Cubs hire Maddon as manager, fire Renteria

Right after Joe Maddon opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay, the Chicago Cubs were mentioned as a possible landing spot for one of baseball's best managers.

Flush with prospects and ready to make a splash in free agency, the Cubs already had a manager in Rick Renteria. But they just couldn't resist the lure of Maddon's sudden availability.

Looking for a turnaround after five consecutive losing seasons, the Cubs announced Friday that they had hired Maddon to replace Renteria after just one year on the job. The move pairs the respected Maddon with a promising roster and a franchise with far more resources than he ever enjoyed with the small-market Rays.

Renteria was fired after leading Chicago to a 73-89 record in his only season as a major league manager. It was a seven-win improvement from 2013, the last of Dale Sveum's two years in charge, but not close to reaching the playoffs or putting the Cubs in position to win their first World Series title since 1908.

''Maddon - who may be as well suited as anyone in the industry to manage the challenges that lie ahead of us - had become a free agent,'' Cubs President Theo Epstein said in a statement.

''We saw it as a unique opportunity and faced a clear dilemma: be loyal to Rick or be loyal to the organization. In this business of trying to win a world championship for the first time in 107 years, the organization has priority over any one individual. We decided to pursue Joe.''

Epstein said the Cubs were ''transparent'' at all times with Renteria once Maddon became available two weeks ago.

''Rick often said he was the beneficiary of the hard work of others who came before him,'' he said. ''Now, in the young players he helped, we reap the benefits of his hard work as we move forward. He deserved better and we wish him nothing but the best.''

Renteria's agent, Ken Solomon, declined comment. He also said Renteria will not comment.

With Renteria in the dugout, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Starlin Castro each had a rebound season, and young sluggers Javier Baez and Jorge Soler were among a group of prospects who showed considerable promise in their first major league action.

Now it's up to Maddon to help that core group of young players to continue to improve, while paving the way for another wave of heralded prospects that includes third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstop Addison Russell.

It's a familiar situation for the 60-year-old Hazleton, Pennsylvania native, who deftly guided several young Rays rosters into contention in the rugged AL East.

Maddon opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay after Andrew Friedman left the Rays' front office to take over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 14.

Maddon's free agency created a buzz during the World Series, with the talk centering on where he might go and all the possibilities for his new job.

The answer became public just two days after San Francisco's Game 7 win over the Royals, with Maddon becoming Chicago's fifth manager since the start of the 2010 season and the 54th in the history of the woebegone franchise.

Maddon had a 754-705 record in nine seasons in Tampa Bay, leading the club to four playoff appearances, two AL East titles and a five-game loss to Philadelphia in the 2008 World Series.

The two-time AL Manager of the Year was the bench coach for six seasons under Angels manager Mike Scioscia before he was hired by Tampa Bay in November 2005.

While the addition of Maddon is a coup for president of baseball operations Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, the quick hook for Renteria could turn into a problem for the front office down the road.

Renteria had two years left on the contract he signed with the Cubs last November, and the inevitable turnover on the major league staff could affect Chicago's ability to attract quality coaches.

Renteria, who was the bench coach in San Diego before he got his first opportunity to be a big league manager, already was looking at a different staff for his second year.

Hitting coach Bill Mueller resigned after Epstein announced that Mike Brumley would not return as assistant hitting coach. John Mallee, a Chicago native, was hired to replace Mueller, Eric Hinske shifted to assistant hitting coach and former Cubs outfielder Doug Dascenzo was hired as first base and outfield coach.

Now their fate is unclear. Same for pitching coach Chris Bosio, who has drawn praise for his work with Jake Arrieta and a couple other pitchers who were traded away by the Cubs after they rebounded until the tutelage of the former major leaguer.

Jimmy Butler rejects Bulls’ final offer, plans to enter restricted free agency

Talks on a contract extension for Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler ended without a deadline deal on Friday, agent Happy Walters told Yahoo Sports.

Butler rejected the Bulls’ final offer on Friday morning and plans to enter into restricted free agency in July.

“It came down to me deciding that I want to bet on myself,” Butler told Yahoo Sports in a text message on Friday. “It was about me believing that I put the work in this summer to become a better player with the hope that my improvement will give the Bulls a better chance to win a championship.”

The sides still have until midnight EST on Friday to reach agreement on a 2011 draft class rookie extension, but Bulls officials expressed to Butler and his reps at Relativity Media, Walters and Steve McCaskill, that they made their final offer earlier on Monday.

The Bulls will have the chance to match an offer sheet and retain Butler next summer, but looming is the threat of a rival believing that it can extract Butler with a steep offer that threatens the Bulls’ payroll structure. Teams could include a player option on a three-year deal that would allow Butler to become an unrestricted free agent in 2017.

“All the [rookie extension] deals done so far have shown that teams are building around their stars of the future, and they’re compensating those players as such,” Walters told Yahoo Sports on Friday. “I was under the impression Jimmy was also viewed as one of those future building blocks with the Bulls.

“We tried like heck to get something done, but ultimately, the Bulls wanted a ‘hometown’ discount. While understandable, I doubt their GM or coaches give Mr. Reinsdorf a discount when negotiating their own deals.”

Butler, 25, is considered an excellent two-way player, and his pedigree as part of a winning team and culture under Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau will certainly be at a premium on the market next summer. Butler was chosen as a second-team All-NBA defender, often tasked with covering an opponent’s best player. He will be a key for the Bulls in covering Cleveland’s LeBron James in the playoffs.

Butler, who averaged 13.1 points per game last season, played most of the year with a foot injury that impacted his shooting percentage, but he’s shown better perimeter consistency in the preseason.

For Butler to solidify his market status, he’ll need to further develop his shooting this season.

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon resigns

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon resigned Friday, setting the stage for new leadership at the top of one of the nation's most prominent athletic departments.

Brandon's departure comes amid another disappointing football season and concerns over the school's handling of everything from its concussions protocol to student attendance at games. Football coach Brady Hoke's future has been in doubt for a while thanks to his team's lack of progress, but Brandon also became a target of disgruntled fans and students.

''This morning I accepted the resignation of athletic director David Brandon,'' school President Mark Schlissel said at a news conference. ''Dave feels that it would be in the best interest of our student-athletes, the athletic department and the university community if he moved on to other challenges and allowed the important work of the department and the university to continue without daily distractions. I agree with this decision.''

Schlissel officially took over in September and a month later said he wanted to do an in-depth review of Michigan athletics. Displeasure with Brandon and Hoke was already mounting at that point, with the football team struggling and the department under sharp criticism for its handling of quarterback Shane Morris' head injury in a Sept. 27 game against Minnesota. Morris was allowed to play briefly after a hard hit.

Brandon's resignation becomes official Saturday, and the university has agreed to pay him a total of $3 million through 2018.

The timing of Brandon's departure gives Michigan a chance to find a replacement by the end of the football season, when a decision on Hoke's status could come. But Schlissel indicated he would take as long as necessary to find a new athletic director.

Jim Hackett, who graduated from the university in 1977 and like Brandon played football for Michigan, was appointed interim AD on Friday.

''I'd like to thank Dave Brandon for his commitment to Michigan,'' Hackett said. ''The athletic department is in great financial condition. We have new varsity sports that will continue to make Michigan a destination for aspiring student-athletes, and Dave worked extremely hard to modernize Michigan's athletic facilities.''

Still, football has been the barometer of success at Michigan. The program for years was a power in both the Big Ten and nationally, but not anymore. The Wolverines are 3-5 heading into Saturday's homecoming game against Indiana.

Schlissel indicated Hackett could potentially be empowered to make the decision on Hoke's status at some point.

