PRESS BOX: Alabama fires assistant coach Harris
CFB
Alabama fired assistant strength and conditioning coach Corey Harris, who gave a loan to safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, a member of the athletic department told ESPN.com Saturday.
Clinton-Dix was suspended by the NCAA for two games earlier this season for accepting the benefit.
The loan was reportedly for less than $500 but violated NCAA bylaw 16.11.2.2, which states: "an institutional employee or representative of the institution's athletics interests may not provide a student-athlete with extra benefits or services, including, but not limited to ... a loan of money."
Clinton-Dix was the only player involved in the loan. Harris was placed on administrative leave when Clinton-Dix was suspended. The junior ranks fourth on the team with 40 tackles. He also has two interceptions and six pass breakups.
---Florida freshman wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was suspended for the rest of the season for violating team rules, 247Sports reported.
It is the second suspension this season for Robinson, also for violating team rules. No other details about the suspension were released.
Robinson was considered a 4-star recruit coming out of high school but he has just five catches for 23 yards and no touchdowns. He also did not get much playing time while playing behind Quinton Dunbar, Solomon Patton and Trey Burton.
MLB
The Texas Rangers agreed to re-sign right-handed pitcher Colby Lewis to a minor-league deal with a spring training invite, the team announced.
Lewis will earn a $2 million base salary if he makes the major league team and can potential make up to another $4 million in incentives.
Lewis, 34, has not pitched in the majors since 2012 when he had elbow surgery midway through the season. He also had hip surgery in 2013. He is expected to begin throwing before the team begins spring training in February.
NBA
The Memphis Grizzlies announced that center Marc Gasol is out indefinitely with a sprained MCL in his left knee.
An MRI revealed the injury, which does not require surgery.
Gasol was injured in the second quarter of Friday night's loss to the visiting San Antonio Spurs.
Gasol ranked second on the team in scoring (17.7 points per game), rebounding (7.5) and assists (4.4), and led the team in blocks entering Friday's game.
---Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash denied rumors that he plans to retire at the end of the season.
While he does not know when he will return from a back injury that sidelined him two weeks ago, he told the Los Angeles Times on Friday that he will play out his contract, which lasts two more seasons.
"No, not at all," Nash said when asked if he is ending his career at the end of this season. "I don't know where that came from.
"For me, I realize I have about 18 months left of basketball and I want the most out of this that I can possibly get and I don't know if that's going to be one game or the vast majority of what's left, but I have a long life without basketball, so I don't want to give in too soon. I want to try to make the most of this opportunity to play if I can."
---The Los Angeles Lakers re-assigned forwards Ryan Kelly and Elias Harris to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League, the team announced.
Kelly is averaging 3.0 points per game in two games while Harris is scoreless in two games.
Kelly and Harris will play in the D-Fenders season opener Saturday night against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
