Dan Beebe

Big Twelve commissioner Dan Beebe is out after the conference nearly collapsed for the second time in just over a year. In a statement, the Big Twelve said its board of directors and Beebe reached a "mutual agreement" for Beebe to leave the job immediately. Former Big Eight commissioner Chuck Neinas told the Associated Press earlier Thursday that he had been contacted about serving as interim commissioner. Big Twelve school presidents were meeting Thursday by telephone to discuss Beebe and stabilize the fractured league.

THE PRESIDENT of Texas A&M, which is attempting to join the SEC, said yesterday the school is "being held hostage" by fellow Big 12 schools. President R. Bowen Loftin told the Associated Press that A&M is being told by the other Big 12 schools that "you must stay here against your will. " The angry statement came in a whirlwind day. The Southeastern Conference kicked things off by saying it would be willing to make the Aggies the league's 13th member, but only if legal issues could be cleared up. Texas A&M accused Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe of going back on his word and suggested that one of its fellow league schools was deliberately slowing its departure to the SEC. Loftin pointed to two different statements from Beebe within the past week.

A PERSON with knowledge of the plans said yesterday that the NBA will cancel training camps and some preseason games today after failing to reach a new labor deal with its players. Training camps were expected to begin Oct. 3. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league had yet to announce its plans. The cancelations became unavoidable after another meeting between owners and players yesterday failed to end the lockout.

BIG EAST commissioner John Marinatto said yesterday he has been in constant contact with Dan Beebe of the Big 12 and John Swofford of the Atlantic Coast Conference in recent days and has suggested the three meet to discuss conference realignment. Marinatto didn't reveal details about his conversations with his fellow commissioners. Beebe's conference, which nearly was wiped out last year when the Pac-10 expanded, is in danger of losing Texas A&M to the Southeastern Conference.

THE SOUTHEASTERN Conference is staying just at it is - for now. However, the game of major college conference realignment appears far from finished. University of Florida president Bernie Machen, the chairman of the league's presidents and chancellors committee, said the group met yesterday and "reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment. " Machen said no action was taken regarding Texas A & M or any other schools. He didn't, however, close the door on change.

AUTHORITIES SAY an arrest warrant has been issued for a man suspected of shooting into a Dayton, Ohio, nightclub and killing a Central State University football player. Montgomery County coroner's spokesman Ken Betz says 21-year-old sophomore Kordero Hunter, of South Holland, Ill., in suburban Chicago, died at a hospital early yesterday of a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Police Sgt. Moises Perez says Hunter and other CSU students at the club were innocent bystanders. Perez says another male student shot in the neck was expected to be released from a hospital yesterday.

If Rutgers wants to schedule a high-profile game with Southern California or other top-ranked teams in 2010 or beyond, the Scarlet Knights are welcome to use the new home of the Giants and Jets. "We'd love to have them," Giants chief executive John Mara said yestersday after the groundbreaking for the new $1.3 billion stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. that will seat 82,500. Rutgers athletic director Robert Mulcahy, a former chief executive for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, had a seat next to current sports authority chairman Carl Goldberg for the ceremony.

Tiger Woods said he was "honored" to be a captain's pick for the U.S. Presidents Cup team and indicated he believed he belongs on the squad despite his recent struggles. "They wanted me on the team, and I'm honored to be part of the team," Woods said. "It's a wonderful mix of younger guys and older veterans. I'm excited to get down there and play. " U.S. captain Fred Couples disclosed last week that he'd already told the 14-time major champion that he would pick him to be part of the 12-man squad that will compete in match play against an international team at Australia's Royal Melbourne Golf Club in November.

Dan Beebe reacted calmly after he lost a no-hitter in the seventh inning yesterday. After a Williamstown teammate committed a two-out throwing error on a routine ground ball, the next batter hit a double to break up Beebe's bid. "I just said, 'Oh, well, I'll get the next guy,' " Beebe said. The junior lefthander did exactly that. He ended with a one-hitter, but more important in his mind, he earned another win as Williamstown defeated Clearview, 5-2, in a Tri-County Conference Royal Division baseball game.

Turned away by the Pac-12, the Big Twelve Conference's most powerful members are trying to find ways to live together again after weeks of hurtling toward a breakup. Texas president William Powers declared Wednesday that the Longhorns - who receive more media money than any other member of the Big Twelve - are open to a new revenue-sharing model and already have suggested that top-level television and cable money be shared equally. What's not on the table is the money from Texas' 20-year, $300 million deal with ESPN to create the Longhorn Network, which has been blamed in large part for Texas A&M's pending departure from the Big 12. "That's never been in play, that's not in play," Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said.

