Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS ó Ohio State has made it through its meeting with the NCAA committee on infractions. Now the Buckeyes have to play the 2011 season knowing that just before their annual showdown against rival Michigan, they could get slapped with a bowl ban.
School officials appeared Friday before infractions committee, which heard how players received improper benefits from a tattoo-shop owner and how ex-coach Jim Tressel learned of those NCAA violations and covered them up. The bottom line: Tressel used players throughout the 2010 season he knew were ineligible.
ěWe look forward to the committeeís report in eight to 12 weeks,î athletic director Gene Smith said in a statement afterward. Most such decisions are rendered in six to eight weeks.
If it takes three months, that would mean Ohio State will receive word on penalties in the second week of November ó shortly before the Buckeyes travel to Ann Arbor for their annual all-or-nothing game with Michigan on Nov. 26.
Fridayís meeting took only four hours, with the 10-member committee not even breaking for lunch. That could be a sign the panel, chaired by Mideastern Athletic Conference Commissioner Dennis Thomas, had few questions and largely accepted Ohio Stateís version of events following months of investigation.
NASCAR
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. ó Plagued by a string of blown engines, Joe Gibbs Racing is merging its engine program with Toyota Racing Development.
JGR President J.D. Gibbs said in a conference call Thursday that TRD had already helped in several areas but acknowledged there were areas where “we’re struggling.”
“We’re kind of a the point now where I think we can combine a lot of the best attributes that JGR has, the best attributes TRD has, and really have a better package going forward,” Gibbs said.
KALISPELL, Mont. ó Two-time Dayton 500 champion Michael Waltrip is scheduled to race in Kalispell Saturday in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West at Montana Raceway Park.
NBA
TAIPEI, Taiwan ó Miami Heat star LeBron James remains confident there will be an NBA season.
Speaking Friday to reporters in Taiwan, James said “right now I am working toward the NBA season, I believe there will be a season, and hopefully both sides can come together.”
Players have been locked out since July 1 since the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.
The sides are split over issues including distribution of revenues. Last week, players’ union chief Billy Hunter said he was doubtful about the 2011-12 season going ahead.
HOUSTON ó Houston will host the NBA’s All-Star weekend in 2013.
TENNIS
MONTREAL ó Roger Federer was upset by 13th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1 in the third round of the Rogers Cup.
Federer, who turned 30 on Monday, was playing for the first time since losing to Tsonga in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
OUTDOOR HOCKEY
CLEVELAND ó The bitter Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is about to get really icy.
The two schools, sworn enemies in just about everything, will play the first outdoor college hockey game in Ohio at Progressive Field ó home of the Cleveland Indians ó on Sunday, Jan. 15.
The matchup is dubbed “The Frozen Diamond Faceoff.”