STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Joe Paterno, his right arm in a sling, returned to practice Wednesday afternoon three days after the 84-year-old Hall of Fame Penn State football coach injured his shoulder and pelvis when a receiver blindsided him during drills.
The Nittany Lions apparently didn’t miss a beat at practice without him.
“For us, it’s business as usual,” linebacker Michael Mauti said this week. “Our assistant coaches have been there before. We know where we need to go and our goals, whether Joe is there or not. I think he would want us to do the same thing. . . . Keep our heads down and keep working.”
• Florida tight end A.C. Leonard, considered one of the top recruits in the state last fall, injured his left knee and could be out for the season.
• Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier, the man behind the iconic blue turf at the school’s football stadium and credited with a large role in the team’s rise to national prominence, has been dismissed — effective Sept. 8 — as the school faces sanctions because of violations in the football program and other sports.
MLS games to air on NBC networks
NEW YORK — Major League Soccer games will be televised by NBC’s networks starting next season, doubling the number of homes dozens of games will be available in.
The package currently on Fox Soccer Channel will move mainly to the NBC Sports Network, Versus’ new name beginning Jan. 2. The cable channel will air 38 regular-season games, three playoff games and two U.S. men’s national team matches each year.
NBC will broadcast two regular-season MLS games, two playoff games and two national team appearances under the three-year contract announced Wednesday.
“It shows our sport is ready for prime time,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said.
Montreal police complete probe into Chara hit
MONTREAL — Police completed their investigation into Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara for his March 8 hit on the Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty, forwarding the report to prosecutors. Pacioretty is expected to return to action next season.
Footnotes.
Mike Barrett, a member of the U.S. basketball team that beat Yugoslavia 65-50 to win the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics, died Monday. He was 67.
• Virginia Tech forward Allan Chaney‘s career with the Hokies is over because of a heart condition.
• Serena Williams said she plans to play for the United States in two Fed Cup series next year, returning to a team she hasn’t been a member of since 2007.
• Houston will host the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in 2013.
• The Breeders’ Cup is returning to Santa Anita in 2012, three years after Zenyatta’s stunning victory over male horses in the $5 million BC Classic.
• Washington Mystics guard Alana Beard‘s foot injury will keep her out for the rest of the season.
• The Indianapolis 500 will stay on ABC through 2018.
The Associated Press