AUTHORITIES SAY an arrest warrant has been issued for a man suspected of shooting into a Dayton, Ohio, nightclub and killing a Central State University football player. Montgomery County coroner's spokesman Ken Betz says 21-year-old sophomore Kordero Hunter, of South Holland, Ill., in suburban Chicago, died at a hospital early yesterday of a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Police Sgt. Moises Perez says Hunter and other CSU students at the club were innocent bystanders. Perez says another male student shot in the neck was expected to be released from a hospital yesterday.

Big Twelve commissioner Dan Beebe is out after the conference nearly collapsed for the second time in just over a year. In a statement, the Big Twelve said its board of directors and Beebe reached a "mutual agreement" for Beebe to leave the job immediately. Former Big Eight commissioner Chuck Neinas told the Associated Press earlier Thursday that he had been contacted about serving as interim commissioner. Big Twelve school presidents were meeting Thursday by telephone to discuss Beebe and stabilize the fractured league.

A PERSON with knowledge of the plans said yesterday that the NBA will cancel training camps and some preseason games today after failing to reach a new labor deal with its players. Training camps were expected to begin Oct. 3. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league had yet to announce its plans. The cancelations became unavoidable after another meeting between owners and players yesterday failed to end the lockout.

Turned away by the Pac-12, the Big Twelve Conference's most powerful members are trying to find ways to live together again after weeks of hurtling toward a breakup. Texas president William Powers declared Wednesday that the Longhorns - who receive more media money than any other member of the Big Twelve - are open to a new revenue-sharing model and already have suggested that top-level television and cable money be shared equally. What's not on the table is the money from Texas' 20-year, $300 million deal with ESPN to create the Longhorn Network, which has been blamed in large part for Texas A&M's pending departure from the Big 12. "That's never been in play, that's not in play," Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said.

THE PRESIDENT of Texas A&M, which is attempting to join the SEC, said yesterday the school is "being held hostage" by fellow Big 12 schools. President R. Bowen Loftin told the Associated Press that A&M is being told by the other Big 12 schools that "you must stay here against your will. " The angry statement came in a whirlwind day. The Southeastern Conference kicked things off by saying it would be willing to make the Aggies the league's 13th member, but only if legal issues could be cleared up. Texas A&M accused Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe of going back on his word and suggested that one of its fellow league schools was deliberately slowing its departure to the SEC. Loftin pointed to two different statements from Beebe within the past week.

Tiger Woods said he was "honored" to be a captain's pick for the U.S. Presidents Cup team and indicated he believed he belongs on the squad despite his recent struggles. "They wanted me on the team, and I'm honored to be part of the team," Woods said. "It's a wonderful mix of younger guys and older veterans. I'm excited to get down there and play. " U.S. captain Fred Couples disclosed last week that he'd already told the 14-time major champion that he would pick him to be part of the 12-man squad that will compete in match play against an international team at Australia's Royal Melbourne Golf Club in November.

BIG EAST commissioner John Marinatto said yesterday he has been in constant contact with Dan Beebe of the Big 12 and John Swofford of the Atlantic Coast Conference in recent days and has suggested the three meet to discuss conference realignment. Marinatto didn't reveal details about his conversations with his fellow commissioners. Beebe's conference, which nearly was wiped out last year when the Pac-10 expanded, is in danger of losing Texas A&M to the Southeastern Conference.

THE SOUTHEASTERN Conference is staying just at it is - for now. However, the game of major college conference realignment appears far from finished. University of Florida president Bernie Machen, the chairman of the league's presidents and chancellors committee, said the group met yesterday and "reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment. " Machen said no action was taken regarding Texas A & M or any other schools. He didn't, however, close the door on change.

The Southeastern Conference is staying just as it is - for now. However, the game of major college conference realignment appears far from finished. University of Florida president Bernie Machen, the chairman of the Southeastern Conference's presidents and chancellors committee, said the group met Sunday and "reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment. " Machen said no action was taken regarding Texas A&M or any other schools. He didn't, however, close the door on change.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe says he is encouraged by the Fiesta Bowl's response to an investigative report that led to the firing of its longtime president for alleged misuse of funds. The Big 12 has a contractual agreement to send its champion to the Fiesta Bowl if that team is not playing for the national championship. "I feel good about their commitment to do the right thing," Beebe told the Associated Press in a phone interview yesterday. Beebe said he has been in contact with Fiesta Bowl officials often in recent weeks and they have asked for help and suggestions for how to reform the organization's leadership structure to ensure similar mistakes won't be made again.