Prep star Mayo signs with USC
Prep star O.J. Mayo said he has known for a couple of weeks he wanted to go to USC, but he didn’t want to announce it until he talked it over with his family.
“USC has been at the top of my list since the beginning of the summer,” Mayo said at a news conference at Huntington (W.Va.) High School on Thursday.
Trojans assistant coach Bob Cantu said the school received Mayo’s signed letter of intent by fax Wednesday.
The 6-foot-5 guard, ranked by several prep publications as the nation’s top senior, transferred to Huntington High in September from Cincinnati’s North College Hill High.
Baseball
A’s hire Geren
Bob Geren will be promoted from bench coach to manager of the Oakland Athletics today, according to a high-ranking baseball official.
“The Chicago White Sox acquired right-hander David Aardsma and left-hander Carlos Vasquez from the crosstown Cubs for left-hander Neal Cotts.
“Detroit kept first baseman Sean Casey, agreeing to a $4 million, one-year contract.
“St. Louis retained Scott Spiezio, agreeing to a $4.5 million, two-year contract with the reserve infielder and outfielder.
“Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved television contracts with Fox and TBS that run through 2013 and are worth more than $3 billion.
Football
Shell draws fine
Oakland Raiders coach Art Shell was fined $12,500 for criticizing the officials following last weekend’s 17-13 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Shell said Monday the Raiders got “screwed” when the officials called a personal foul on Chris Carr for running out of bounds on a punt late in the third quarter.
“Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis underwent a minor surgical procedure to have a pocket of blood drained from his swollen back, and is unlikely to play in Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.
“Penn State coach Joe Paterno, on the mend from a broken leg, said he will be at Beaver Stadium for his team’s regular-season finale against Michigan State this weekend.
“Boise State running back Ian Johnson was discharged from a California hospital, a hospital spokesman said, after spending five days being treated for a partially collapsed left lung.
“Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge will start against Vanderbilt after missing last week’s game with a sprained right ankle.
“Portland State wide receiver Kenneth Mackins has been reprimanded and suspended for a game for punching a Sacramento State player during a game last weekend, Big Sky Conference commissioner Doug Fullerton said.
Golf
Woods two back
Defending champion Tiger Woods overcame a slow start and shot a 3-under-par 67 to sit two strokes behind leader Shingo Katayama after the first round of the Dunlop Phoenix at Miyazaki, Japan.
“At West Palm Beach, Fla., Ai Miyazato held a one-shot lead after the opening round of the ADT Championship, the season-ending event on the LPGA Tour.
Miscellany
Roddick ousted
Two days after coming within one serve of upsetting Roger Federer, Andy Roddick was eliminated from the season-ending Masters Cup tennis event at Shanghai, China, by defending champion David Nalbandian 6-2, 7-6 (4).
“The Champ Car World Series will air on ESPN beginning in 2007, returning to the network that used to broadcast its races.
“At Las Vegas, Hector Velazquez of Mexico beat Bobby Pacquiao of the Philippines by disqualification in the 11th round and captured the WBC super featherweight championship.
Velazquez, 129 pounds, won after suffering a low blow at 2:56 of the 11th round, which prompted the referee to halt the close bout.
Pacquiao had one point deducted in the third and fifth rounds for low blows, helping precipitate the referee’s decision.
The fight was scheduled to go 12 rounds.