''Football, like all of our programs, are evaluated by the athletic department through the season, but particularly at the end of the season, so I would imagine that the interim athletic director will be intimately involved in charge of the evaluation of football,'' Schlissel said. ''The interim AD is the athletic director until we hire a permanent AD. I feel comfortable hiring deans and provosts. I feel a little bit less comfortable - I'm not the guy to make a decision about a particular coach. We have an athletic program that I delegate that authority to.''

Brandon, a former university regent, became Michigan's athletic director in 2010, stepping down as CEO of Domino's Pizza Inc. and returning to his alma mater to take over the sports program. Brandon, who played football under Bo Schembechler, made a major change after less than a year on the job, firing Rich Rodriguez after three tumultuous seasons as coach.

Hoke was hired to replace Rodriguez and took Michigan to the Sugar Bowl in his first season, but the program has declined steadily since then. Hoke was sharply criticized for not immediately sitting Morris for the rest of the game after the sophomore took a hard hit in the fourth quarter of a 30-14 loss to Minnesota. Morris was later diagnosed with a probable concussion.

Brandon said communication was a problem - both during the game when Morris was hit, and over the next couple days. The school announced a change in protocol soon after.

The lackluster performance has been accompanied by a growing sense of malaise among fans. Empty seats in the area where students sit have become common.

Schlissel was asked if he was prepared to fire Brandon if the athletic director hadn't resigned.

''I'm not at all prepared to deal in a hypothetical,'' Schlissel said. ''But he and I had been working closely, as you might imagine, through the controversial events of recent weeks. We discussed iteratively the best way to set the athletic program in a stronger and positive direction, and we've been working closely together on that. It was Dave that mentioned and raised the prospect of his decision to resign.''

Brandon has acknowledged that the decision to replace assigned seating for students with general admission in 2013 did not go over well. That policy was quickly changed, and the school recently announced that it was cutting student ticket prices next year.

Brandon was not without his supporters. John Beilein - the school's successful basketball coach who was hired before Brandon took over - called the AD a ''great leader'' recently. Under Brandon, Michigan began playing night football games at the Big House, a move that proved fairly popular.

AP Source: Warriors, Thompson agree to extension

The Golden State Warriors and shooting guard Klay Thompson have agreed to a four-year maximum contract extension worth about $70 million, a person with knowledge of the deal said Friday.

The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made, also said there is no opt-out clause for either side. Thompson and the team had until the end of Friday to get a deal done or Thompson could become a restricted free agent next summer, when the Warriors would've had an opportunity to match any offer sheet he signed.

Golden State drafted Thompson out of Washington State with the 11th overall pick in 2011. He has become one of the NBA's top two-way guards and teamed with fellow ''Splash Brothers'' star Stephen Curry to form one of the league's best backcourts.

Thompson averaged 18.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists last season, helping the Warriors reach the playoffs for the second straight year. He shot 44.4 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from 3-point range.

The Warriors refused to include Thompson in any trade talks with Minnesota for Kevin Love this offseason, believing all along that he and Curry could carry them to a title on their streaky shooting strokes. Thompson began to validate the decision over the summer, dazzling during the FIBA World Cup in Spain with Curry to help the U.S. win gold.

The payday will put more expectations on Thompson, especially with fans still split about losing Love to Cleveland, but he appears ready for the challenge.

Thompson led the Warriors with 21.7 points per game in the preseason, shooting 50.9 percent from the floor, including 50 percent from beyond the arc. He scored 19 points in Golden State's season-opening 95-77 win at Sacramento on Wednesday night.

But his contributions go beyond shooting and scoring.

At 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, the lengthy Thompson often defends the other team's best guard. That includes covering everybody from the Clippers' Chris Paul to Lakers star Kobe Bryant, taking pressure off teammates on the perimeter, most notably the undersized Curry.

Warriors general manager Bob Myers made extending Thompson's contract one of his top offseason priorities, and he predicted from the get-go that it could go right up to the deadline.

Thompson was seeking a max deal, which he may have been able to get as a restricted free agent next summer. Teams could've put clauses in the contract to make it difficult for the Warriors to match then, so they decided to tie up Thompson now.

The Warriors were also trying to balance Thompson's needs with their own payroll concerns. After all, the team will be facing similar scenarios with Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli next year and has increasingly less room to wiggle under the salary cap with its current roster.

Thompson's deal eclipses the contract Curry signed prior to the 2012-13 season when he was due for an extension.

Golden State signed Curry to a $44 million, four-year extension on Oct. 31, 2012. Curry, who started his first All-Star Game for the Western Conference last season, was coming off his second surgery on his right ankle in as many years that summer and questions persisted about his durability.

That risk worked out well for the Warriors. Curry's contract has become of the league's best bargains, and Golden State is banking on Thompson's talents to evolve in much the same way now.

Cavaliers sign C Varejao to contract extension

Best known for his wild hair and hustle, Anderson Varejao's heart and hard work got him a new contract with the Cavaliers.

Cleveland signed its starting center to a contract extension on Friday. Terms of the deal were not immediately confirmed, but the sides had been discussing a three-year, $30 million contract.

Varejao was in the final year of a six-year contract he signed in 2008. He's making $9.7 million this season and would have been eligible to become a free agent this summer before the Cavs decided to lock him up for a few more seasons.

''Anderson represents how this franchise wants to approach the game of basketball, both on the court and off,'' Cavaliers general manager David Griffin said.

''He has been a key part of our foundation for years and we are very happy that he will continue to be part of our Cavs family as we work towards our goals at the highest level.

''Andy is, and has been, a tireless worker, an incredible teammate and a great competitor that plays with a rare combination of energy and intensity that makes him truly special.''

The 32-year-old Varejao has played in 535 games with Cleveland, averaging 7.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. The Brazilian has appeared in a franchise-record tying 71 postseason games. Varejao averaged 14.4 rebounds in 2012-13.

Varejao has always been one of LeBron James' favorite teammates. Varejao is the only player left on Cleveland's roster who played with James on the Cavs team that made the 2007 finals.

The Cavs, who lost their home opener on Thursday to New York, have until midnight Friday to sign Tristan Thompson to a contract extension. If they decide not to sign him, Thompson will be a restricted free agent next summer.

Varejao scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in 27 minutes against the Knicks.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - OCTOBER 31ST

1900 - Carl Hubbard, Missouri, baseball & football Hall of Famer is born.

1921 - Federation Sportive Feminine International forms

(1st woman track & field association).

1942 - Dave McNally, American baseball player (d. 2002) is born.
1943 - Washington Redskin Sammy Baugh passes for 6 touchdowns vs Bkln (48-10).

1947 - Frank Shorter, Munich Germany, US marathoner (Oly-gold/silver-72, 76) is born.

1968 - Milwaukee Bucks win their 1st game beating Detroit 138-118 (6th game).

1983 - George S Halas, NFL coach (Chicago Bears), dies at 88

1987 - 1st jockey to win 9 races in 1 day (Chris Antley at Belmont).

1988 - First Monday Night NFL game in Indianapolis, Colts beat Denver 55-23.

1993 - 25 people killed during Ghana-Ivory Coast soccer match.

1999 - Yachtsman Jesse Martin returns to Melbourne after 11 months

of circumnavigating the world, solo, non-stop and unassisted.

2010 - Maurice Lucas, American basketball player (b. 1952) dies.

LeBron welcomed back on special night in Cleveland

Carried onto the floor by an emotional ovation building for years, LeBron James is back where he began.

He's home.

Introduced to a deafening roar from Cleveland fans, James was welcomed back Thursday night by a city desperate to end a championship drought that's about to turn 50 years old. James came back to try and end it, and his journey is underway.

