INDIANAPOLIS — NCAA president Myles Brand said he’s fighting advanced pancreatic cancer “as hard as I can” with aggressive chemotherapy that has left him fatigued.
Brand, 66, said he learned of his diagnosis Christmas Eve. A few days later his doctors told him his cancer had reached the fourth and final stage by spreading beyond the pancreas, making surgical removal of the cancer impossible.
Brand said his doctors at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis have not given him a medical timetable.
“It depends upon your individual biology. It could be short. It could be long. But I have signed up for aggressive treatment. I’m going to fight it as hard as I can,” he said.
Brand is receiving chemotherapy every two weeks.
Saints release McAllister
METAIRIE, La. — Deuce McAllister, the New Orleans Saints’ career rushing leader with 6,069 yards who was due over $7 million next season, was released.
“I still have that itch to play. . . . I still feel like I can contribute and help a team,” McAllister said, adding that he would not rule out returning to the Saints after he has been able to test the market.
• After suggesting no decision had been made regarding the future of Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones let go of a fairly obvious hint the receiver is staying.
“You and I both know that the one that you’re asking about all the time, if I gave you the answer that you want to hear, then you would’ve already had it. So the fact you don’t have it ought to tell you something. It really should,” Jones said.
• The Detroit Lions have restructured the contract of quarterback Daunte Culpepper and signed kicker Jason Hanson and offensive guard Stephen Peterman to long-term deals.
• The Kansas City Chiefs retained offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and hired former Saints defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs and Joel Collier, a former linebacker at Northern Colorado whose father, Joe Collier, was the architect of the Broncos’ “Orange Crush” defense.
Footnotes.
Roger Federer pulled out of Switzerland’s Davis Cup series against the United States next month and a tournament in Dubai next week because of a back problem that has bothered him since last year.
• Dallas Stars center Brad Richards was placed on injured reserve because of a fractured right wrist. He could miss the rest of the regular season.
• Montreal Canadiens all-star Alex Kovalev is getting a few days off to rest his body and mind.
• The Columbus Blue Jackets placed left wing Fredrik Modin on injured reserve with a lower body injury.
• Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach missed a second deadline to sign a new contract, though he said he’s happy to coach the remaining two years of his current deal.
• Florida returner Brandon James underwent surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot but is expected to make a full recovery before fall practice in August.
• The National Federation of State High School Associations has banned the horse-collar tackle from high school football.
The Associated Press
