SPORTS digest

Carroll says Lynch thinking about return

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday at the NFL league meetings that running back Marshawn Lynch “is somewhat entertaining” the idea of coming out of retirement.

But Carroll also said that Lynch did not ask the Seahawks to be taken off the reserve/retired list when he talked to him 10 days ago and said he can’t answer if Lynch will return and what the Seahawks would do if he did ask to come back.

“I know that he is somewhat entertaining the thought of it,” Carroll said during the annual breakfast with NFC coaches. “I can’t tell you how strong it is.”

Carroll later said “there is not much to it,” referring to the rumors of Lynch possibly returning. “We had a chance to visit. He was in really good spirits about 10 days ago.”

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday at the NFL league meetings that running back Marshawn Lynch “is somewhat entertaining” the idea of coming out of retirement.

But Carroll also said that Lynch did not ask the Seahawks to be taken off the reserve/retired list when he talked to him 10 days ago and said he can’t answer if Lynch will return and what the Seahawks would do if he did ask to come back.

Warriors’ Durant could return before playoffs

oakland, calif.

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant has been cleared for non-contact basketball drills and could return from his knee injury before the end of the regular season.

The Warriors said Wednesday that Durant will be re-evaluated in the next seven to 10 days as he recovers from a left knee and leg injury that has sidelined him since Feb. 28. The NBA regular season ends in two weeks.

The team says Durant has made good progress in his recovery and has had no setbacks. He has started shooting, running and jumping drills and will soon start doing more explosive cutting and lateral maneuvers. His return to contact drills and practice will be determined by how he handles these workouts.

The Warriors struggled initially without Durant but have won eight straight games heading into Wednesday night’s showdown against San Antonio and have the best record in the league.

Referee received death threats from UK fans

omaha, neb.

Referee John Higgins of Omaha reported he received death threats after Kentucky’s loss to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament, a Nebraska law enforcement official said Wednesday.

Higgins’ roofing company received about 3,000 harassing emails and an unknown number of phone calls, some including death threats, said Capt. Kevin Griger, investigations commander for the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department.

North Carolina defeated Kentucky 75-73 on Sunday to advance to the Final Four, winning on Luke Maye’s last-second shot. Kentucky coach John Calipari opened his news conference with a comment about foul calls, complaining about freshmen stars Bam Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk each picking up two fouls in the first half.

Former Big Ten commissioner dies

PHOENIX

Wayne Duke, who was a driving force behind the expansion of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament during his 18 years as commissioner of the Big Ten, has died. He was 88.

The Big Ten announced Duke’s death after his family notified the conference on Wednesday. He had been living in Barrington, Illinois, and had been in declining health, his widow, Martha, told The Associated Press.

After serving for 11 years as assistant to Walter Byers, the first executive director of the NCAA, Duke became commissioner of the Big Eight conference in 1963 at the age of 34. He took over as Big Ten commissioner in 1971 and retired in 1989.

Duke guided the Big Ten and college sports through the first stages of great growth in revenue from television coverage of football and basketball.

Wire reports