At 8:08 p.m. all was right in Cleveland again.

That when James, the last starter announced, walked onto the floor in a Cavs uniform for a regular season game for the first time in four years.

Nearly four months since proclaiming ''I'm coming home'' and shifting the NBA's balance of power, James is again playing in front of family, friends and the Cleveland fans who had their hearts broken when he left for Miami four years ago.

This is a homecoming like no other.

''None of us should take this moment for granted,'' a relaxed James said following Cleveland's morning shootaround at Quicken Loans Arena. ''This is probably one of the biggest sporting events ever. I don't feel it, but I know it is.''

A crowd of 20,000-plus fans - with some paying as much as $5,000 for a ticket - packed the Q, which was updated during the offseason with a gigantic, fire-spewing scoreboard to welcome home James. The Akron native came back to his hoops roots hoping to deliver a title to Cleveland, a city that hasn't finished on top in pro sports since 1964.

Before taking the floor, James huddled his teammates in a hallway and told them that ''tonight is special.'' He then gave a playful tap to owner Dan Gilbert's son, Nick, before walking onto the court that was his for seven seasons.

The pregame festivities ended with James going to midcourt and performing his ''chalk toss'' pregame ritual with fans tossing paper confetti along with him.

James, who has won NBA titles and Olympic gold medals, knew this season opener is a little more special.

''I understand how much I mean to this team, to this franchise, to this city and to this state,'' he said. ''It's a different feeling, but I'm still as calm and excited at the same time because it's the first game of the season.''

In the hours leading up to tip-off, thousands of fans gathered in the streets outside the arena. This was a party four years in the making.

Across the street from the Q, a 10-story-tall banner of James was unveiled in the same spot where one hung during his first seven seasons with the Cavs. The spot became a symbol of civic pride until that night in July 2010 when James announced he was leaving for Miami. In the hours after his decision, some angry fans burned his jersey and others hurled rocks at a banner that would be removed a few days later.

On Thursday, the new banner - showing James with his arms outstretched wearing a jersey with ''Cleveland'' where his name would normally be stitched - drew fans who posed for photos the same way they did when James was here last.

Chrissy Pavlik of Wadsworth, Ohio, and her brother, Brad, were among the fans who didn't have a ticket for the game but wanted to be downtown to celebrate.

''I grew up playing basketball and LeBron was always one of my role models, so when he left I was devastated, crying, throwing fits,'' she said. ''To see the banner back, we drove into the city and I was like, 'Check it out, dude.' It's so cool. We're very, very happy.''

Along East 4th Street, fans wearing James jerseys and broad smiles mixed with patrons lined up to get into overflowing restaurants and bars and a free concert featuring hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar and the rock band Imagine Dragons.

As they filed past, Barry Harris, 55, of Cleveland, was filled with pride. A lifelong Clevelander, he had never seen his city acting quite like this.

''It's amazing,'' Harris said as his twin brother, Larry, snapped pictures of ESPN's SportsCenter set. ''I've been waiting 55 years for this. We got LeBron. We got Johnny (Manziel) Football. We got the Republican National convention coming in two years. We got casinos. It's huge. We deserve this.''

James' return has Cleveland fans believing their tortured run of sports misery, which includes a series of close calls with nicknames like The Drive, The Fumble and The Shot, could be over.

James is the one to end the curse.

''It's got to be him,'' Harris said. ''It's got to be LeBron. It was his destiny to come back and finish his career off here. No place else.''

Cards exercise Lackey option at big league minimum

The St. Louis Cardinals have exercised their 2015 contract option on pitcher John Lackey, which is at the major league minimum.

The right-hander agreed to an $82.5 million, five-year contract with Boston in December 2009 that contained a provision for a conditional team option at the minimum if he missed a season due to specified injury. Lackey did not pitch in 2012 after reconstructive elbow surgery.

The major league minimum next year will be $500,000 plus a cost-of-living adjustment to be determined Nov. 20, which is likely to be $9,000 to $10,000.

Lackey, who turned 36 on Oct. 23, was 14-10 with a 3.83 ERA last year with the Red Sox and Cardinals and was 1-0 in two postseason starts for the NL Central champions.

Lackey was acquired at the trade deadline in July in a deal that sent outfielder Allen Craig and pitcher Joe Kelly to Boston. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said the contract option was a key to the deal.

Reds exercise Cueto's option, decline Ludwick

The Reds exercised Johnny Cueto's $10 million contract option on Thursday but decided to let outfielder Ryan Ludwick and infielder Jack Hannahan become free agents.

Cueto also made $10 million last season, when he went 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA, the Reds' first 20-game winner since Danny Jackson in 1988. Cueto had been guaranteed $27 million over four years and can become a free agent after next season.

Cincinnati had a $9 million option on Ludwick but chose to pay a $4.5 million buyout. Half will be paid by Nov. 15, 2015, and the other half by Nov. 15, 2016. Ludwick batted .244 with nine homers and 45 RBIs.

Hannahan played only 26 games because of injuries. The Reds declined his $4 million option and will pay a $2 million buyout, half by this Nov. 15 and half by Nov. 15, 2015.

The Reds also outrighted right-hander Trevor Bell and infielder Neftali Soto off their 40-man roster. Infielder Ramon Santiago chose to become a free agent.

Bell made two relief appearances and gave up five runs while getting two outs. Soto went 3 for 30 in 21 games with one RBI. Santiago batted .246 in 75 games with two homers and 17 RBIs.

Rodriguez suspension ends, back on Yanks' roster

Alex Rodriguez's season-long suspension formally ended Thursday, a day after the World Series ended.

The New York Yankees reinstated the third baseman from the restricted list.

Rodriguez was suspended by Major League Baseball for violations of the sport's drug agreement and labor contract and lost just over $22 million of his $25 million salary. The three-time AL MVP, who turns 40 on July 27, is owed $61 million by the Yankees over the next three seasons. New York general manager Brian Cashman said it's possible Rodriguez may see some time at first base.

New York did not have to make a move on its 40-man roster because 10 players became free agents, including Derek Jeter, David Robertson, Hiroki Kuroda and Ichiro Suzuki. Jeter, the Yankees' captain, is retiring.

Red Sox sign closer Koji Uehara for 2 years

The Boston Red Sox have signed Koji Uehara for two more years, committing $18 million to the reliever who closed out the 2013 World Series but struggled along with the team this season.

One year to the day after Uehara struck out Matt Carpenter to seal Boston's third title in 10 years, the team gave him a deal that will pay him $9 million in each of the next two years, when he will be 40 and 41 years old. General manager Ben Cherington said he thought Uehara had less wear and tear on his arm than other pitchers his age.

''You're really looking at a guy who has been one of the elite relievers in baseball,'' Cherington said in a conference call with reporters on Thursday night. ''We feel really good about the ninth inning when he's pitching out there with a lead. It was a priority for us to retain him.''

Uehara joined the Red Sox in 2013 and inherited the closer's role midway through the season, helping to stabilize the bullpen that was a key contributor to the title. He finished the regular season with a 1.09 ERA and 21 saves in 24 chances and then recorded seven saves and a 0.66 ERA in the postseason, when he was named the MVP of the AL Championship Series.

Uehara converted his first 15 save opportunities this season to run his streak to 31 in a row - the second-longest in franchise history - and made the All-Star team for the first time. In a span of 21 innings from May 3 to June 16, he did not allow a run.

But after making the All-Star game for the first time, Uehara stumbled in mid-August and allowed 10 runs in his next six outings while blowing three straight save opportunities. He finished the season with three scoreless outings and a 6-5 record with 26 saves and a 2.52 ERA.

