YSU

YSU

Time change

YOUNGSTOWN — The starting time for Saturday’s Youngstown State women’s basketball game at Cleveland State has been changed.

The game was originally scheduled for a 5 p.m. tip off, but will now begin at 3 p.m. at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland.

LOCAL

Jones leads Bulls

BUFFALO — Freshman Tieara Jones (Rayen School) came off the bench to score a team-high 17 points in 17 minutes of action as the Buffalo women’s basketball defeated Kent St. 78-71 Tuesday.

Jones shot 5-for-8 from the field and was 7-for-8 from the foul line for the Bulls (10-8, 3-2 MAC). Jones had seven rebounds. Asheley Harkins had 24 points for the Golden Flashes (5-12, 2-3).

STATE

LeBronx Bomber:
James adds sneakers

CLEVELAND — LeBron James loves the New York Yankees — from head to toe.

The Cavaliers’ All-Star forward, who angered some Cleveland fans by wearing a Yankees baseball cap in the Indians’ home ballpark while cheering for New York during last year’s AL playoffs, has taken his devotion to the Bronx Bombers one step further. James’ newest sneaker in his signature line with Nike is a tribute to his favorite hardball team: the Yankees.

Dominated by the team’s traditional blue-and-white color scheme, the Air Zoom LeBron V shoe features New York’s famed pinstripes as well as James’ No. 23, the number worn by popular Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly.

Also, under the tongue are the words: “Le-Bron Ja-Mes. Clap. Clap. Clap Clap Clap,” a nod to the cheer New York fans reserve for their beloved Yankees, and on the strap is the phrase: “Fresh for ’08. Suckers!”

Nike spokesman Kejuan Wilkins said the Yankees-themed shoe will be released in March. Initial plans are for it to be sold only in New York.

This isn’t the first Big Apple-inspired shoe developed for the 23-year-old Akron native, who signed a seven-year, $90 million deal with Nike before he graduated from high school. Wilkins did not know if James will wear the Yankees shoes in a game. The Cavaliers visit the New York Knicks on March 5.

Blue Jackets moves

COLUMBUS — Sergei Fedorov was placed on the injured list Tuesday by the Columbus Blue Jackets, who also activated center Andrew Murray and made a trade with the Colorado Avalanche.

Fedorov, the club’s third-leading scorer with eight goals and 19 assists in 46 games, sustained a concussion recently and missed the last two games while complaining of nausea. The 38-year-old center ranks among the top 50 in NHL history in goals, assists and points. He won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1994.

The 26-year-old Murray played well for the Blue Jackets after his NHL debut on Dec. 27, scoring two goals in six games.

NATION

Ex-NFL player’s girl
sentenced for escorts

PITTSBURGH — A 32-year-old Pittsburgh woman has been sentenced to three to six years in prison for running a multimillion dollar prostitution ring and peddling drugs.

Amy Schifano pleaded guilty in June to various offenses related to dealing cocaine and running an escort service out of the home of her boyfriend’s parents in suburban Pittsburgh.

Schifano’s boyfriend, John Robert Buczkowski, played for the Los Angeles Raiders and Cleveland Browns. He pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution and drug charges. He was sentenced to nine to 16 months in prison but was paroled and placed under house arrest.

Prosecutors say Buczkowski and Schifano’s Buckwild Entertainment escort service got 100 to 300 calls daily from February 2003 to June 2005 through newspaper ads.

Childress team hoping
to close on Hendrick

WELCOME, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt’s death left Richard Childress thinking it was time to find another way to make a living. Almost seven years later, Childress and his team, Richard Childress Racing, have made a complete turnaround. With two successful seasons behind RCR and especially with its new engine program — a combined effort with Dale Earnhardt Inc. — running smoothly after coming together midway through 2007, Childress isn’t conceding anything to the top NASCAR team, Hendrick Motorsports.

Heading into the 2008 season, the Hendrick juggernaut, which won 18 of 36 races last season and has added more star power with Dale Earnhardt Jr. joining the team, is a heavy favorite to win another championship.

United acquires
forward Franco Niell

WASHINGTON — D.C. United acquired Argentine forward Franco Niell on a one-year loan from Argentinos Junior on Tuesday.

Neill, 24, is expected to join United for the start of preseason training next week and will be officially added to the roster once he receives his work visa and international transfer certificate.

Vindicator staff/wire reports