SANDESTIN, Fla. — Florida football coach Urban Meyer is taking medication, feeling “fantastic” and hoping his chest pain is history.
Speaking at the Southeastern Conference’s annual spring meetings Tuesday, Meyer said doctors have diagnosed the chest pain that bothered him the last three years as esophageal spasms. Although he declined to discuss his health in further detail, he said he is taking medication and that his heart is completely healthy.
“The biggest thing is I wanted to find out what those darn chest pains were, and I did,” Meyer said. “It’s esophageal spasms, and they’ve got me on some medications. I’ve just got to be smarter in the future, and I’m going to be. I’m not going to let that happen again.”
Esophageal spasms often cause chest pain that can be confused for angina, causing the fear of a heart problem if undiagnosed.
• Former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach can move forward with a lawsuit claiming breach of contract over his firing, which followed allegations of player mistreatment, a judge ruled.
OU letter signals end of probation
NORMAN, Okla. — University President David Boren sent a letter to the NCAA stating that Oklahoma’s athletic department conforms to the association’s rules, despite an investigation into potential violations by the men’s basketball program.
Boren sent the letter to the NCAA’s James Elworth last week as Oklahoma’s probation for major rules violations by the football and men’s basketball programs was set to expire. Boren stated that Oklahoma’s “athletic policies and practices conform to all the requirements of NCAA regulations as required at the conclusion of our probationary period.”
Oklahoma’s probation was due to end May 23, but the university and NCAA are investigating whether the basketball team broke any rules before then.
• Seton Hall forward Herb Pope is home resting after a nearly month-long stay in a hospital.
Pope, who averaged a Big East- leading 10.7 rebounds a game last season, collapsed during a workout at the school in late April. Pope is expected to play next season.
• Oregon State fired women’s coach LaVonda Wagner after several losing seasons and a recent player exodus. Wagner went 68-85 in five seasons with the Beavers.
Footnotes.
IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay had surgery on his left thumb and is being fitted for a carbon-fiber splint that will allow him to race in Saturday’s Firestone 550K in Fort Worth, Texas.
• Richard Jackson, who fielded cars in NASCAR’s top two levels for 26 years, died of undisclosed reasons in Asheville, N.C. He was 74.
• Lauren Jackson scored a season-high 32 points and hit back-to- back 3-pointers during a decisive run to help the Seattle Storm hand the Atlanta Dream its first loss of the WNBA season, 90-72.
• Monica Wright scored a career-best 32 points and the Minnesota Lynx finally won a home game, beating the Phoenix Mercury 92-82.
• Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol will not play for Spain at the world basketball championships this summer, choosing to rest.
The Associated Press