''We felt really comfortable with where he was and where he will be going,'' Cherington said. ''We were able to look at the whole body of work. He's been an elite performer for two full seasons.''

Before coming to Boston, Uehara spend 10 seasons with Yomiuri of Japan's Central League, leading the Giants to two Japan Series championships. He also pitched for Japan in two Olympics and led the country to the gold medal at the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.

In six major-league seasons with the Orioles, Rangers and Red Sox, he has a 15-15 record with 61 saves and a 2.44 ERA. With 46 walks and 412 strikeouts in 351 1-3 innings, he has the best career strikeout-to-walk ratio and of any pitcher in baseball history with at least 100 innings.

Also Thursday, the Red Sox said that outfielder Rusney Castillo will be held out for the remainder of the Arizona Fall League schedule after straining the muscle between his thumb and fingers.

''It's an injury that will respond well to rest,'' Cherington said. ''It's not a concern moving forward, but we do want to let it calm down.''

On the day that catcher David Ross and right-hander Burke Badenhop elected free agency, Cherington said the team was still hopeful it could sign lefty Jon Lester.

''He's a free agent and obviously we know him well,'' Cherington said. ''We hope we get a chance to talk to him.''

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - OCTOBER 30TH

1871 - Phila Athletics beat Chicago for 1st Natl Association baseball pennant.

1918 - Robert Feller, MLB pitcher (Red Sox, led AL in strikeouts 7 times) is born.
1919 - Baseball league presidents call for abolishment of spitball.
1922 - Anxious to compete with the Yankees, the NY Giants pay $65,000

& 3 players for Jack Bentley (hits .349 & is 13-1 as pitcher in 1922).
1945 - Branch Rickey signs Jackie Robinson to a Montreal Royals.
1954 - 1st use of 24-sec shot clock in pro basketball (Rochester vs Boston).
1956 - Dodgers sell Ebbets Field to a real estate group

They agree to stay until 1959, with an option to stay until 1961.

1960 - Diego Maradona, Buenos Aires, soccer player (World Cup-hand of god) is born.

1974 - Muhammad Ali KOs George Foreman in 8th round

in Kinshasa Zaire ('The Rumble in the Jungle').

2005 - Al Lopez, American baseball player and manager (b. 1908) dies.

Report: Joe Maddon is the new manager of the Chicago Cubs

It didn't matter that the Chicago Cubs already had a manager in place, when Joe Maddon hit the open market, it got their attention.

And now, just like that, Rick Renteria's tenure as Cubs skipper is apparently over after just one season. The Cubs have upgraded, agreeing to make Maddon their new manager, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:

Maddon and the Cubs are on the verge of agreeing to a mega deal, according to people familiar with the situation. The Cubs deny that a deal is done, but people familiar with the dealings say that it is certain to be completed in coming days, and that Maddon would indeed be the next Cubs manager.

The contract, once finalized, is expected to make Maddon one of the highest-paid managers in baseball and quite likely the best-paid in the National League. Mike Scioscia's Angels deal pays him $5 million annually, so he sets the standard.

We may not get official confirmation of this immediately, because MLB frowns upon teams making news on the day of a World Series game. That's led to other MLB reporters saying the deal isn't yet done. But that could just be because the Cubs are waiting for the World Series to end before confirming the story.

Maddon opted out of his deal with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, saying he wanted to explore the open market. His free agency, as it were, shook up the managerial ranks to where otherwise employed gents like Renteria started to fear for their jobs.

The Rays were 754-705 under Maddon since 2006. He took over in rough times and turned a 100-loss team into a contender in the AL East, going to the World Series once and the postseason four times.

The Cubs are hoping for the same turnaround. They were 73-89 in 2014, seven games improved from 2013. There's a lot of young talent coming up in Chicago, though, so the Cubs are hoping for much more success in the coming years. They brought up Javier Baez and Jorge Soler this summer, and still have slugger Kris Bryant waiting in the wings.

The Cubs are expected to be big players in the free-agent market too, as they have money to spend. They're considered as a possible destination for Jon Lester and possibly another well-known arm.

Now, they've made their first big move, and it's not even technically the offseason yet.

Giants RHP Hudson vs Royals RHP Guthrie in Game 7

After long waits to make their World Series debuts, Tim Hudson and Jeremy Guthrie will get another opportunity to pitch Wednesday night.

This time, everything is on the line.

Guthrie, who had never reached the postseason before this year, will be on the mound for Kansas City in Game 7. Once again, he will face the 39-year-old Hudson, who finally made it to the World Series with San Francisco after 16 seasons in the majors.

''I'm no different than anybody else. As a kid, you think about it. As a big leaguer, you think about it,'' said Hudson, set to become the oldest Game 7 starter in Series history. ''You wonder if you're going to have an opportunity to do it. Sixteen years in the big leagues, I'm finally getting that chance. I can't wait to get out there and have some fun.''

The 35-year-old Guthrie helped pitch Royals to a 3-2 win last Friday night in San Francisco, giving them a 2-1 lead in the Series. But after the Giants rallied to win the next two at home, the teams returned to Kansas City with the Royals needing a victory to force Game 7.

They got it - a 10-0 rout - behind a resurgent offense that relentlessly peppered Giants starter Jake Peavy and reliever Yusmeiro Petit, and a brilliant start by rookie Yordano Ventura.

''A lot of guys had this weird feeling it would come to this,'' Giants outfielder Hunter Pence said afterward, ''and here we are.''

Guthrie allowed two runs over five innings in his World Series debut, and Hudson was nearly as sharp, allowing three runs on four hits while pitching into the sixth. But when the Giants were unable to score a tying run off the Kansas City bullpen, Hudson was stuck with the loss.

Now, he has a chance to bag the biggest win possible.

''I mean, obviously I'm going to go as deep as I can,'' Hudson said. ''Hopefully I can give a quality six, seven innings out there and turn it over to those guys in the 'pen.''

That bullpen could be even stronger than normal with ace Madison Bumgarner, who won Game 1 and pitched a shutout in Game 5, available for a relief stint Wednesday night.

Bumgarner has allowed one run over 16 innings in his two starts against Kansas City.

''We'll see where he's at and how he's doing out there,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. ''I can't tell you exactly how far he could go or how many pitches he could go. I think you read him and see how he's doing out there.''

Asked what his pitch limit might be Wednesday night, Bumgarner gave a predictably preposterous answer.

''I said maybe 200. No, I don't know. I don't even know if I'm going to be called on. But if you are, as long as you're getting outs and you're not hurting ...,'' he said.

First things first, though: Bumgarner is excited for his pal Hudson.

''There couldn't be a better story for Huddy. I know he's going to be ready,'' Bumgarner said.

As for playing a Game 7, ''if you want to be a baseball player, that's what you think about.''

The Royals will also have a fresh bullpen after Ventura's sublime start. Kansas City manager Ned Yost has even said his star trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and All-Star closer Greg Holland would be available to pitch two innings apiece if needed.

''That keeps all of our big guns fresh and ready to go,'' Yost said.

The Royals also will have a bit of history on their side.

When they were last in the World Series in 1985, they also faced a 3-2 deficit returning home against St. Louis. They won Game 6, made famous by umpire Don Denkinger's blown call at first base, and then took Game 7 in an 11-0 rout for their only championship.

The Giants, meanwhile, had a 3-2 lead this year for the third time in franchise history. Just like in 1924 and 2002, they lost Game 6. Both of those years, they lost Game 7 as well.

''We'll take any win. Close, blowout, any win,'' Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain said. ''Guys stepped up and we definitely needed everyone in our lineup. We needed to swing the bats and have a good outing from our starter. We need that again. I hope the entire team gets hot.''

