Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio ó On the same day coach Jim Tressel resigned in the wake of an NCAA investigation, The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that the NCAA and Ohio State are looking into whether star quarterback Terrelle Pryor received cars and other extra benefits.
Pryor, who will be a senior this fall, has already been interviewed at least once by investigators, the paper reported.
The newspaper cited unnamed sources who said this is the most significant inquiry of Pryor. The NCAA and Ohio State are also probing more than 50 car purchases by Buckeyes players, their families and friends.
He and four other players have been suspended for the first five games this fall for accepting improper benefits from a local tattoo-shop owner. Tressel knew of those benefits and did not report it to Ohio State or NCAA officials.
Tressel resigned early Monday citing NCAA violations which he said had ěbeen a distractionî for Ohio State.
The newspaperís sources say that Pryor has been connected to at least six vehicles during his time at Ohio State.
A university spokesman declined to confirm any reports dealing with individual athletes.
The Dispatch reported in January that Pryor had been stopped three times for traffic violations over the past three years, each time driving cars that were owned by a car salesman or a Columbus used-car dealership where the salesman worked.
The salesman, Aaron Kniffin, told the newspaper that while working at a dealership in 2008, he allowed Pryor to drive his SUV to Pryorís hometown of Jeannette, Pa., and show it to his mother. Pryor did not buy the vehicle.
Kniffin also said he arranged for Pryor to use a 2009 Dodge while Pryorís car was being worked on at another dealership where Kniffin worked.
At least one of the dealerships has dozens of autographed jerseys hanging up inside its offices. Pryor said, at the time, that he doesnít remember signing his jersey that hangs in the dealership.
ěI sign a lot of stuff for Buckeye fans ó I donít like to turn down fans,î he said. ěBut I donít do it to get any favors or discounts.î
NFL
RANDOLPH, N.J. ó Mike DeVito cleared his throat a few times, took a couple of steps from behind the lectern and looked out at the dozens of people seated in front of him.
This was no locker room speech or game huddle for the New York Jets defensive lineman. DeVito was giving his first sermon at a church filled with congregants looking for spiritual guidance from their special guest.
ěI was nervous, brother,î DeVito acknowledged a few moments after his passionate presentation last Sunday. ěBut I think it turned out OK.î
No doubt about it. Just as he has as for Rex Ryanís defense the past few seasons, DeVito got the job done.
ěHe seemed very comfortable engaging the crowd,î said Jets left tackle DíBrickashaw Ferguson, who was there to support his teammate. ěIt seemed like he had done this before. To see him doing Godís work and be so excited, itís just great.î
A devout Christian who is considering a post-football career as perhaps a youth minister or pastor, the 26-year-old DeVito was part-teacher and part-preacher as he spoke about the meaning of faith for about 20 minutes at RCC ó a Relevant Christian Church ó complete with a PowerPoint presentation. He also threw in a few jokes that drew a roomful of chuckles, and several of his points were met with an approving ěAmen!î or ěYouíre right!î
WILLIAMS WANTS MORE PLAYING TIME
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ó Tennessee Titans wide receiver Damian Williams is aiming to earn more playing time headed into his second season in the NFL.
Williams had 16 catches for 219 yards in 2010 after being a third-round draft choice out of Southern Cal.
NCAA HOOPS
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. ó Penn State officials will interview Duquesne coach Ron Everhart for their vacant position at an undisclosed location on Tuesday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
In a bit of a surprise last week, Ed DeChellis left Penn State to take the same job at Navy. This came just three months after DeChellis led the Nittany Lions (19-15) to the NCAA tournament.
MAYMON JOINS WESLEYAN
OWENSBORO, Ky. ó Kentucky Wesleyan has landed a transfer from Youngstown State a year after head coach Todd Lee tried to recruit him from a junior college.
Guard Devonte Maymon of Madison, Wis., is joining the eight-time NCAA Division II champion Panthers after a season in which he averaged 9.2 points per game for the Penguins.
INDYCAR
INDIANAPOLIS ó Dan Wheldon received $2,567,255 for winning the Indianapolis 500.
Wheldon won in dramatic fashion when leader JR Hildebrand crashed in turn four on the final lap.
SOCCER
ZURICH ó FIFA suspended senior executives Mohamed bin Hammam and Jack Warner because of bribery allegations while exonerating President Sepp Blatter in the gravest corruption crisis facing soccerís governing body.
Blatter now is in line to be re-elected unopposed to a fourth term Wednesday. His only challenger, Bin Hammam, withdrew his candidacy hours before being excluded from all soccer activities by FIFAís ethics committee.
BARCELONA CELEBRATES
BARCELONA, Spain ó Barcelona players rode through the Catalan capital in an open-top bus Sunday, showing off the Champions League trophy they won by beating Manchester United 3-1 in the final.
Thousands of fans greeted the players as the bus ó decked out in the clubís red and blue colors with the word ěChampionsî on the sides ó wound its way through the city.
CYCLING
MILAN ó Alberto Contador secured his second Giro díItalia title, beating his closest rival by more than six minutes after finishing third in the final stage.
The Spaniard pounded his chest and celebrated with his traditional pistol shot gesture as he finished the 16-mile individual time trial around Milan in 30 minutes, 49 seconds, trailing stage winner David Millar by 36 seconds.
Contador finished with an overall time of 84:05:14, beating Michele Scarponi by 6:10. Vincenzo Nibali was third, another 46 seconds back.