Basketball Capsules: U.S. says Russia coach wrong about Soviets' victory
ISTANBUL (AP) — Russia's coach believes the Soviets were right in 1972. The Americans say he's got it all wrong.
U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski responded to David Blatt's opinion that the Soviet Union's victory in the controversial Olympic gold-medal game was fair by saying that Blatt should have that belief as a Russian — either forgetting or ignoring that Blatt was born and raised in the United States.
NBA executive Mike Bantom, who played for that U.S. team, said he wasn't surprised "that someone employed by the Russian Federation might have a Russian perspective right about now, but I don't think it changes anything."
"We know how wrong it was, what happened there," Bantom told The Associated Press after watching U.S. practice Wednesday. "You watch a film, or you hear reports, you can debate whether or not it was right or wrong. But if you lived it, and you were there, you know that it was wrong what happened."
The U.S. plays Russia on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the world championship on the 38th anniversary of the Soviets' 51-50 victory in Munich. The Americans appeared to have won the game twice, but the Soviets were given a third chance and made the winning basket.
Believing they were cheated, the Americans never accepted their silver medals.
"There's a wonderful film about that, and I hate to say it as an American, but it looks like the Russians were right. The American team was not cheated," Blatt said Monday. "Funny things happened, but in reality it was fair."
Blatt was likely referring to the HBO documentary about the game, ":03 from Gold," which Bantom appears in and said he saw. The film shows the confusion that created the multiple do-overs before Aleksander Belov's winning shot.
"You can arrange film to make a lot of things seem that there's some doubt," said Bantom, the NBA's senior vice president of player development. "There was no doubt how that went down."
The Americans had taken a one-point lead on Doug Collins' free throws with 3 seconds left, and seemed to have won when the Soviets inbounded and didn't score.
But the Soviets claimed they'd called timeout, and an official had whistled for play to stop when he saw a disturbance near the scorer's table. Time was put back on the clock, and again the Americans celebrated as the Soviets failed to score after inbounding.
More confusion followed because the clock was still being reset when the ball was put in play. Given a third chance when FIBA's secretary general ordered the final 3 seconds replayed, the Soviets won when Belov caught a long pass over two U.S. players and scored.
FIBA denied the appeal of the Americans, who had their 63-game Olympic winning streak snapped and voted unanimously to decline the silver medals. Bantom isn't surprised that none of his teammates has ever decided he wants the medal.
"I don't care how it was depicted in the film," he said. "It was wrong and we felt it was wrongm and we stuck by our feelings.
"First of all, all those things about the clock and all that was not known at the time. The referees were handling that game. It was not handled by the clock and what was going on. We were told to play, and we played, and the results of what went on on that court were overturned, and that's not how the game of basketball is decided."
Blatt, who was born in Louisville, grew up in Massachusetts and played at Princeton, was 13 years old at the time and said he cried after the U.S. lost. Yet Krzyzewski wasn't surprised the way he sees the game now has changed.
"He's a Russian, he coaches the Russian team, so he probably has that viewpoint," Krzyzewski said. "And his eyes are clear now because there's no tears in them."
Krzyzewski was more concerned by the problems his undersized team could face from the Russians, who he said had an average height of 6-foot-8. Other than saying "when you think of international basketball, you think of USA and Russia games, that being one of them," he wouldn't go much further into Blatt's remarks about 1972.
"Whatever he thinks, he thinks," Krzyzewski said. "It really has absolutely no bearing on what we're trying to do tomorrow. Absolutely none."
Serbia knocks defending champ Spain out of worlds
ISTANBUL (AP) — Serbia knocked defending champ Spain out of the world championship Wednesday when Milos Teodosic made a long 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds left for a 92-89 quarterfinal victory.
Spain erased an eight-point deficit in the final 4 minutes to tie it on Marc Gasol's basket with 25 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Serbia patiently ran its offense until Teodosic — 1 of 7 on 3-pointers at that point — pulled up from straightaway, well beyond the arc.
"He's a great player and he has a great feeling for the big shot," Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said.
The Spaniards couldn't get a final shot off, with Jorge Garbajosa losing the ball after a timeout. Serbia's players celebrated at midcourt as Spain's Sergio Llull kicked the ball deep into the stands.
