Ray Small, Ohio State ex-player, charged

Ray Small, Ohio State ex-player, charged

COLUMBUS

The prosecutor’s office in Columbus says a former Ohio State football player previously caught up in the school’s memorabilia scandal has been indicted on felony drug and weapons charges.

The Franklin County prosecutor said 26-year-old former Buckeyes receiver Ray Small was indicted this week on felony drug possession and trafficking charges that included firearms specifications.

Records showed he was in jail Friday but did not give attorney information.

Authorities said the grand jury indictments stemmed from an April search of Small’s Columbus apartment that yielded heroin and oxycodone, as well as a semi-automatic handgun and assault rifle.

Small played at OSU from 2006-9 and was one of several players involved in a high-profile football memorabilia scandal.

Ex-Steeler Okobi sued over bouncer’s injuries

PITTSBURGH

A bouncer at a Pittsburgh bar has sued former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Chukky Okobi for injuries he suffered in a brawl that saw Okobi fined $100.

Okobi was originally charged with five counts of simple assault after several people confronted him when he argued with his girlfriend on Aug. 25.

Okobi was fined after pleading guilty to a single harassment citation in April, which his attorney then called a “favorable outcome.”

But now Joseph Kania, a bouncer who claims he suffered a concussion when Okobi punched him, is suing.

Malone approved as Division II member

Malone University received notification on Friday that the institution has been granted full, active membership in NCAA Division II.

The long-awaited communication from the NCAA Membership Committee arrived following the completion of a rigorous three-year transition process that began when Malone’s initial application for Division II membership was approved in July of 2010.

The NCAA closely monitored the Pioneer athletic department as it successfully navigated through Candidacy Year 1 and Candidacy Year 2 before moving to the provisional membership stage a little more than one year ago.

Baseball Oldtimers

youngstown

The Youngstown Baseball Oldtimers will attend the Mahoning Valley Scrappers game and a picnic on August 6.

For reservations, call 330-651-0424 by August 1.

At 100th Tour, no such thing as a dull day

SAINT-AMAND-MONTROND, France

Wily Tour de France riders who used the wind and worked together to trap their rivals turned a trek across the flats of central France into a thriller on Friday, as exciting and, for the most unfortunate, as decisive as any spectacular day in the mountains.

Yellow jersey holder Chris Froome lost a chunk of his race lead but not enough to gravely endanger the Briton heading toward what is shaping up to be an intriguing finale in the Alps.

The team of Alberto Contador dealt the former two-time champion back into the game, putting him close enough to Froome to make the last week interesting.

A rear-wheel failure at the worst time dropped Alejandro Valverde from second place to nowhere.

Kharafa captures Belmont feature

NEW YORK

Kharafa rallied to beat Joking by 21/2 lengths on Friday in the $77,000 allowance feature on the turf at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old gelding trained by Tim Hills swung four-wide turning for home and rolled to his fourth win in 14 starts. Rajiv Maragh was aboard for the 1 1-16 miles in 1:41.74.

Kharafa, the 3-5 favorite, paid $3.50, $2.60 and $2.10. Joking returned $13.20 and $7.20 while Selection Sunday paid $3.50 to show.

Vindicator staff/wire reports