Mill Creek Golf Course closed for tournament

Mill Creek Golf Course closed for tournament

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mill Creek Golf Course will be closed today for The Vindicator’s Greatest Golfer of the Valley tournament. Both North and South Courses will be closed. The Course will reopen to the public after 5:30 p.m.

For more information about the Mill Creek Golf Course, visit www.millcreekmetroparks.org.

Harrison agrees to talk to NFL after deadline

PITTSBURGH

A representative for James Harrison says the Pittsburgh linebacker is willing to meet with the NFL to discuss an alleged link to performance-enhancing drugs, but only after a deadline the league imposed while threatening him and three other players with indefinite suspensions.

NFL Players Association attorney Heather McPhee was critical of the investigation in a letter dated Thursday, accusing the league of trying to “bully and publicly shame” Harrison without offering evidence beyond a brief television interview last year that was recanted by the accuser.

Green Bay’s Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers and free agent Mike Neal, all linebackers as well, also were threatened with suspensions.

The league’s deadline is Thursday. McPhee’s letter says Harrison would meet with the NFL at 5 p.m. on Aug. 29 at the team’s facility, and would only discuss the portion of the Al-Jazeera interview that mentioned the 14-year veteran.

Big 12 emails Houston about expansion

An email Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby sent late last month to the president of the University of Houston says the conference has “finalized our procedures for consideration of potential” new members.

The email was first reported by ESPN on Thursday and later obtained by The Associated Press.

The Big 12 announced on July 19 that its presidents had authorized Bowlsby to begin evaluating schools for possible expansion of the 10-team conference. The conference has not commented publicly on its plans.

In an email dated July 26 from Bowlsby to University of Houston President Renu Khator, the commissioner wrote: “We have finalized our procedures for consideration of potential Big 12 Conference members and, pursuant to your email of last week, I am writing to inform you of the process.”

HOF will refund for hotel charges

CANTON

The Pro Football Hall of Fame said Thursday it will refund fans for tickets and hotel stays after canceling its annual preseason game this month because of poor field conditions.

Fans will be reimbursed for the face value of its tickets, associated fees and one-night hotel accommodations, the hall said.

At least four fans have filed a lawsuit against the NFL and the hall over the canceled game, saying an initial offer to refund only ticket prices was too little.

Organizers called off the Aug. 7 game between Green Bay and Indianapolis after paint congealed and hardened on parts of the field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Harbaugh’s salary now at $7 million

ANN ARBOR, Mich.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is receiving $2 million a year on top of his base salary of $5 million.

The raise is actually the $2 million annual premium the university is paying on a life insurance policy on Harbaugh. Michigan will make the payment each year from 2016 through 2021 if Harbaugh is coaching the Wolverines on Dec. 6 of those years.

Harbaugh is the owner of the policy, meaning he can take withdrawals or loans from the policy. He also picks the beneficiary.

The university gets its money back, without interest, when Harbaugh dies, with the beneficiary getting the money that remains after Michigan is paid. There are other circumstances in which the school would get its money back.

The Detroit Free Press first reported the contract addendum.

Staff/wire report