SPORTS DIGEST || Former Penguins set to compete for Rio

Former Penguins set to compete for Rio

Former Youngstown State throwers Bobby Grace and Conner Neu will compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials beginning Friday in Eugene, Ore. Grace will participate in the shot put while Neu is in the hammer throw.

Grace, who was a member of the YSU program from 2009-14, competes in the shot put on Friday. The qualifying round is set for 2 p.m. with the finals being held at 8:40 p.m.

Neu, who finished his YSU career earlier this month in Eugene, will compete on Wednesday, July 6 at 8 p.m. Neu placed 13th at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships this year.

The shot put finals will air live on NBC on Friday evening at 9 p.m. The hammer throw will not be shown on National TV.

Iconic LeBron banner will remain in place

CLEVELAND

LeBron James will continue to soar over downtown.

Sherwin-Williams announced Tuesday it has changed plans to remove a 10-story banner of James hanging from the side of its headquarters. The paint company had intended to detach the banner and replace it with one celebrating its 150th anniversary.

However, public outcry caused Sherwin-Williams to alter those plans and remove the likeness of James for only a few weeks. Now, the banner, home of the NBA champion Cavaliers, will be untouched.

Beer to flow at Pitt football games

PITTSBURGH

The University of Pittsburgh plans to expand beer sales at its football games at Heinz Field starting this season.

Athletic director Scott Barnes says beer will be sold stadium-wide. Previously, only fans sitting in club and suite areas could buy beer.

Barnes says beer sales could raise more than $500,000 for the athletic program.

Barnes also said Pitt was the only college team that shares a stadium with an NFL team that did not sell beer at its games.

Cleaves’ attorney wants prosecutor off sex case

FLINT, MICH.

An attorney representing ex-Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves wants a judge to disqualify the Wayne County prosecutor’s office from Cleaves’ sexual assault case.

Attorney Frank Manley said in a motion that Cleaves’ accuser is a member of a Wayne County child sexual abuse taskforce. The case is being handled by the Detroit-based Wayne County prosecutor’s office because of a conflict raised by the Genesee County prosecutor.

Manley’s move prompted a Flint judge to cancel Tuesday’s preliminary examination.

The 38-year-old Cleaves is charged with assaulting a woman at a motel last summer. He denies the charge.

Former Colts RB dies in accidental shooting

ROSEVILLE, MICH.

Zurlon Tipton, a former Indianapolis Colts running back, has died after accidentally shooting himself at a car dealership in suburban Detroit. He was 26.

St. John Hospital spokesman Brian Taylor confirmed Tipton’s death Tuesday. Police say he was handling a duffel bag when a gun in the bag fired as he dropped off his car in Roseville.

Tipton appeared in 16 games over two seasons for the Colts, gaining 38 yards on 15 carries. He was released by the team in December.

Montgomerie qualifies for British Open

IRVINE, SCOTLAND

Colin Montgomerie will play at the British Open for the first time since 2010 after qualifying for golf’s oldest major on Tuesday.

The 53-year-old Scot shot rounds of 66 and 71 to secure one of three places available from final qualifying at Gailes Links.

Montgomerie, widely regarded as one of the best golfers never to win a major, made 21 straight British Open appearances through the 2010 tournament at St. Andrews.

“It means the world to me,” said Montgomerie, who now plays on the Champions Tour.

Staff/Wire Reports