Titans’ Brooks named top swimmer

Titans’ Brooks named top swimmer

NEW WILMINGTON, PA.

Westminster College junior swimmer Steven Brooks (Boardman) has been named the Philip Hunsaker CollegeSwimming.com Men’s Division III Swimmer of the Week for the week of Feb. 2.

Brooks, who was also named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Men’s Swimmer/Diver of the Week, helped guide the Titans to a pair of dual-meet victories last week.

In the Titans’ 156-141 PAC victory against Grove City, he tied the pool record while provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 100 back (51.28).

In Westminster’s 167.5-130.5 win at Mount Union, Brooks claimed the 50 free (21.74), the 200 back (1:56.35) and was a part of the winning 400 medley relay (3:36.40).

Lodwick picked USA flagbearer

SOCHI, Russia

The United States has chosen six-time Olympian Todd Lodwick to be the team’s flagbearer at Friday’s opening ceremony for the Sochi Games.

Lodwick is competing in the Nordic combined in Sochi. He is the first American to compete in six Winter Games. Lodwick was part of the team that won silver in Vancouver in 2010.

The 36-year-old Lodwick’s longevity made him the choice despite competing in a relatively low-profile event. The Nordic combined features athletes who compete in both the ski jump and cross-country skiing.

CBS lands eight Thursday NFL games

NEW YORK

The NFL has decided to shift eight of its Thursday night games to a broadcast network, and announced Wednesday that CBS won the bid to showcase more of television’s hottest property.

CBS will air the games during the first eight weeks of the season with its top broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, simulcasting them with the NFL Network.

The league’s cable network will show six Thursday night games alone later in the season, produced by CBS with Nantz and Simms also in the booth. Two Saturday games are included in the deal, but it is unclear whether they will be on CBS or the NFL Network.

The NFL said the contract is for one year, and the league has an option to extend it for 2015. Financial terms were not disclosed.

King will miss opening ceremony

NEW YORK

Billie Jean King will not attend Friday’s opening ceremony of the Sochi Olympics in Russia because her mother is ill.

King, who was selected to help lead the U.S. delegation to the Games, has been outspoken in her opposition to Russia’s anti-gay law. She also planned to attend ice hockey and figure skating events and meet U.S. athletes during her three-day visit to the games.

The White House said that former U.S. hockey player Caitlin Cahow, originally scheduled for the closing ceremony, will take King’s place.

King told The Associated Press that because of her mother’s “failing health, I will not be able to join the U.S. Presidential delegation at this week’s opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics.”

Betty Moffitt, her 91-year-old mother, lives in Arizona and has been ill for some time. King will be joined by her brother Randy Moffitt, a former pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.

Shaun White drops slopestyle attempt

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia

Shaun White jammed his wrist on one jump and watched the world’s best snowboarders join him in tumbling down the supersized, super-scary Olympic slopestyle course.

Quickly, his choice became clear: Time to step away from the danger, and give himself a better chance in the event he knows he can win.

The world’s most famous snowboarder pulled out of the new Olympic event Wednesday, saying that after much deliberation, he has decided to bypass a chance at winning two gold medals.

Staff/wire report