Canfield, West Branch to play in showcase

Canfield, West Branch to play in showcase

CANTON

The varsity girls basketball teams at Canfield and West Branch will take part in an early-season showcase event at Walsh University. The 2013 Aultman Hospital Heart Center and Adidas Hoopfest is scheduled Nov. 23 with six games beginning at noon. Canfield faces Uniontown Lake at 7 p.m. and West Branch meets Gilmour Academy at 5:15.

Other games: Cleveland St. Joseph Academy vs. Canton Timken, noon; Beachwood vs. Fairview Park, 1:45; Wooster vs. Green, 3:30 p.m.; Rocky River Magnificat vs. Canton McKinley, 8:45. Tickets are for all-day action and are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Some proceeds will go to the Massillon Boys and Girls Club.

For information, call 330-209-1033 or visit www.dbhoops.org.

Knicks’ Smith finds Twitter trouble again

NEW YORK

J.R. Smith might be in trouble again because of Twitter. The New York Knicks guard, who was fined $25,000 by the NBA last year for a racy tweet, had a new problem Thursday after an exchange with Detroit’s Brandon Jennings that appeared to include a threat.

His latest issue started Wednesday after Jennings made a critical comment about Smith’s little brother, Chris, who also plays for the Knicks. J.R. Smith, saying he is tired of people disrespecting his little brother, responded with a couple of tweets, the one that appeared threatening toward Detroit later taken down. But Smith denied any bad intent, saying he and Jennings have played together in the summer and had a good relationship.

Seattle says Schmid will return as coach

SEATTLE

Despite a late-season swoon that cost them playoff positioning and a shot at the Supporters’ Shield, the only coach in the Seattle Sounders’ MLS history will be back next season. Sigi Schmid will return as the Sounders coach in 2014, the team announced Thursday morning. Schmid’s status was revealed in a statement from majority owner Joe Roth after conversations with part-owner and Sounders general manager Adrian Hanauer.

Earlier this week, Hanauer indicated discussions about Schmid’s status would take place soon. Those conversations happened during a two-hour meeting between Hanauer, Schmid and Roth in Los Angeles on Tuesday. A decision was reached quickly.

DC female high school football coach resigns

WASHINGTON

The Washington, D.C., female high school football coach whose hiring was celebrated with much fanfare has resigned after four seasons. Natalie Randolph told The Washington Post on Thursday that she wants to spend more time with her family.

The city’s mayor proclaimed “Natalie Randolph Day” in March 2010 when she got the job at Coolidge High School. At the time, she was thought to be the only female varsity head football coach in the country.

Randolph led Coolidge to the Turkey Bowl city championship game the following year. This year the Colts went 1-10, leaving Randolph with a 16-26 record. Randolph said she will continue to teach environmental science at the school.

IndyCar star Franchitti retires after crash

Dario Franchitti kept racing after the death of best friend Greg Moore. He continued on following the death of former teammate Dan Wheldon. He was eager to drive into his early 40s. He won’t get the chance.

The three-time Indianapolis 500 winner and four-time IndyCar Series champion reluctantly and abruptly retired Thursday, saying doctors told him it would be too dangerous for him to continue racing because of injuries sustained in a harrowing crash last month.

“Racing has been my life for over 30 years, and it’s really tough to think that the driving side is now over,” Franchitti said.

Franchitti, 40, fractured his spine, broke his right ankle and suffered a concussion in the Oct. 6 race at Houston.

Staff reports/Associated Press