan to succeed the Hall of Fame coach.
“Just to be thought of like that by a guy who I respect, one of the greatest coaches of all time, it’s very flattering. I’m very humbled,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins, who played guard at Syracuse from 1988-93, is in his 13th season on Boeheim’s staff.
“Jim isn’t going anywhere, but Mike is my next coach,” athletic director Daryl Gross said, adding that it was premature to talk about the future because Boeheim, who turns 63 in November, has given no indication he plans to retire anytime soon.
Harrington leads Grand Slam TUCKER’S TOWN, BERMUDA — British Open champion Padraig Harrington fired a 3-under-par 67 for a one-stroke lead over U.S. Open title-holder Angel Cabrera after the first of two rounds of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
Masters champion Zach Johnson and Jim Furyk each had a 71 in the tournament that pits the season’s four major winners. Furyk was the replacement for Tiger Woods (PGA).
Union: Mitchell didn’t offer evidence. A lawyer for baseball players said George Mitchell never told the union before last week that he was willing to show its members evidence of doping allegations against them.
Mitchell, who has spent 1 1/2 years investigating the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, said Friday he asked players to meet with him “for the purpose of directly providing them with the evidence about the allegations and to give them a chance to respond.”
Tuesday, union general counsel Michael Weiner said Mitchell only informed players of that stance during a meeting last week and in a letter Friday. Weiner wrote to the former Senate Majority leader asking him to clarify his position and to provide his time frame for completing the investigation.
“He certainly had not suggested prior to last week that the purpose of asking these players to come in was to provide them with evidence, provide them with anything,” Weiner said.
Angels GM Stoneman retires. Los Angeles Angels general manager Bill Stoneman retired and was replaced by player development director Tony Reagins.
Stoneman, 63, will remain with the team as a senior adviser.
Beckham returns to practice; status in doubt CARSON,
CALIF. — David Beckham trained with the Los Angeles Galaxy for the fourth time in two weeks, but his status for this week’s MLS game against New York is uncertain. The midfielder, who injured his knee Aug. 29, performed drills, participated in a scrimmage and stayed afterward with several teammates to practice shooting.