Georgia's Todd Gurley suspended 4 games by NCAA

Georgia was hoping to get Todd Gurley back on the field.

Looks like the No. 9 Bulldogs will have to wait two more games.

The NCAA announced Wednesday that Gurley, once a leading Heisman Trophy contender, must sit out until Nov. 15 for accepting more than $3,000 for autographed memorabilia and other items over a two-year period.

Gurley already missed the Bulldogs' last two games, and the school had petitioned for him to be reinstated in time for Saturday's Cocktail Party rivalry against Florida.

But the NCAA ruled that Gurley must serve a four-game suspension - about 30 percent of the regular season - and said it ''strongly considered'' a harsher punishment given the extent of the violations. The junior running back was found to have taken cash from multiple individuals, even though he received ''extensive rules education about the prohibition of receiving payment for autographs.''

''The university's due diligence in its investigation and the student's full disclosure of his involvement in the violations were factors in not imposing a more severe withholding condition,'' the NCAA said in a statement.

The school announced an immediate appeal, which will be heard this week by an NCAA committee that can reduce or remove the sanctions imposed by the staff but can't increase them.

After practice, coach Mark Richt steadfastly refused to comment on severity of the penalty. He said repeatedly that his team is only going to focus on ''things we can control.''

''When rules are broken, you don't have control over the discipline,'' Richt said. ''That's a part of life.''

If the suspension is upheld, Gurley would also miss a Nov. 8 contest at Kentucky. But he would be able to return for a Southeastern Conference showdown in Athens against No. 4 Auburn on Nov. 15.

''In determining the appropriate reinstatement conditions, a 30 percent withholding condition is consistent with precedent in similar cases,'' the NCAA said.

Former Georgia receiver A.J. Green received a four-game suspension in 2010 after acknowledging he sold a bowl jersey for $1,000.

The NCAA said Gurley must also repay a portion of the money to a charity of his choice and perform 40 hours of community service. The organization did not specify how much of the money he would have to repay or a deadline to comply with the rest of his sanctions.

Gurley's suspension raised questions about rules barring college players from receiving money for their autograph or likeness at a time when the major conferences are pushing to increase athlete benefits.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said he believes football and basketball players should receive up to $5,000 per year for expenses not covered by their scholarships, considering they're ''bringing in big money for all our universities.'' But he's not sure about allowing players to sell autographs and other memorabilia while still in school.

''It's a team sport,'' Spurrier said. ''I think it might alienate team chemistry if some guys are getting a whole bunch of money. The right guard will be like, 'Where's my cut for blocking for you?' I think it ought to be sort of even. Most guys in the position to sign autographs are smart enough to say, 'See me after the bowl game. We'll do business then.' That's the way we have to do it right now.''

Gurley was suspended in the midst of a stellar season. He has rushed for 773 yards and eight touchdowns, returned a kickoff for a 100-yard TD, and even threw a 50-yard pass - Georgia's longest completion of the season.

Yet the Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC) have done just fine without Gurley. Freshman Nick Chubb starred in a 34-0 rout of Missouri and a 45-32 victory at Arkansas, combining for 68 carries, 345 yards and three touchdowns.

When the school applied for his reinstatement last week, Gurley released a statement saying he took ''full responsibility for the mistakes I made.'' His attorney, William King of Birmingham, did not return messages seeking comment Wednesday.

Richt said he expects Gurley to return for the final three games of the regular season, plus any playoff or bowl games. There were reports suggesting Gurley would be better off at this point dropping out of school and preparing for next year's NFL draft, when he is widely expected to be one of the top picks.

''I don't think there's any doubt Todd is going to finish with honor and have a great finish to his career here at Georgia, whenever it ends,'' Richt said.

Gurley has continued to practice with the Bulldogs during his suspension, though Chubb gets the bulk of the work with the first-teamers.

Embattled Florida coach Will Muschamp said the Gators (3-3, 2-3) would continue preparing for Saturday's game the same way, even though Gurley has been ruled out.

''He's an outstanding football player, as good a player as there is in college football, maybe one of the best who's ever played in our league,'' Muschamp said. ''But Nick is a good player, too.''

Lakers' Randle has surgery, likely out for year

Los Angeles Lakers rookie forward Julius Randle is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his broken right leg.

The seventh overall pick out of Kentucky broke his leg in the fourth quarter of his NBA debut in Los Angeles' season-opening loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. Randle was strapped to a wheeled stretcher and taken off the Staples Center court after colliding with two Rockets and landing awkwardly with 6:46 to play.

Before Wednesday's game at Phoenix, the Lakers announced that Randle's injury was just as serious as it appeared.

Randle's surgery was performed by Dr. Donald Wiss at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He is expected to make a full recovery, but the Lakers anticipate he won't play this season.

''It is heartbreaking,'' Lakers coach Byron Scott said after Tuesday's loss. ''I saw him all summer and saw the work he was putting in. I saw the progression he was making, and the steps he was taking to get better. His first game, and he goes down.''

The 19-year-old power forward was the SEC's top freshman while helping Kentucky to reach the NCAA championship game last season. He was thrilled to be drafted by his favorite childhood team to play alongside Kobe Bryant, one of his idols.

Bryant consoled Randle on the court and after the game in the Lakers' locker room. Bryant made his own return Tuesday after missing the 2013 playoffs and all but six games last season with two major injuries.

''Even for myself, being a veteran, seeing someone going through something like this is tough,'' Bryant said. ''But that's what we're here for. We're here to be his teammates and help him through it, take it day by day. ... He was progressing just fine. He was improving leaps and bounds.''

After Randle recovered from a broken right foot late in his high-school career in the Dallas area, he appeared to be a budding star while averaging 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as a freshman at Kentucky. He had 24 games with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds, the most in the nation and the second-most by a freshman in Division I history.

Randle also won fans in Los Angeles for his humble approach to his NBA career and his devotion to his mother, Carolyn Kyles. He chose No. 30 for his uniform because his mother wore it for her college team.

Randle and Steve Nash already have been ruled out for the season by the Lakers, who led the NBA with 319 man-games lost to injury last year during their worst season in a half-century.

Three other Lakers - Wayne Ellington, Ryan Kelly and Nick Young - also missed their opener with injuries. That means the Lakers already are guaranteed to miss 166 games due to injury this season before they play their second game Wednesday night at Phoenix.

Young is expected to be out until December after surgery on a torn thumb ligament, but Ellington and Kelly could be healthy soon.

Randle played one more game in what was supposed to be his rookie season than Blake Griffin, another high-profile power forward chosen with a high draft pick by a Los Angeles team. Griffin missed the entire 2009-10 season with the Clippers after breaking his left kneecap in their final preseason game while landing after a dunk.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - OCTOBER 29TH

1942 - Branch Rickey named president/GM of Brooklyn Dodgers.
1945 - Happy Chandler resigns as US Senator, remains as baseball commish.

1950 - Cleveland Browns' Marion Motley sets record for highest avg gain

in a game with 17.1 (10 attempts), Cleveland 45, Pittsburgh 7.

1953 - Denis Potvin, Vanier Ontario, NY Islander defenseman (Norris trophy) is born.

1960 - Muhammad Ali's (Cassius Clay) 1st professional

fight, beats Tunney Hunsaker in 6.

1967 - Danny Abramowicz begins NFL streak of 105 consecutive game receptions.

1986 - Padres pitcher LaMarr Hoyt is arrested at US-Mexico border for drugs.

1987 - Thomas Hearns wins unprecidented 4th different weight boxing title.

Royals roll past Giants to force Game 7 in World Series

Ned Yost wanted a seven-game World Series. Now he's got it.

