NEW YORK — Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer said it will spend the next few weeks assessing its relationship with golfer Tiger Woods.
The statement from the company Monday afternoon marked a less enthusiastic stance about the world’s richest athlete, who endorses the company’s watches, than earlier in the day. That’s when a spokeswoman said the company would continue with Woods, whom she called “the best in his domain.”
The watchmaker’s new statement said that because of Woods’ indefinite leave from golf, it is examining its long-term relationship with him. The statement comes a day after consulting firm Accenture dropped ties with Woods.
Woods announced Friday he is taking an indefinite leave from golf to work on his marriage after allegations of infidelity surfaced in recent weeks.
Report: Leavitt hit player in face
TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida said it plans to look into a report that football coach Jim Leavitt struck one of his players in the face during halftime of a game last month.
Citing the player’s father, high school coach and five USF players who were not identified, AOL FanHouse reported Leavitt grabbed Joel Miller by the throat and hit him in the face twice because he was upset about a mistake the sophomore walk-on made on special teams.
FanHouse said the incident occurred at halftime of the Bulls’ game against Louisville on Nov. 21.
Leavitt, the only USF football coach in school history, told the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times the accusations were false.
“I’m appalled at it. It’s absolutely not true,” Leavitt said. “It’s so far out there. I’m very disappointed something like this would be written.”
The player’s father, Paul Miller, told FanHouse: “You do something like that (on the street) you put them in jail.” But Miller backtracked on his comment, telling the Times: “I truly believe there was no malicious intent to hit anyone. He grabbed his shoulder pad, but it was like a motivational thing.”
• Touted as a potential top 10 NFL draft selection, Washington quarterback Jake Locker is putting his professional aspirations on hold and instead will return for his senior season with the Huskies.
• South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier received a one-year extension through the 2013 season.
Footnotes.
The U.S. Olympic Committee’s search for a CEO is in its final stages, with TD Ameritrade chairman Joe Moglia; former baseball executive Sandy Alderson; current chief operating officer Norm Bellingham; former general counsel and interim CEO of the USOC, Scott Blackmun; Jet Set Sports president Mark Lewis and USA Swimming CEO Chuck Wielgus finalists for the position.
• Pennsylvania fired basketball coach Glen Miller after the Quakers dropped their first seven games. Miller was 45-52 overall since being hired in 2006 to replace the departed Fran Dunphy.
• Swiss skier Didier Cuche has a broken rib and could miss this weekend’s World Cup races in Italy.
• A Belgian court suspended one- year doping bans given to tennis players Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse.
The Associated Press
