Men’s college basketball coach resigns following arrest
According to USA Today Sports, University of San Diego basketball coach Lamont Smith resigned Wednesday following his arrest on Feb. 25 on suspicion of domestic violence. The arrest came after police responded to a hotel where a woman who had to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries told officers that Smith had assaulted her. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office stated Smith would not be prosecuted “as a result of the evidence obtained from the investigation.” Smith was placed on administrative leave by the university one day after his arrest. In the statement announcing his resignation, the school thanked him for his contributions to the team.
Kevin Harvick receives penalties after winning NASCAR race in Las Vegas
Following his win on March 4 in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick received two penalties for violations in the winning car. According to USA Today Sports, the penalties resulted in the loss of seven playoff points Harvick scored for winning the race as well as 20 regular-season points. Harvick’s Ford was determined to have violations in the rear window area, as the rear window, which is required to stay rigid throughout an event, was bowed for at least part of the race and the car’s right-side rocker panel extension was not aluminum, which is also required.
Peyton Manning sells his stake in Papa John’s franchises
According to USA Today Sports, Papa John’s spokesperson Peter Collins confirmed that Manning sold his stake in 31 Papa John’s franchises late last month just days before the chain relinquished its role as the official pizza of the NFL. Collins confirmed that Manning is still a “spokesperson and brand ambassador” for Papa John’s. This follows the ending of Papa’s Johns and the NFL’s league sponsorship deal, which was a “mutual decision.” Tensions rose between the two businesses after Papa John’s CEO John Schnatter blamed declining pizza sales on national anthem protests in the NFL. Pizza Hut is now the official pizza chain of the NFL.
Former NFL quarterback believes Colin Kaepernick remains free agent because NFL owners are ‘scared’ and ‘uneducated’
According to USA Today Sports, former Denver quarterback Jake Plummer told The Denver Post that he thinks Colin Kaepernick remains a free agent because NFL owners are “uneducated on him as a person and what he wants to do.” The conversation came up during his discussion with The Denver Post about his experience as a marquee free agent over a decade ago. Plummer thinks Kaepernick would be a great fit for Denver, though he’s unsure of how realistic that is. Kaepernick last played for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 and filed a collusion grievance against NFL owners in the fall. Prominent figures like LeBron James feel Kaepernick has been ostracized from the league following his kneeling protests against racial inequality and police brutality during the national anthem.
