CANASTOTA, N.Y. — Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, the first man to win titles in four divisions, tops a list of 13 people elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum. Hearns, who won five titles, was 61-5-1 with 48 knockouts as a pro.
Also selected were Mark Johnson, a two-division champion; ring announcer Michael Buffer; trainer Freddie Roach; broadcaster Al Bernstein; and journalist Michael Katz. Posthumous honorees include Cocoa Kid, Newsboy Brown, Leo Houck and Jake Kilrain in the old-timer category; promoters Hugh D. McIntosh and Rip Valenti in the nonparticipant category; and James Wharton in the pioneer category.
Induction day is June 10, 2012.
Report: Ortiz plans to return to Red Sox
DALLAS — Designated hitter David Ortiz plans to accept the offer of salary arbitration the Red Sox extended to him, meaning that he will return to Boston for the 2012 season, ESPN reported. Ortiz, who hit .309 with 29 homers and 96 RBIs last season, earned $12.5 million in 2011 and could get about $15 million in arbitration.
Also, left-hander Andrew Miller agreed to a one- year deal with Boston, avoiding salary arbitration.
• The Chicago White Sox traded closer Sergio Santos to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitching prospect Nestor Molina.
• The New York Mets traded outfielder Angel Pagan to the San Francisco Giants for outfielder Andres Torres and pitcher Ramon Ramirez, and agreed to contracts with relievers Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch.
• The Baseball Writers’ Association of America award announcements will be televised for the first time on the MLB Network in 2012.
• Major League Baseball became the first major pro league in North America to issue dress guidelines for media members, forbidding visible undergarments, muscle shirts, ripped jeans, short skirts or anything with a team logo when in locker rooms, dugouts, press boxes or on the field.
Footnotes.
Southern Mississippi football coach Larry Fedora has emerged as the top candidate to replace Everett Withers as North Carolina’s coach.
• Maryland running backs Rahsaan Moore and Jeremiah Wilson, along with defensive back Titus Till, will not return to the Terrapins in 2012.
• Danny Rocco is leaving Liberty to replace Wayne Lineburg as the football coach at Richmond. Rocco is 47-20 in six seasons at Liberty.
• Reeves Nelson was suspended for a second time from the UCLA basketball team. The junior forward was suspended indefinitely for conduct unbecoming a member of the team.
• Louisville forward Rakeem Buckles is expected to return tonight against IUPUI in his first appearance for the Cardinals since tearing a ligament in his right knee in February.
• Mike Ford was let go as crew chief for Denny Hamlin after a disappointing season in which the duo failed to contend for the Sprint Cup championship.
• Didier Drogba scored twice to lead Chelsea over Valencia 3-0 and into the second round of the Champions League, but the drama of the night came at Borussia Dortmund, with Marseille scoring twice in the closing minutes to win 3-2 and advance as Group F runner-up. Olympiakos was denied second place despite beating first-place Arsenal 3-1.
The Associated Press
