Sports digest

state

Marshall re-signs with Columbus Crew

COLUMBUS — Chad Marshall defender has re-signed with the MLS champion Columbus Crew.

The club said Friday he agreed to a multiyear contract.

Marshall missed 17 games because of concussions in 2007 and was the 2008 MLS Defender of the Year. He helped the Crew defense allow the third-fewest goals in the league (36), behind only the Houston Dynamo (32) and the Chicago Fire (33).

Marshall, of Riverside, Calif., was drafted by the Crew No. 2 overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.

nation

Dantonio gets raise

ORLANDO, Fla. — Michigan State has agreed to a revised contract with football coach Mark Dantonio.

The university announced the deal Friday in Florida where the Spartans are preparing to play Georgia in the Capital One Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Dantonio’s contract remains a five-year rollover deal with a base salary of $618,000. His overall compensation will rise to $1.8 million a year, up from $1.13 million.

Dantonio would get a $2 million bonus if he remains Michigan State’s coach through Jan. 15, 2016.

Michigan State is 9-3 in Dantonio’s second season. His overall record with the Spartans is 16-9.

Army hires Ellerson

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army filled its football coaching vacancy by heeding a core West Point value: History matters.

Rich Ellerson grew up around Black Knights football and is leaving his coaching job at Cal Poly to come to a place he knows well. His father and two brothers graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, where brother John led the 1962 team to a 6-4 record. And he’s worked before with former Army coaches known for running successful schemes on both sides of the ball.

Ellerson replaces Stan Brock, who was fired Dec. 12 after a pair of 3-9 seasons. This season ended with a 34-0 loss to Navy. Brock, a former New Orleans Saints offensive lineman, was Army’s offensive line coach for three years before replacing Bobby Ross in early 2007.

Millsap injured

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap will miss seven to 10 days because of a sprained knee ligament.

He injured his left knee Tuesday night in Milwaukee, but returned to play the second half in a brace. Millsap is scheduled for another MRI on Monday.

Millsap’s string of 15 straight double-doubles ended Tuesday. He has been starting for Carlos Boozer, who has missed 18 straight games.

Jockey dies

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Jockey Sam Thompson Jr. died Christmas Day, five days after he was thrown from a quarter horse following a race at Los Alamitos.

The 36-year-old rider had been on life support at Los Alamitos Medical Center since the Dec. 20 accident. Thompson’s family had him taken off life support Thursday, medical center spokesman Orlando Gutierrez said. Harems Dynasty, a 2-year-old filly, threw Thompson after finishing seventh in the eighth race. The Los Alamitos Race Course season ended Dec. 21.

Big A feature

NEW YORK — Noble Sound remained unbeaten in two starts, holding off Raised for Speed by a neck Friday in the $45,000 allowance feature at Aqueduct.

A $2.8 million yearling purchased by Darley Stable, Noble Sound won despite jockey Jeffrey Sanchez losing his whip deep into the stretch. The 3-year-old trained by Tom Albertrani ran the six furlongs in the mud in 1:11.41.

Noble Sound paid $6.30, $3.90 and $2.50. Raised For Speed returned $7.10 and $4.20.

world

2014 World Cup

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Soccer’s governing body agreed to increase from 10 to 12 the number of Brazilian cities that will host the 2014 World Cup.

Brazil’s soccer federation said Friday it persuaded FIFA to make the change because of the size of the country.

According to the O Globo newspaper, five of the 18 potential host cities that will definitely stage World Cup games are: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia and Porto Alegre.

The northeastern cities of Fortaleza, Recife, Salvador and Curitiba in the south are “almost certain” sites, the newspaper said. It added that the remaining three cities will be chosen from Manaus, Belem, Cuiaba, Goiania, Campo Grande and Florianpolis.

Vindicator staff/wire reports