SPORTS digest

YSU offers fans $12,000 for half-court challenge

youngstown

Burgan Real Estate will offer YSU fans the opportunity to have Burgan pay their mortgage for a year.

The “Better with Burgan Mortgage Mania Challenge Sweepstakes” will take place at halftime at the following men’s and women’s home games: Jan. 6, Jan. 20, Jan. 27, Feb. 3 and Feb. 17.

YSU will offer two fans at each game one throw at winning the $12,000 prize if they can make a half-court shot.

Fans can visit www.BetterWithBurgan.com to enter for a chance to win two tickets to one of the five games and participate in the challenge. Only one entry per person is permitted over the course of the sweepstakes period, which is open until Feb. 3. Multiple entries do not increase the chance of being chosen.

Entrants must be 18 or older and reside within 60 miles of Youngstown city limits. You need not have to have a mortgage to be eligible to win the cash prize.

For complete eligibility details and contest rules, visit www.BetterWithBurgan.com.

NHL won’t discuss Winter Olympic plans

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.

The NHL isn’t going to get drawn into any discussions about participating in future Winter Olympics until after the Pyeongchang Games are complete.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that’s the answer he provided to International Ice Hockey Federation general secretary Horst Lichtner on Friday.

Daly said the two talked little business, though he noted Lichtner did ask when the NHL might be ready to discuss its plans regarding the 2022 Games at Beijing.

Citing monetary and logistical concerns, the NHL elected against having its players compete at the Winter Games in February for the first time since 1994.

Jets extend contracts for coach Bowles, GM

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.

The New York Jets have extended the contracts of both general manager Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles.

The team announced the extensions Friday, two days before the Jets complete their season at New England. New York is 5-10 and will miss the playoffs for the seventh straight year and the third under Maccagnan and Bowles.

Acting owner and CEO Christopher Johnson says he believes the Jets are moving in the right direction under Maccagnan and Bowles.

Arkansas buyout for Bielema set for $15.4M

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.

The buyout for fired Arkansas football coach Bret Bielema’s contract has been set at $15.4 million, but the agreement hasn’t been finalized.

The buyout proposal matches an amount listed in Bielema’s public employment contract with the university, which fired him on Nov. 24 after the team went 4-8.

The information was released after the state’s attorney general ruled that Bielema’s contract with the Razorback Foundation had a high level of public interest. The foundation is funded by donors supporting university athletics and is responsible for paying Bielema’s severance.

Lawyer: FIFA not seeking doping info

A Russian doping whistleblower’s lawyer says FIFA has made no attempt to gain information about “many” footballers embroiled in the widespread conspiracy.

Lawyer Jim Walden told The Associated Press that Grigory Rodchenkov’s has “information about Russian footballers being protected by the state sponsored doping system.”

Players from Russia’s 2014 World Cup squad are among 34 soccer cases under suspicion after being identified in a World Anti-Doping investigation. FIFA can now also gain access to additional evidence from a database from Rodchenkov’s laboratory that could help to prosecute cases.

But Walden says there is still no indication “FIFA wanted to get in touch with me or wanted information from Dr. Rodchenkov.”

Staff/Wire Report