COLLEGES

Cal player to be released from hospital: BERKELEY (AP) — California safety Avery Sebastian has movement in all his extremities after being taken to the hospital following a hard collision during a scrimmage at Memorial Stadium that appeared to leave him immobilized.

The school released a statement Monday night saying Sebastian is resting at Highland General Hospital in Oakland and is expected to be released soon.

Sebastian thanked for their positive thoughts and prayers after the scary incident. Reports out of Cal’s scrimmage said Sebastian hit running back Jeffrey Coprich on a run up the middle and immediately went down.

Sebastian, listed as the starting strong safety on the preseason depth chart, didn’t appear to move for more than 15 minutes before being taken to the hospital by ambulance.



Stanford to lean on QB Kevin Hogan more this year: STANFORD (AP) — Kevin Hogan leaned back on the fence that surrounds the Stanford practice field late Monday afternoon, cracked a smile and laughed at the difference between how he feels now versus a year ago.

He says he’s more comfortable.

Entering his first full year as the starting quarterback, Hogan is taking on more responsibility in the leading role. He has almost all new wide receivers and tight ends and will be expected to carry the Cardinal even more.

Hogan’s presence alone already had the defending Pac-12 champions and Rose Bowl winners ahead of schedule on the first day of training camp. The race to replace record-setting Andrew Luck had not been decided at this time last August.



Canes, Cards change signing rules for fan events: Louisville and Miami are ramping up efforts to avoid problems when it comes to football players signing autographs.

The Cardinals announced Monday that the planned autograph session at their upcoming Fan Day has been canceled, and the Hurricanes will only be permitting players to sign school-issued posters at their annual CanesFest event.

Both schools say the moves are being made because of ongoing concerns about college athletes and autograph sales. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel is being investigated by the NCAA, with ESPN saying that probe revolves around whether the Texas A&M quarterback was paid for his autograph.

Louisville coach Charlie Strong is apologizing to fans, but calls the matter “a national problem.”

BASEBALL

u Little League to introduce drug education program: SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Little League Baseball plans to introduce an educational program for coaches and volunteers intended to raise awareness about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.

Working with the Taylor Hooton Foundation, Little League hopes to have an online program ready for next season. Little League had been speaking with the foundation for more than a year about a program, well before Major League Baseball’s recent suspensions of more than a dozen players.

The suspensions Aug. 5 came less than two weeks before the start of the Little League World Series on Thursday.

The Hooton Foundation is named after a high school pitcher who committed suicide in 2003. Doctors attributed Taylor Hooton’s behavior to depression caused after he stopped using PEDs.



PED comment costs Jack Clark, co-host jobs: ST. LOUIS (AP) — Former St. Louis Cardinals star Jack Clark is out of his sports talk radio job after his on-air comments alleging Albert Pujols took performance-enhancing drugs.

Clark said on the air last week on WGNU in St. Louis that Pujols’ former trainer told him 10 years ago that he injected PEDs into Pujols, a Cardinals star who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels. Pujols responded with a strong denial and said he planned to take legal action against Clark and his employers.

Early Saturday, the company that owns the show, insideSTL Enterprises LLC, said in a statement that the show hosted by Clark and Kevin Slaten has been cancelled.

A telephone listing for Clark could not be found. A message seeking comment from Slaten was not returned.

BASKETBALL

AP Source: 76ers hire Brett Brown as coach: PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Four months later, the Philadelphia 76ers have a new coach.

A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday the Sixers have hired San Antonio assistant Brett Brown to replace Doug Collins, who resigned in April.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move has not been officially announced.

New general manager Sam Hinkie took quite a while looking for a replacement before choosing Brown, who was part of three NBA title teams with San Antonio. The 52-year-old Brown was an assistant under Gregg Popovich since 2002. He also coached the Australian men’s national team from 2009-12, and played a key role in helping Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker develop into All-Stars with the Spurs.

Brown is the franchise’s 24th coach and eighth since Larry Brown resigned in 2003.

Brett Brown inherits a team completely rebuilding. Hinkie, who was hired away from Houston, traded All-Star guard Jrue Holiday to New Orleans on draft night for the rights to Kentucky center Nerlens Noel. Hinkie also drafted Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams with the 11th overall pick in the first round.

BOXING

Klitschko vs Povetkin bout set for October: MOSCOW (AP) — The long-anticipated bout between WBA heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and Russia’s Alexander Povetkin will be held in Moscow on Oct. 5, the boxers confirmed Monday.

Klitschko was first set to defend his heavyweight title against Povetkin three years ago but the contract for the fight was never finalized.

“We had a long story with Alexander and could have met earlier,” Klitschko said at a news conference. “Alexander hasn’t lost a fight and I’m looking forward to meeting him but in no case will I underestimate him. I’m sure he will do his best to win on the night of Oct. 5.”

The WBA heavyweight belt became vacant when Klitschko was elevated to “super champion” status in 2011 after beating David Haye. Povetkin became the mandatory challenger for Klitschko when he beat American Hasim Rahman last September.

Earlier this year, the 37-year-old Klitschko improved to 60-3 when he beat Francesco Pianeta with his 52nd knockout, while the undefeated Povetkin, 33, has improved to 26-0 with his 18th knockout, stopping Polish challenger Andrzej Wawrzyk for his fourth successful defense of the “regular” title.

“I’m glad that this fight will finally take place,” Povetkin said. “I’m looking forward to meeting Wladimir, the strongest boxer right now.”

The bout is scheduled to be held at Moscow’s indoor Olympic stadium.