The Kansas City Royals pummeled the San Francisco Giants 10-0 in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday night, setting up a winner-takes-all one-game championship showdown Wednesday night at 8:07 p.m. ET at Kauffman Stadium.

Earlier in the week, with the series tied at two games apiece, Yost, the Royals' manager, professed that he secretly wanted a seven-game series, just for the thrill of it. And now baseball has just that, its absolute apex, a World Series game that will crown a champion for 2014.

Before the game, when asked about a hypothetic game Wednesday, Yost said: "There is tomorrow." It was not defensive so much as definitive, and behind a seven-run second inning and seven shutout innings from rookie starter Yordano Ventura, the Royals embodied Yost's prophecy.

The second inning began with an Alex Gordon single, followed with another from Salvador Perez and unknotted the scoreless tie with a Mike Moustakas double. He and Perez scored on a Nori Aoki single, Lorenzo Cain followed with another run-scoring single and Eric Hosmer chased in a pair of runs with a ball that bounced in the infield, over shortstop Brandon Crawford's head and into left field. A Billy Butler double added another run, and just like that, 33 minutes later, the Royals led 7-0 and the pregame fear that coursed through 40,372 evaporated.

Ventura made sure to keep it that way. He became just the 12th player ever 23 years old or younger to throw at least seven shutout innings in a World Series game. Though wild – he yielded five walks – the Giants couldn't square up his high-90s fastballs and mustered three hits against him.

It was the exact performance Kansas City needed, one that gave the Royals the peace of mind to rest their bullpen leading into the final day of the season.

"Anytime you can get to a Game 7," said Jeremy Guthrie, the Royals' starter in the seventh game, "you realize anything can happen."

The beauty of Game 7 lies in that open canvas on which Yost and Giants manager Bruce Bochy will endeavor to paint their masterpiece. It is Yost's first postseason; it is Bochy's crack at a third championship in five seasons. And should the game remain close early on, an antithesis of Game 6, the managers will matter.

Because even the slightest crack in the pitcher foundation could result in a mudjacking from the bullpen. How early will Yost go to his three-headed relief monster, Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland? How liberally will Bochy use his ace, Madison Bumgarner, the hero of Games 1 and 5 who is available to pitch out of the bullpen Wednesday?

Game 7 of the World Series is the greatest because in the NBA Finals teams don't change strategy and in the Super Bowl teams stick to what has worked the previous 18 game days. Baseball turns into a fundamentally different game, one of feints and dekes, of strategy and tactics, of the truest embodiment of the following aphorism.

There are no finer words in sports than Game 7 of the World Series.

Gordie Howe resting after 'pretty serious' stroke

According to a story in the Detroit News, Red Wings legend Gordie Howe suffered a "pretty serious" stroke Sunday per his son Dr. Murray Howe.

The hockey hall of famer endearingly known as "Mr. Hockey" is resting at his daughter's home in Lubbock, Texas according to the story.

"The right side of his body is very, very weak. He's unable to stand without help. He's able to speak, but very, very difficult to speak," his son said. "He knows who he is. He knows the people around him. But it is very difficult for him to get up and walk around. So he is pretty much confined to his bed right now. So we're just trying to keep him comfortable, and that's our goal."

Gordie Howe, 86, had a rough summer, one where he had spinal surgery. But according to his son, in the story, the elder Howe was walking close to one mile per-day before the stroke.

How is the third leading scorer in NHL history with 1,850 points. He has the second-most goals with 801.

Woman asks to end investigation of FSU player

The lawyer for the woman involved in the domestic battery investigation of Florida State running back Karlos Williams has asked police to end the investigation.

Nathan Prince said Tuesday the woman never filed a complaint and wants everything to ''blow over.'' He said Florida State contacted the Tallahassee Police Department about the case. Prince thinks the university found out about the incident through social media.

Prince said his client ''at no point made a complaint to any law enforcement agency, never gave an interview or anything like that.''

Florida State spokesman Rob Wilson didn't immediately confirm whether the university reported the incident or if Florida State would conduct its own investigation of possible student code of conduct violations.

The police investigation of the incident is still ''open at this time,'' TPD spokesman Dave Northway said Tuesday. Law enforcement does not need cooperation from a possible victim to investigate.

Williams, a senior, has not been charged or arrested. Coach Jimbo Fisher said he is eligible to play against Louisville Thursday and declined comment on the Williams' investigation.

The university released a statement Monday saying ''until we receive more information regarding the alleged incident (Williams) status with the team will be under review.''

Williams is being represented by Tim Jansen, the attorney who also represented quarterback Jameis Winston during his police investigation after a woman said he sexually assaulted her in December 2012. Winston was never arrested or charged; a Florida prosecutor said there was not enough evidence in the case.

''I have also been informed by a prosecutor in the State Attorney's office that there is no current case for domestic battery against Mr. Williams,'' Jansen said in a statement. ''We feel it's important that the public have the unbiased truth of the facts as they currently exist. Mr. Williams has not been charged with any crime.''

Northway declined to say who initially reported the incident. He referred to Monday's police statement that said, ''Florida Law does not allow TPD to discuss the details of any case while it is on-going.''

The investigation is the latest involving a Florida State football player. Winston is facing a university hearing to determine whether four sections of the code of conduct have been violated - two for sexual misconduct and two for endangerment.

Florida State also is currently being investigated by the Department of Education on how hit handles possible Title IX violations. The woman who said Winston assaulted her filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, which decided the university should be investigated for possible Title IX violations over the way it responds to sexual violence complaints.

Bailey calls it a career after 15 years in NFL

Former teammate Brian Dawkins called Champ Bailey ''a great conserver of energy,'' a rare superstar who was never in a rush to get anywhere ''unless it was on a football field.''

In that dawdling, you can count retirement.

That finally came Tuesday, 60 days after Bailey was released by the New Orleans Saints when a nagging foot injury prevented him from displaying the speed and skills that led to his cornerback-record dozen Pro Bowl berths in Washington and Denver.

He had workouts with the Lions and Ravens and interest from other teams but decided to pursue a new chapter, possibly in broadcasting.

''Every professional athlete knows and understands that at some point his career will end and it will be time to move on to another phase in life. For me, that time is now,'' Bailey said in a statement released by the Broncos, for whom he played from 2004-13.

''I have been truly blessed. I have been able to play this NFL game I love for 15 seasons and yet, it seems like only yesterday that my dreams came true when I received the call from Charley Casserly letting me know the Redskins had made me their first pick in the 1999 draft,'' Bailey said.

The seventh overall pick that year, the University of Georgia star spent five seasons in Washington before the Broncos traded star running back Clinton Portis to the Redskins for the game's premier shutdown cornerback.

Bailey was the most decorated defender in franchise history with eight Pro Bowl berths while with the Broncos.

When GM John Elway returned to his beloved franchise, his first order of business was signing Bailey to an extension.

''Champ was the pillar in this organization for a long, long time,'' Elway said. ''He brought great stability to the Broncos not only as a player but as a person through his ability and leadership. When I came here in 2011, he was the guy that we were going to build around and we were fortunate to have him for three more years to get this team back on track. He was a big part of that turnaround.''

Peyton Manning paid him the ultimate compliment, saying Bailey ''had unbelievable cover skills and unbelievable ball skills. He caught the ball like a wide receiver did. Going all the way back to my days playing against him in college, he was truly a great competitor with talent and work ethic. That's what made Champ such an incredible player.''

Bailey took many a young cornerback under his wing, among them Chris Harris Jr, who tweeted, ''Blessed to be able to learn and play opposite Champ for 3 years,'' and added the hashtags HOF and TBE for the surefire Hall of Famer.

