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International body chooses Julius Livas
CANTON — Julius Livas of Boardman, former South High School standout quarterback, has been selected by the International Federation of American Football to be an official in the Junior World Championship, a first-of-its kind tournament featuring eight teams from four continents.
The 12-game championships will take place at Fawcett Stadium in Canton this summer from June 27-July 5.
Livas was one of 32 officials chosen world-wide. The eight teams include players 19 and under from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden and the United States.
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Vikings’ Childress against extra beef
MINNEAPOLIS, MN. — Brad Childress said he doesn’t mind if Adrian Peterson gains weight, but the Vikings’ coach said it’s probably unrealistic to think the Pro Bowl running back will reach his stated goal of 230 pounds.
“Well, you know what, 230 is awful big,” Childress said Wednesday.
Childress made it clear he doesn’t think 230 pounds would be a good idea for Peterson.
Chambers introduced as new coach
BOSTON — Patrick Chambers was introduced Wednesday as the new coach at Boston University, where he’s hoping to quickly raise the stature of the mid-major program.
“We want to be Xavier. We want to be Gonzaga of the Northeast. That’s our vision,” said Chambers, a former Villanova associate head coach.
The 38-year-old Chambers was hired to replace Dennis Wolff, who was fired last month after 15 seasons. Boston finished 17-13 this past season, hasn’t won the America East title since 2002
Jordan’s son, Marcus, will attend UCF
SEATTLE — Shouldn’t it have been the South Florida Bulls?
No, Central Florida is where Michael Jordan’s youngest son Marcus Jordan announced he will attend on a basketball scholarship.
Ex-NBA star Webster found dead in hotel
TULSA, Okla. — Marvin Webster, a fierce shot-blocking center who helped lead the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1978 NBA finals, was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Tulsa, Okla. He was 56.
His body was discovered in his room Monday morning in the downtown Ambassador Hotel, police said Wednesday.
Foul play is not suspected and the death apparently stemmed from an illness, police spokesman Jason Willingham said. The former 7-foot-1 center had been living at the hotel.
Known as “The Human Eraser,” Webster spent nine seasons in the NBA. He averaged 16.1 points during the SuperSonics’ playoff run in 1978. He signed with the Knicks the following season and played six years in New York.
Not guilty plea in killing
WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A Chicago woman has pleaded not guilty to fatally shooting the pregnant girlfriend of former Chicago Bears All-Pro safety Shaun Gayle.
Marni Yang entered the plea at a hearing Wednesday. The 41-year-old woman was indicted last month on nine counts of first-degree murder and three counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child in the 2007 death of 42-year-old Rhoni Reuter at Reuter’s apartment.
Prosecutors say Yang was jealous of Reuter’s relationship with Gayle.
USC’s women’s coach quits
LOS ANGELES — Mark Trakh resigned Wednesday as Southern California women’s basketball coach after five seasons, including two NCAA tournament appearances.
Trakh’s last three teams were hampered by injuries and won 17 games each season. This year’s team was 17-15 and lost to Stanford in its first Pac-10 tournament title game appearance.
Malibu Artiste wins at Santa Anita
ARCADIA, Calif. — Malibu Artiste led from start to finish to win Wednesday’s $52,000 Reluctant Guest Purse for 3-year-old fillies by 11‚Ñ2 lengths at Santa Anita, earning her third consecutive victory.