"I think it was a very, very tough game. Maybe the best one until now in Istanbul," Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic said.
Avenging a loss in last year's European championship game, Serbia advanced to face Turkey in a semifinal game Saturday. The hosts remained unbeaten with a 95-68 victory over Slovenia later Wednesday.
"It's very difficult to forget this kind of game, but we have to try to forget everything that happened tonight because in two days we will play in the semifinals," Teodosic said.
Marko Keselj and Novica Velickovic scored 17 points apiece for Serbia, while Dusko Savanovic added 15. The Serbians were 15 of 30 from 3-point range, exploiting the zone seemingly every time Spain used it.
"We were not able to stop them on the long shots," Spain guard Juan Carlos Navarro said. "That's why we lost and I believe that's why they deserved to win."
Navarro scored 27 points and Garbajosa, the former Toronto Raptors forward who recovered from a severe leg injury, added 18.
But the Spaniards, considered the co-favorites along with the United States coming into the tournament, lost for the third time in Turkey. They were without their best player, Lakers All-Star Pau Gasol, then lost point guard Jose Calderon of the Raptors shortly before the tournament.
The champions in Japan four years ago now will be forced to qualify for the 2012 Olympics at next year's European championship.
Teodosic, one of the two Serbia players suspended for a brawl in an exhibition game against Greece, finished with 12 points. Center Nenad Krstic of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the other suspended Serb, finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.
-- Brian Mahoney
Turkey beats Slovenia 95-68
ISTANBUL (AP) — Ersan Ilyasova scored 19 points and undefeated Turkey hit 10 of 17 3-pointers in its 95-68 victory over Slovenia on Wednesday night in the world championship quarterfinals.
"The guys, they flied," Turkey coach Bogdan Tanjevic said. "They played the best of these seven games."
Turkey will face Serbia, a 92-89 winner over defending champion Spain, in the semifinals Saturday. Turkey will finish in the top four for the first time at an Olympics or world championship.
Turkey was 8 of 11 from 3-point range in the first half to take a 50-31 lead.
"They spread the floor really well," said Bostjan Nachbar, who scored 16 points. "We didn't adjust well to that and we were not aggressive enough today to make them take tough shots, to use fouls and all that, so we pretty much gave them open shots and they took advantage of that."
Sani Becirovic had 16 points for Slovenia
FIBA: All basketball worlds drug tests negative
ISTANBUL (AP) — Basketball's governing body says there have been no positive results from more than 60 random drug tests conducted at the world championship.
FIBA conducted 48 tests in the first two days of the championship, two for each of the 24 teams competing, and more have been done since the start of the knockout round.
Patrick Baumann, FIBA's secretary general, says the organization "is determined to keep basketball clean and confront head-on anybody taking unlawful or performance-enhancing drugs."
FIBA plans more than 100 tests, its largest anti-doping campaign, before the championship game on Sunday.
NBA
Custody trial starts in fight for Wade's 2 sons
The appointed attorney for Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade's two young sons has recommended to a Chicago court that the NBA star be awarded custody of the children.
Wade and ex-wife Siohvaughn Wade returned to court on Wednesday, this time to begin the trial that will decide custody of their boys, ages 8 and 3. Attorney Lester Barclay, the boys' representative, filed a pretrial memo outlining three recommendations he plans to make during trial, with one caveat being Siohvaughn Wade should agree to undergo "extensive therapy" as part of any scenario.
"At trial it is my intention, based on the best interests of my clients, the minor children ... to be with" Dwyane Wade, Barclay wrote.
The court does not need to follow Barclay's advice, though it's fairly common for the suggestions of a child's representative to at least be weighed in such cases.
Barclay's recommendations included residential custody primarily with Dwyane Wade; joint custody with at least one of the boys attending school in Florida; or sole custody for the 2006 NBA finals MVP.
The Heat guard signed a new six-year contract worth about $107 million with the Heat in July, doing so on the same day longtime friends and fellow NBA stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined the Miami roster.
Dwyane Wade was awarded "physical possession" of his sons in June by another judge in Chicago, who found that an emergency order was merited because Wade's time for visitation with his children "has been frustrated on an ongoing basis as a result of continual interference" by his now ex-wife. Their divorce was finalized in June, although custody and financial matters remain undecided.