Although quarterbacks usually avoided throwing in his direction, Bailey still found a way to get involved and make an impact. He had 52 interceptions, more than any active cornerback. He prided himself on his technique and tackling abilities. In 215 regular season games, Bailey had 983 tackles, three sacks, nine forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

''The thing about Champ was he had great ability as a shutdown corner while also not being afraid to stick his nose in there and be a part of the run game,'' Elway said. ''He was a complete corner with tremendous toughness and ability to cover.''

About the only thing that eluded Bailey in his stellar career was a Super Bowl ring.

The closest he came was the Broncos' trip to the Meadowlands in February when they were blown out by Seattle.

With a $10 million salary looming for this season, the Broncos released him in March after Bailey decided he wanted to give a 16th season a try. He later signed with the Saints, but the left foot injury that sidelined him for 11 games last season continued to bother him during training camp and for the first time in his life he didn't make the cut.

His last NFL season was a bittersweet one, missing 11 games with the foot injury before returning to action down the stretch and finally getting to play in a Super Bowl, which proved both the apex and nadir of his career.

''He had a significant part to do with them getting there based on his play in the AFC championship, where he gave up one pass for 4 yards on one foot,'' said his agent, Jack Reale. ''He has a tremendous amount to be proud of and really tried to get it done last year when lesser players wouldn't have even tried.''

It's a safe bet Bailey will end up talking football now that he's done playing it.

''Media makes a lot of sense for a guy like him,'' Reale said.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - OCTOBER 28TH

1890 - Last NL-AA World Series game Bkln ties Louisville 3 games & 1 tie
1900 - After over 5 months second Olympic games in Paris, France, close

1924 - White Sox beat NY Giants 8-4 in Dublin, less than 20 fans attend

1926 - Bowie Kuhn, baseball commissioner (1969-1984) is born

1937 - Lenny Wilkins, NBA player/coach (Seattle, Cleveland, Atlanta) is born

1949 - Bruce Jenner, Mt Kisco NY, decathalete (Olympic-gold-1976) is born

1952 - Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Women's Texas Golf Open
1953 - Red Barber, resigns as Dodger sportscaster to join Yankees
1954 - Major league owners vote down sale of A's to a Phila syndicate

1959 - Buffalo Bills enter AFL
1961 - Ground broken for Municipal (Shea) Stadium for NY Mets
1962 - NY Giant YA Tittle passes for 7 touchdowns vs Wash Redskins (49-34)
1970 - NBA Cleveland Cavaliers 1st home game, lose to San Diego 110-99

1976 - Billy Martin named AL Manager of Year (NY Yankees)

1989 - Oakland A's sweep SF Giants in earthquake/BART series

1997 - NBA announces hiring of Dee Kantner & Violet Palmer as 1st

women to officiate a major-league all-male sports league

2006 - Red Auerbach, American basketball coach

and executive, dies of a heart attack at 89

Bears' Houston out for rest of year with torn ACL

Chicago Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston will miss the remainder of the season after he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while celebrating a late sack in a blowout loss.

General manager Phil Emery confirmed the injury on Monday. He says Houston will have surgery once the swelling goes down.

Houston was injured celebrating a sack - his first of the season - against backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo late in Sunday's 51-23 loss at New England. The Bears were trailing by 25 with about 3 minutes left when it happened.

Emery says the Bears are ''disappointed for him and in him.''

He also says starting guard Matt Slauson will miss the remainder of the season with a torn pectoral muscle.

Florida St player investigated on domestic battery

The Tallahassee Police Department has confirmed Florida State starting running back Karlos Williams is being investigated for an alleged domestic battery incident.

Police received the case Saturday night and assigned it to the Criminal Investigation Division. Williams, a senior, has not been charged or arrested. He participated in practice Monday and an athletic department representative said neither Williams nor coach Jimbo Fisher would be made available to the media afterward.

Tallahassee police spokesman Dave Northway said in a statement Monday, ''Florida Law does not allow TPD to discuss the details of any case while it is on-going.''

Williams is being represented by Tallahassee lawyer Tim Jansen, who declined comment on Monday.

The athletic department released a statement saying, ''until we receive more information regarding the alleged incident (Williams) status with the team will be under review.''

The investigation is the latest involving a Florida State football player. Quarterback Jameis Winston is currently facing a student code of conduct hearing after a woman said he sexually assaulted her. Charges were never brought against the quarterback as a Florida prosecutor said there was not enough evidence in the case.

Florida State also is currently being investigated by the Department of Education on how hit handles possible Title IX violations. The woman who said Winston assaulted her filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, which decided the university should be investigated for possible Title IX violations over the way it responds to sexual violence complaints.

Pac-12 passes reforms for athletes

The Pac-12 passed sweeping changes for athletes in all of the conference's sports Monday, guaranteeing four-year scholarships, improving health care benefits and liberalizing transfer rules.

The changes announced by the Pac-12 presidents and chancellors include many of the same proposals outlined in a letter to university leaders in the five major football conferences in May. The conference also said its presidents and chancellors reaffirmed their support for stipends to cover the full cost of attendance.

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott has said that figure will likely range between $2,000 and $5,000 per athlete depending on the university. The 65 institutions in the five major football conferences - granted autonomy by the NCAA earlier this year - and 15 representative athletes will vote on the issue at the group's inaugural meeting in January.

Washington State President Elson Floyd, the chairman of the Pac-12's CEO Group, said in a statement that the changes announced by the conference fulfill ''a promise we made when we announced our agenda for reform earlier this year.''

According to the Pac-12's new rules, all athletic scholarships will be guaranteed for four years and ''can neither be reduced nor canceled provided the student-athlete remains in good standing and meets his/her terms of the agreement.'' In addition, financial aid agreements offered to incoming athletes will be ''for no less than four academic years'' beginning in the 2015-16 academic year.

Starting in 2016-17, if an athlete leaves an institution in good standing and has completed at least 50 percent of their degree, they can ''return and receive necessary educational expenses for the remaining terms of the agreement.''

Medical expenses for athletes injured during their college careers will be covered up to four years after they leave school under a rule that goes into effect in 2015-16. Athletes who transfer between Pac-12 universities will be able to receive athletic scholarships immediately ''without restriction.''

The Pac-12 also said athletes will be represented in the conference's governance structure. Final recommendations on the structure will be determined by June.

Washington gymnast McKenzie Fechter, the chair of the Pac-12 Student Athlete Advisory Committee, praised the Pac-12 for adopting the changes.

''I'm proud to be a part of a conference that is pushing reform and doing more for student-athletes,'' Fechter said in a statement. ''These reforms are positive steps not only for those of us who are current student-athletes, but also for those who aspire to be Pac-12 student-athletes in the future.''

The Pac-12 also said its presidents and chancellors discussed how it could lessen the time demands on athletes. The conference said it will continue to examine the subject with athletes and leaders at the other major football conferences, which include the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference.

''As a former student-athlete myself, I believe these reforms will mean a great deal to student-athletes in the Pac-12,'' Scott said in a statement. ''These reforms will ensure they enjoy a positive collegiate sports experience, and graduate with a meaningful college degree. This set of reforms also address various health and financial concerns that student-athletes have expressed to me in the many conversations I've had with them, while preserving the essence of the collegiate experience that has served so many student-athletes so well.

''I am very proud of the national leadership position our presidents, chancellors, athletics directors, senior women administrators, faculty athletic representatives, and other administrators have taken.''

Penguins Olli Maatta to undergo thyroid surgery

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta will have thyroid surgery next week to remove a potentially cancerous tumor.

The tumor was discovered during a preseason physical. Maatta underwent further tests before team doctors came to a diagnosis. He is scheduled to miss four weeks but is cleared to play until the surgery.

