ALLISON, Iowa — After nearly 10 months of trying to forgive him, Ed Thomas‘ sons finally addressed Mark Becker directly on Wednesday, asking him to take responsibility for gunning down their father, a renowned high school football coach.
“Every day as you live in jail, I want you to reflect on what you stole from us,” said Todd Thomas, his pregnant wife standing beside him, minutes before a judge sentenced Becker to life in prison.
It was a departure for Ed Thomas’ sons to hold Becker accountable for his actions June 24, when he walked into the Aplington-Parkersburg High School weight room and opened fire at his former coach with a .22-caliber pistol.
“No one else grabbed the gun that day. No one else pulled the trigger,” Todd Thomas said. “No one else, like a coward, brutally murdered my father on June 24 in front of over 20 innocent kids.”
After listening to statements by the coach’s sons and other relatives, Iowa District Court Judge Stephen Carroll sentenced Becker to life without the possibility of parole. Last month a jury convicted Becker of first-degree murder, rejecting his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Public defender Susan Flander said Becker will appeal the verdict.
Indy 500 changes qualifying
INDIANAPOLIS — Winning the Indianapolis 500 pole just got trickier — and more rewarding.
The top nine qualifiers May 22 must return to the track for a late afternoon, 90-minute “shootout” to claim the No. 1 starting spot. The winner will earn an additional $100,000 over last year’s winnings.
It’s the latest change in a month that already took away two of the traditional four qualifying days. The new plan is to fill the top 24 spots on Pole Day with the remaining nine spots on Bump Day.
Other cars can then bump their way into the 33-car starting grid.
Hope, Purdue agree to extension
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue football coach Danny Hope agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2014 season. The deal provides guaranteed compensation of $900,000 for 2010, with bonuses tied to paid attendance, as well as academic and athletic performance that could add an extra $500,000.
• The Sun Belt Conference agreed to a tie-in to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit.
• The Chick-fil-A Bowl will be hosting a Southeastern Conference team through 2013.
Footnotes.
Washington Mystics four-time all-star guard Alana Beard will miss the 2010 WNBA season because of an ankle injury.
• The Tulsa Shock acquired 3-point specialist Shanna Crossley from the San Antonio Silver Stars in exchange for reserve forward Crystal Kelly.
• Connemara headlines a 12- horse field for Saturday’s $300,000 Lexington (Ky.) Stakes, a final major prep race for the May 1 Kentucky Derby.
• Little League is tweaking its World Series tournament and will switch from pool play to a double- elimination format in the first round. All teams would still play at least three games, even if they lose their first two.
The Associated Press
