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ysu

Basketball deal reached with ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — The Horizon League and ESPN have announced a multi-year agreement through 2013 for continued coverage of league basketball on the ESPN family of networks.

The announcement makes ESPN the exclusive national cable home for Horizon League men’s basketball events.

Over the three-year deal, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360.com will provide coverage of a minimum of 60 Horizon League events, including men’s basketball regular-season games and selected rounds of the league’s men’s and women’s basketball championships.

Local

Mooney’s Zordich commits to Buffalo

YOUNGSTOWN — Mooney senior QB Alex Zordich verbally committed to Buffalo.

Zordich (6-3, 215), also had offers from Cornell, Toledo, Bowling Green and Air Force.

The two-year starter completed 33 of 59 passes for 645 yards, six TDs and an interception last fall for the Cardinals (15-0), who won the Div. III state title. Zordich also ran for nearly 500 yards.

His older brother, Michael, is a linebacker at Penn State and his father of the same name was a standout for the Nittany Lions who later played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.

Canned food drive

GREENFORD — The Youngstown Phantoms hockey team will hold a canned food drive during their home game on Feb. 5.

The drive is to help the Big Reach Center of Hope (a Greenford Christian Church ministry).

For details visit bigreachministries.org.

Yarab to race

DAYTONA, Fla. — Dr. Ron Yarab of Boardman is racing in the Rolex 24-hour event here today.

The Rolex 24 at Daytona is the first major event in the international motorsports calendar.

It will be televised by The Speed Channel.

nation

Kobe-LeBron Nike ad features gun language

NEW YORK — An advertisement featuring the NBA’s two biggest superstars includes a gun reference, the same week two players were suspended for carrying firearms to the locker room.

The Nike ad, just inside the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated, has LeBron James on one page and Kobe Bryant on the other. Along with the slogan, “Prepare For Combat,” is a quote from each player showing how tough he is.

Bryant’s blurb says: “I’ll do whatever it takes to win games. I don’t leave anything in the chamber.”

Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton were suspended for the season for having guns in the Washington Wizards’ locker room.

Points, Imada tied for lead at Torrey Pines

SAN DIEGO — D.A. Points saved his best golf for the toughest track and shot a 7-under 65 on the South Course at Torrey Pines, giving him a share of the lead with Ryuji Imada in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Imada also played the South, which hosted the U.S. Open two years ago, and shot 68. They were at 11-under 133 and had a two-shot lead over Matt Every (70) and Michael Sim of Australia, who shot a 62 on the North Course on Friday.

Phil Mickelson also played the easier North Course, although it took him a while to get going. Mickelson birdied his last hole for a 67 and was four shots behind going into the weekend, when everyone who made the cut plays the South Course.

Unzip Me wins

ARCADIA, Calif. — Unzip Me beat Minute Limit by two lengths in the $61,478 optional claiming feature for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

The 4-year-old filly, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, ran 61‚Ñ2 furlongs in 1:12:16 and paid $5.60, $3.40 and $3.40. Minute Limit paid $5.60 and $4.20. Dani Reese paid $4.

Unzip Me earned $38,220 to boosted her career earnings to $159,700.

world

Cyclocross worlds awarded to Louisville

AIGLE, Switzerland — The International Cycling Union has awarded hosting rights for the cyclocross world championships to the United States for the first time.

The 2013 event will be held in Louisville, Ky., which is also scheduled to stage two world championships at masters level in 2012-13.

The UCI’s ruling board made the decision Friday, on the eve of this year’s championship in the off-road racing discipline being held in Tabor, Czech Republic.

UCI president Pat McQuaid says the decision demonstrates the governing body’s strategy to globalize cycling.

American forward Cooper joins Plymouth

PLYMOUTH, England — American forward Kenny Cooper has joined English second-tier club Plymouth on loan for the remainder of the season from 1860 Munich.

The German club’s sporting director, Miki Stevic, says Cooper is making the move to boost his hopes of making the American World Cup roster.

Vindicator staff/wire reports