Football games in the in-state series between Tulsa and Oklahoma are about to become a more frequent occurrence.
The schools announced Friday that they would play annual games from 2013 to 2015. It will mark the first time the Sooners and Golden Hurricane have played in three straight years since 1936 to 1938.
A contract extension calls for the teams to play in Norman in September 2013, in Tulsa in September 2014 and again in Norman in September 2015.
The Sooners and Golden Hurricane will also play games in Norman in 2009 and 2011 as part of a previous agreement.
Oklahoma has won the last four games in the series, including a 62-21 win in Tulsa last season.
Sonics vs. Seattle moves closer to trial
SEATTLE (AP) — With no sign of a settlement, the city of Seattle’s lawsuit against the Sonics is moving closer to the June 16 trial in federal court.
The judge scheduled a hearing Friday to rule on pretrial motions regarding evidence, arguments and witnesses.
The city is suing to force the NBA franchise to play out the two seasons remaining on the Key Arena lease.
Sonics owner Clay Bennett would like to pay off the lease and leave town. The NBA has already approved a move to Oklahoma City.
NYRA bans Hooters as jockey sponsor
NEW YORK (AP) — Hooters got the boot off Big Brown.
Big Brown jockey Kent Desormeaux won’t wear the restaurant chain’s logo when the horse goes for the Triple Crown in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. The New York Racing Association told Hooters on Friday that the chain won’t be allowed to sponsor Desormeaux because of a conflict with a competing NYRA sponsor.
NYRA told the owners of the chain it would announce a new sponsor before the race.
Hooters said no conflict existed when the owners submitted for sponsorship earlier this week.
“I have never heard of something like this happening,” said Mike McNeil, Hooters VP of marketing. “For them to threaten the jockey with suspension and a fine if he races with the Hooters logo on his pants this close to the biggest race of his life is just mean.”
Players suspended for Thursday’s brawl
NEW YORK (AP) — Boston outfielder Coco Crisp, Tampa Bay pitcher James Shields and six other players were suspended Friday, a day after their wild brawl at Fenway Park.
Three Red Sox got suspended: Crisp for seven games, pitcher Jon Lester for five games and first baseman Sean Casey for three games.
Five Rays were penalized by Major League Baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson: Shields for six games, DH-outfielder Jonny Gomes and pitcher Edwin Jackson for five games each, outfielder Carl Crawford for four games and second baseman Akinori Iwamura for three games.
All eight players also were fined undisclosed amounts. The Red Sox and Rays have often clashed in the past, and a fight between Crisp and Shields in Boston’s 7-1 win Thursday night triggered the latest outburst.
“I want to be very clear: I defend everything our guys did,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said before Friday night’s game at Texas. “I feel actually proud of the way we handled the situation that was presented.”
Ranger pitcher to be moved from team
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Right-hander Sidney Ponson, who seemed to have his career back on track, was designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers in a surprise move prior to Friday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Texas general manager Jon Daniels was vague about the reasons for the decision, saying Ponson had been dumped “for disrespecting teammates and club personnel.”
Romo, Timberlake break 100 at Torrey Pines
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and singer Justin Timberlake may not be qualified to play in the U.S. Open, but both proved they could break 100 Friday on Torrey Pines’ South Course.
The pair joined “Today” host Matt Lauer and a regular guy from Omaha, Neb., in a foursome bent on disproving Tiger Woods’ theory that it takes a pro to beat the course.
Romo, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Open this spring, won with a 13-over 84. The beefy quarterback, who boasts a 2.2 handicap index, barely broke a sweat playing the first nine holes in 5-over 40 but slowed as the six-hour round wore on.
“It got really tough to stay sharp,” he said, nodding toward the 18th hole, where he had his only double bogey after hitting into a bunker.
Timberlake, suffering from allergies, seconded Romo, although his game improved over the last four holes with two pars and two bogeys as he went into “Michael Jordan mode.” A 6.0 handicap index, he parred the 18th to finish at 27-over 98.
Convicted dealer dead in possible murder-suicide
DALLAS (AP) — Authorities said Friday that a convicted steroids dealer who claimed to have sold drugs to pro football players killed himself, and the mother of a woman found dead in his home said she believes he killed her, too.
The Dallas County medical examiner ruled 35-year-old David Jacobs’ shooting death a suicide, but police in the Dallas suburb of Plano aren’t saying whether he shot his on-again, off-again girlfriend.
Both bodies were found in the master bedroom of Jacobs’ Plano home. He was shot in the abdomen and head, and 30-year-old Amanda Earhart-Savell was shot several times. A .40-caliber Glock was found next to Jacobs, police said.
Earhart-Savell’s mother said her daughter feared Jacobs.