In the June ruling, the court cited three instances, one in March and two in May, where Dwyane Wade's visitation schedules were altered by his ex-wife. Siohvaughn Wade has made claims that her sons are abused when in their father's custody.
Following a break for Rosh Hashanah, the trial will resume Monday with opening statements and other motions. Siohvaughn Wade is expected to be the first witness when testimony begins Tuesday.
Dwyane Wade expects the trial will last for at least a full week, which means he may not return to South Florida until just before the Sept. 28 start of Heat training camp.
-- Tim Reynolds
Hornets sign point guard Shakur
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Hornets have signed free-agent point guard Mustafa Shakur.
General manager Dell Demps says the 6-foot-4 Shakur has good size for a point guard and got the Hornets' attention by thriving in the NBA Development League last season.
Undrafted out of Arizona, the 26-year-old Shakur was been with several NBA teams since 2007 but has yet to play in a regular-season game.
Shakur played two seasons in Europe. Last season, he played for the Tulsa 66ers, averaging 19.2 points, 6.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 37.8 minutes.
Demps says Shakur will provide depth at point guard behind All-Star Chris Paul. Earlier this summer, the Hornets traded point guard Darren Collison to Indiana.
Warriors sign swingman Carney
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent swingman Rodney Carney to a contract. The team announced the deal with the 26-year-old Carney on Wednesday.
Carney played in 68 games for Philadelphia last season. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game.
Carney was originally selected 16th overall by Chicago in the first round of the 2006 draft. He has played for Philadelphia and Minnesota in his career. He is averaging 6.1 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in his career.
Police: Swastika on mural possible hate crime
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Police are investigating a possible hate crime after a swastika was painted on a mural depicting a Jewish player for the Sacramento Kings.
Police say they received a report of the backward swastika painted on a mural of Omri Casspi, the only NBA player born in Israel, in the midtown area about noon Wednesday.
The incident comes just hours before the start of Rosh Hashanah, the observance of the Jewish new year.
College Women
Five Ohio State starters back to face tough schedule
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Seeking a seventh consecutive Big Ten title, the Ohio State women's basketball team opens conference play on Dec. 30 at rival Michigan.
The Buckeyes host games against 2010 NCAA tournament teams East Tennessee State, Virginia and Final Four participant Oklahoma, as well as a neutral-site matchup against two-time defending national champion Connecticut in the Maggie Dixon Classic in New York City.
Coach Jim Foster's team opens on the road Nov. 12 at Temple. Two days later, Ohio State begins its home schedule against Eastern Michigan.
The Buckeyes return all five starters from last season, including three-time Big Ten player of the year Jantel Lavender and point guard Samantha Prahalis, like Lavender a first-team All-Big Ten player a year ago.
Clemson to face Baylor in new coach's first season
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — First-year Clemson coach Itoro Coleman will lead the Lady Tigers against Final Four participant Baylor and a non-conference schedule that includes two Big East schools.
The school announced its women's basketball schedule Wednesday.
Coleman's first team plays Baylor in the Sunsplash Tournament in the Bahamas on Dec. 20. The Lady Tigers also have nonconference games with Indiana on Dec. 2, Syracuse on Dec. 22 and Georgetown on Dec. 30.
Clemson travels to face rival South Carolina on Nov. 18. Atlantic Coast Conference play begins at North Carolina State on Jan. 6.
Peoples added to UALR women's basketball staff
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas-Little Rock women's basketball program has named Rebecca Chilton Peoples as director of basketball operations.
A news release from UALR on Wednesday said Peoples was joining the staff after eight years as an assistant basketball coach at Arkansas State.
In her new job, Peoples will be responsible for monitoring academic progress of players, arranging film exchange, handling the recruiting database, and assisting in community outreach.
College Men
Memphis C-USA schedule begins Jan. 8
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis' Conference USA schedule is out.
The Tigers' conference slate begins Jan. 8 against East Carolina at home, followed by a visit to SMU on Jan. 12.
Memphis has two games each with East Carolina, Marshall, Southern Miss, Alabama-Birmingham and UCF. Memphis' one-time conference games are Houston, Rice, SMU, Tulane, Tulsa and UTEP.
