LSU postpones its game vs. Troy

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Sep 3, 2008 | by Anonymous

LSU postponed its football game against Troy on Saturday after Hurricane Gustav damaged Tiger Stadium and battered Baton Rouge, La., far worse than anticipated.

The university made the decision Wednesday after having a full day to get a handle on damage to the stadium and Louisiana's capital city, much of which is expected to be without power into next week.

The Tigers' game against the Trojans was rescheduled on Nov. 15.

The most noticeable damage at Tiger Stadium were torn awnings that, along with their metal supports, were ripped off of an upper deck facades, crashing onto club seats below.

-- Maryland quarterback Jordan Steffy has ligament damage in his right thumb, an injury that will sideline him for at least three weeks and return Chris Turner to the starting role.

-- Former Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk was turned down by the NCAA's reinstatement committee, the last step in trying to get another season of eligibility. He contended injuries cost him playing time at Wake Forest, so he should get one more season at Cincinnati, where he is a graduate student.

-- Ohio State tailback Beanie Wells isn't putting pressure on his injured right foot but still holds out hope of playing Saturday against Ohio University. The Buckeyes play at USC on Sept. 13.

NBA

San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili had arthroscopic surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left ankle. The Spurs said Ginobili will be in a splint and on crutches for three weeks. Then, his rehabilitation schedule will be determined after his ankle is re- evaluated.

-- Former Kansas stars Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were thrown out of the NBA's rookie transition program in Rye Brook, N.Y., after being caught in their hotel room with marijuana and women, according to several sources. "They were sent home for violating program rules," NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said. Sources said Chalmers and Arthur also were fined $20,000 each and could start the season on the suspended list. Chalmers was taken in the second round of the draft by Minnesota and traded to Miami. Arthur was chosen late in the first round by New Orleans, traded three times on draft night and signed with Memphis in July.

-- Oklahoma City's new franchise (formerly Seattle SuperSonics) will be called Thunder.

Soccer

The Women's Professional Soccer league reached an agreement with a Bay Area investment group to operate a team for the debut season in 2009. The team's nickname and location will be announced later. Players from the national team will be allocated to the WPS squads this month. The league also will have teams in Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis and Washington. The league plans to expand to Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia in 2010. The now- defunct WUSA had a team in San Jose from 2001-03, winning the league's inaugural title.

-- Fred led D.C. United to the U.S. Open Cup title, scoring in the 50th minute to help the MLS team beat the Charleston Battery 2- 1 in Washington.

-- A 14-year-old high school student collapsed and died during practice for his junior varsity team. The Sacramento County Coroner's Office is conducting an autopsy on Brandon Mitchell Baker, a ninth-grader at Center-Antelope.

Golf

Tommy Bolt, the 1958 U.S. Open champion who had one of golf's sweetest swings and most explosive tempers, died in Cherokee Village, Ark.. He was 92. Bolt, who won 15 PGA Tour titles, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002.

WNBA

Diana Taurasi scored 19 of her 32 points in the second half to help host Phoenix (13-16) to a 103-96 win over Minnesota (14-15). The Mercury held the Lynx's Candice Wiggins to 2-of-11 shooting and 11 points, five under her average.

Cycling

Santa Rosa's Levi Leipheimer took the overall lead of the Spanish Vuelta after winning the fifth stage, a 26.4-mile individual time trial over the Ciudad Real course. He finished in 50 minutes, 57 seconds and held a two-second lead over Sylvain Chavanel.