Report: No evidence NBA refs are breaking law
NBA
A review of the NBA's officiating program found no evidence of illegal activity by any referee other than Tim Donaghy, though it recommended significant changes for monitoring gambling and game integrity. The report, compiled over 14 months by former federal prosecutor Lawrence Pedowitz, called for the creation of a "culture of compliance" and closer monitoring of games for suspicious activity. Commissioner David Stern ordered the investigation last year after former referee Donaghy was charged with betting on games he officiated and providing inside information to gambling associates to win their bets.
Castroneves indicted on tax fraud charges
ET CETERA
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and 2007 Dancing with the Stars champion Helio Castroneves was indicted on tax evasion and tax fraud charges, accused of using offshore accounts to hide millions of dollars in income from the Internal Revenue Service. Castroneves, 33, is charged with conspiracy and six counts of tax evasion for purportedly failing to report to the IRS about $5.5 million in income between 1999 and 2004, according to court documents. Each count carries a maximum five-year prison sentence. Castroneves could not be reached to comment.
Soccer:: Sagu, the 2008 Major Indoor Soccer League Goaltender of the Year, and Denison Cabral, the Blast's all-time leading scorer, were among nine players signed by the team for the National Indoor Soccer League season, general manager Kevin Healey said. Also agreeing to terms was second-team All-MISL selection P.J. Wakefield (UMBC), one of four local players signed. The others were Giuliano Celenza, Billy Nelson and Mike Lookingland. The other players signed were Robbie Aristodemo, a key player in midfield, Dave Kern and Ryan Pierce.
KENT BAKER
Varsity:: Washington public school officials have told a football team not to play its game today at Fort Hill in Cumberland after charges that players from another D.C. school were taunted with racial slurs. Fort Hill athletic director Paul Green said he got a call Wednesday from Troy Mathieu, the DCPS director of athletics, telling him that McKinley Technology High School would not play because the school system's probe into the Dunbar-Fort Hill game was not finished. The Maryland Office of Civil Rights is investigating allegations that Fort Hill players used racial slurs against black players from Washington's Dunbar during a game in Cumberland last week.
Golf:: Jeff Overton shot a 5-under-par 67 to take a two-stroke lead in the first round of the PGA Turning Stone Resort Championship in Verona, N.Y. ... Ji-Yai Shin shot a 5-under 67 and leads by one stroke after one round at the LPGA Samsung World Championship in Half Moon Bay, Calif.