The Tigers have three road series with two consecutive games each, beginning Jan. 19 at Southern Miss and Jan. 22 at Alabama-Birmingham. Memphis follows a non-conference game at Gonzaga on Feb. 5 in Spokane, Wash., with a trip to UCF in Orlando, Fla. on Feb. 9.
Memphis' also plays at UTEP on Feb. 26 and at East Carolina on March 2.
The schedule was released Wednesday.
Oakland added to Buckeyes' slate
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State coach Thad Matta announced Wednesday that Oakland University is playing his team on Dec. 23, completing the Buckeyes' 2010-11 schedule.
The Buckeyes had previously released their schedule, but then added the Oakland game, a record 20th at home. It will tip off at 8 p.m.
Ohio State will play 31 regular-season games before the 2011 Big Ten tournament March 10-13 in Indianapolis. The first four games of the season, which count as one game against the NCAA schedule limit of 29, are part of the Global Sports Invitational.
The Buckeyes' season opener is set for 7 p.m. on Nov. 12 against North Carolina A&T. A trip to Florida on Nov. 16 is followed by home games with UNC Wilmington on Nov. 20 and Morehead State on Nov. 23.
Elsewhere
Former NBA player Rumeal Robinson guilty of fraud
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Rumeal Robinson, who led Michigan to the NCAA men's basketball championship in 1989 and later played in the NBA, was convicted in federal court Wednesday of borrowing more than $700,000 for a sham business deal and then spending the money on a condominium, expensive furniture and cars.
A jury found Robinson guilty of 11 counts, including bank bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution. He faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on each count. A date for sentencing hasn't been set.
Among a lengthy list of accusations by prosecutors was one accusing Robinson of scheming to sell his mother's home in Cambridge, Mass., without her knowledge.
A telephone message left for Robinson's attorney, J. Keith Rigg of Des Moines, wasn't immediately returned.
Robinson grew up in Cambridge and was a star at Michigan best known for sinking two free throws that helped the Wolverines beat Seton Hall in the 1989 national title game. He was drafted 10th overall by Atlanta in 1990 and went on to play six seasons in the NBA with the Hawks, Nets, Hornets, Trail Blazers, Suns and Lakers.
Federal prosecutors say Robinson schemed between 2004 and 2005 to borrow the money from Community State Bank in the Des Moines suburb of Ankeny. He had the help of Brian Williams, a loan officer at the bank who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud before Robinson's trial began.
Prosecutors said Williams signed off on an initial $377,000 loan to Robinson for his business, Megaladon Development Inc., which was supposedly pursuing a development deal in Jamaica. Instead, Robinson bought a condo, plasma TVs and designer furniture, prosecutors said.
They said Robinson put the condo in the name of his girlfriend, listing her as his company's marketing director though she actually worked in a strip club.
Williams later approved an $80,000 loan for Robinson, which was supposed to be used for business but again was spent on personal items, including cars, clothes and more furniture, prosecutors said.
When Williams' lending authority at the bank ran out, he and Robinson circumvented the $500,000 limit by having the mother-in-law of Robinson's business partner, Jorge Rodriguez, sign documents for a $150,000 loan that was wired directly to Robinson's company.
Prosecutors said the woman was told she was signing the documents to invest in Robinson's company, but he spent $44,000 to buy or lease 10 vehicles, including three Mercedes, two BMWs and five motorcycles. He also spent $3,000 at strip clubs, bought a dog for $1,000 and spent $28,000 on house-related payments, prosecutors said.
They said Robinson later obtained three more loans from the Ankeny Bank totaling more than $111,000 in the name of his girlfriend.
When it became obvious the Jamaica deal would fail, Robinson and Williams became involved in an energy project with a company called Fairway Energy. Williams loaned $495,000 to the company in exchange for a promise of a payment of that same amount to Williams. Another $101,000 loan was made by Williams in connection with the energy company.
Prosecutors also said Robinson arranged for the sale of his mother's house in Cambridge. His business partner became the owner of the house in 2004 because Robinson persuaded his mother to use equity in the house for the Jamaica project, and the sale of the house occurred in 2006 without his mother's knowledge.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Klinefeldt said Robinson paid off Williams to obtain the loans, lied on court documents and took advantage of people for their credit scores. Klinefeldt said he used the Jamaica project as an excuse to ask people for money when in reality "he planned to use it for his own lavish lifestyle."
-- Michael J. Crumb