''I feel fine,'' Maatta said. ''The only thing that's different is now I know that I have a cancer. It's tough news but I really don't think it has affected me much.''

Team doctor Dharmesh Vyas said there is an ''85 percent chance'' the tumor is cancerous but added the 20-year-old from Finland will not need to undergo chemotherapy or radiation. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Maatta called the diagnosis ''a bit of a surprise'' but kept the news from most his teammates when he learned of his condition three weeks ago.

''I've been talking to doc a lot, to trainers, finding out everything I can about the cancer,'' he said. ''But I know I'm going to be fine and I really haven't been that worried about it because I know we have a great medical staff here and I know they're going to take care of me.''

Maatta has one goal and four assists in seven games this season for the Penguins, who host New Jersey on Tuesday.

''It's kind of news that catches your breath a little bit,'' Johnston said. ''''His mindset is he's a strong athlete mentally ... and we're very confident he's going to be able to rebound from this fine.''

Maatta will be forced to rest for seven to 10 days following the surgery. Barring any setbacks, he'll be cleared to return to skating and eventually work his way back into the lineup. Vyas said any additional procedures would be done following the season if any are required at all.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY - OCTOBER 27TH

1922 - Ralph Kiner, HR hitter (Pittsburgh Pirates)/sportscaster (NY Mets) is born.

1930 - Bill George, NFL linebacker (Chicago Bears, LA Rams) is born.

1941 - Dick Trickle, American auto racer, (d. 2013) is born.

1955 - Clark Griffith, baseball player/manager (NY Yankees), dies at 85.

1961 - American Basketball League starts play.

1980 - Astros owner John McMullen replaces GM Tal Smith with Al Rosen.

1985 - Anthony Carter begins NFL streak of 100+ consecutive game receptions.
1985 - KC Royals beat St Louis Cards, 4 games to 3 in 82nd World Series.
1986 - NY Mets beat Boston Red Sox, 4 games to 3 in 83rd World Series.

1991 - Minnesota Twins beat Altanta Braves 1-0 in 10 to win World Series in 7.
1992 - Don Baylor appointed 1st manager of Colorado Rockies.
1995 - Contract finalizing Cleveland Browns' move to Baltimore is signed.

2002 - Anaheim Angels defeat San Francisco Giants 4-3 in baseball's

World Series championship, MVP: Troy Glaus, Anaheim.
2004 - The Boston Red Sox win the World Series for the first time in 86 years.

2006 - Joe Niekro, American baseball player (b. 1944) dies.

Giants surge past Royals 11-4 to tie Series 2-all

The World Series was slipping away from the San Francisco Giants.

A botched grounder led to a three-run deficit, and they were in danger of falling behind the Kansas City Royals three games to one.

Instead of panic, it was time for some Panda-monium.

Pablo Sandoval's single set up Hunter Pence to score the tying run in the fifth inning and the 2012 Series MVP followed with a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth that sent the Giants surging past the Kansas City Royals 11-4 Saturday night at pulsating AT&T Park.

The Series is tied at two games apiece, ensuring the title will be decided at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium next week.

''We never give up, that's the thing,'' said Sandoval, who shook off a stomach bug after starting to feel ill Friday. ''We've been doing it all year in these situations. We know how that feels.''

Pence, eyes ablaze, had three hits, three RBIs and a nifty sliding catch in the ninth inning, and Joe Panik hit a two-run double in a four-run seventh.

''We had to win this game tonight no matter what,'' said Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong, knocked out after 2 2-3 innings.

San Francisco scored 10 unanswered runs and piled on 16 hits in a marathon of exactly 4 hours.

''We're going to battle and scratch and claw,'' Panik said.

Madison Bumgarner tries to put the Giants ahead Sunday night when he starts against Royals ace James Shields in a rematch of the opener, won by the Giants 7-1.

''This was a great ballgame, I thought, especially the way we came back,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Showcasing baseball at its exciting best, the game included a sprawling catch by Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson that left a pair of divots, and the first use of expanded video review in Series history - which became a turning point. Jeff Kellogg's safe call at second base was upheld by replay ump Jerry Meals on catcher Salvador Perez's pickoff attempt of Joaquin Arias, helping the Giants build the pivotal rally.

Four fans in the first row near the Giants dugout wore giant - of course - white panda heads as they cheered on Sandoval, nicknamed Kung Fu Panda and a veteran of the team's World Series titles in 2010 and '12. The switch-hitter batted just .199 right-handed during the regular season but came up with his first two-hit game from that side of the plate since Aug. 25, emphatically tossing his bat after lining a single to center that put the Giants ahead 6-4.

Sandoval said he vomited after batting practice and took medication.

''No one was taking me out of the lineup,'' he said. ''I play giving my heart and soul to the team.''

Lost in the torrent of runs was the earlier fit of pique by Bochy, who threw his hat to the dugout floor when his team botched a third-inning grounder. The mood was different by the eighth, when former Journey singer Steve Perry sprinted to the front row of the second deck behind home plate and led the crowd of 43,066 in a sing-along of ''Lights.''

The outlook seemed far different in the third , when ominous, dark clouds formed over the bayside ballpark, and the Royals burst ahead 4-1 against Vogelsong with the pitcher's help. He failed to step on first while covering and trying to catch Brandon Belt's throw on Eric Hosmer's tapper. Orange-clad fans quieted, and there even were scattered boos.

''I thought we had the situation right in the palm of our hand,'' Royals manager Ned Yost said.

But Yusmiero Petit settled the NL champions with three innings of scoreless, two-hit relief to improve to 3-0 in the postseason.

''The way Petey threw tonight saved our bullpen. He was our MVP tonight for me,'' San Francisco pitcher Jeremy Affleldt.

Yost stayed with starter Jason Vargas into the fifth, removing him after Panik's leadoff double. Royals relievers had been 7-0 in the postseason, but Yost couldn't get to his hard-throwing HDH triad of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland.

Jason Frasor and Danny Duffy combined to allow the tying run in a two-run fifth. And Brandon Finnegan, the first player to appear in the College World Series and World Series in the same year, allowed Sandoval's two-run single and Brandon Belt's RBI's single in the sixth.

''I don't think anybody goes through a season without losing a game,'' Finnegan said. ''If they did they'd be in the Hall of Fame now.''

Kansas City went ahead with a two-out, four-run rally in the third with the help of two infield hits that gave the Royals 18 in the postseason, matching the total of all other teams combined. Omar Infante grounded a two-run single up the middle for a 3-1 lead, and Perez followed with a bloop RBI single.

''Occasionally I do show emotion in that dugout,'' Bochy said of his cap toss.

Buster Posey cut the deficit in the bottom half with a run-scoring single, tying Barry Bonds' team record of 21 career postseason RBIs. Pence's RBI single in the fifth caused Frasor to throw up both arms in frustration, Sandoval singled Pence to third and Juan Perez's sacrifice fly made it 4-all.

''Oh, man, somewhere inside of me secretly I had hoped that it would go seven games for the excitement and the thrill of it,'' Yost said. ''Sure looks that way.''

UP NEXT

Royals: Shields has a 7.11 ERA this postseason, totaling 19 innings in four starts.

Giants: Bumgarner is 3-1 with a 1.40 ERA in five postseason starts this year.

PITCHERS AT THE PLATE

Vargas became the first AL pitcher to bat twice in a Series inning since Boston's Luis Tiant in the 1975 opener.

HIT PARADE

Eleven Giants had hits, including three of 10 in the No. 9 spot; Petit's single made him the first Giants reliever to get a Series hit since Slick Castleman in 1936.