Press Box: Bruins Krejci day-to-day with injury
NHL
Boston Bruins center David Krejci is day-to-day after a pane of Plexiglas fell on him after Game 1 of their NHL playoff series Thursday night, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said Friday.
Krejci told reporters that he thinks he will be able play Saturday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals.
The injury occurred during the celebration for Boston's game-winning goal in overtime Thursday. Video replays showed fans banging on the pane caused it to fall on the head of Krejci, who was congratulating his teammates behind the net.
The injury was reported by ComcastSportsNet New England and the Boston Globe reported Krejci did not practice with the team Friday.
--Nashville Predators defenseman Hal Gill said he will miss his second consecutive playoff game Friday night.
Gill, who is suffering from a leg injury suffered from taking a shot off the ankle, will sit out Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round series at home against the Detroit Red Wings, according to the Nashville Tennessean.
"I'm going to give it some more time," he said "I don't think at this point I can help the team. We have some good players that can play so I will let them go."
The teams combined for 14 power plays during Game 1, which Nashville won 3-2. Gill, who is 6-foot-7, is known as an excellent special-teams player.
"To win is awesome, I don't care how it happens," said Gill, who was acquired this season from the Montreal Canadiens. "Those are the games you want to be a part of, those are the fun ones - playoff hockey is the most exciting thing I've ever had in my life. It's tough not to play."
CFB
The University of Arkansas athletic department officials announced that Jessica Dorrell has been placed on paid administrative leave from her job in the football program.
Steve Voorhies, a spokesman for the university, was unable to offer any other information about Dorrell's employment or if she was under investigation.
Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino was fired Tuesday for misconduct involving Dorrell, a 25-year-old employee of the football program. She was recently hired by the coach and was with him when he crashed his motorcycle April 1.
Dorrell and Petrino's relationship became public because of the crash and it was revealed that he gave her a $20,000 gift. She was hired recently as the UA student-athlete development coordinator. Previously, she worked for the Razorback Foundation.
--Former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino will not fight his firing, according to a report Thursday night.
Petrino, who was dismissed earlier this week, has decided not to appeal the firing or the $18 million buyout that had been built into his contract, the Arkansas Press-Democrat and ESPN reported.
Athletic Director Jeff Long said Petrino was fired with cause because of conflict of interest, an inappropriate relationship with a 25-year-old female staffer and his cover-up of the motorcycle accident that occurred two weeks ago involving him and the female staffer.
Petrino's contract allowed him to ask for a review of the termination by his superiors.
Petrinio's was 34-17 in four years coaching the Razorbacks, including an 11-2 record last season that ended with a Cotton Bowl victory over Kansas State.
--Defensive end Aaron Lynch will transfer to another school, Notre Dame football officials announced Friday.
Coach Brian Kelly said the freshman will stay in school through the end of the semester.
"This was one of the toughest decisions I have had to make," Lynch said in a statement, "but I want to go back home to Florida."
Lynch had committed to Florida State out of Island Coast High School in Cape Coral, Fla. However, he switched to Notre Dame 14 months ago.
Lynch, who started six games last season, recorded 33 tackles last season, including 5 1/2 sacks. He was listed by recruiting website Rivals.com as the 28th best prospect last year.
"Aaron recently approached me about his desire to leave Notre Dame and return to Florida," Kelly said in a statement. "I've always known and appreciated the affinity Aaron has for his home in Florida. However, the stark reality is you can't make it at Notre Dame if your head and heart are not here. I am proud of the effort Aaron made in the classroom and on the field at Notre Dame. I wish him all the best in the future."
CBK
Freshman guard Bradley Beal announced Friday he will apply for the NBA Draft.
Talking at a news conference in Gainesville, Fla., Beal said the "time was right."
"It was the toughest decision I made in my life," said the 6-foot-3 Beal. "There are pros and cons with both sides I really couldn't go wrong with this decision."
Beal is projected to be a top 10 selection in the June draft according to most draft projections He averaged 14.8 and 6.7 rebounds this season.
"Selfishly I'm going to miss the opportunity to coach him," said Florida Coach Billy Donovan, "but I don't think there's any question he's going to go in the lottery."
Florida reached the Elite Eight last month in the NCAA Tournament. Patric Young, Erik Murphy and Kenny Boynton from that team will return next season.
--One of Bernie Fine's accuser's has rescinded child molestation charges against the former Syracuse assistant basketball coach, according to a report.
Zach Tomaselli said his accusations were a lie in an interview Thursday night with the Syracuse Post-Standard.
"I'm ready to step forward and admit that I fabricated the Bernie Fine story," Tomaselli told The Post-Standard. "It's just become an amazing burden and I just can't handle it anymore. . . . One lie led to another."
Tomaselli had said he lied about the Fine allegations because he suffered from previous sexual abuse. Also, he was angry at the Syracuse basketball program for beating Kansas University in the 2003 NCAA national championship game.
"There was never a point where I said I am going to fabricate the Bernie Fine stuff, it was just one step at a time," he said. "It grew and grew and grew and it was amazing to see it grow."
Tomaselli, 23 of Lewiston, Maine, was a key witness in the federal investigation of Fine, who was accused by four men of child molestation during a period of more than two decades. Fine was fired in November because of the allegations.
Tomaselli's testimony, which was the only case that fell within the statute of limitations, allowed authorities to get a warrant to search Fine's home.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Duncan told the Post-Standard he would not say how the new information would affect the case. He did say the investigation was in continuing. Donald Martin, Fine's lawyer, declined to comment on the recantation.
TENNIS
Jennifer Capriati, a former world No. 1 player, was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, it was announced Friday.
Capriati, who won three Grand Slam events during her 15-year playing career, will be inducted July 14 at Newport, R.I. Also being inducted will be former world No 1 Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, Spanish legend Manuel Orantes, promoter Mike Davies and the late wheelchair tennis star Randy Snow.
"I'm thrilled. This is a dream come true and an extraordinary tribute," Capriati said in a statement. "Tennis has been my passion and dedication for my entire life and to be acknowledged for this passion and dedication is truly icing on the cake. truly feel humbled to be a part of history and am honored to be considered among the greatest of all time."
Capriati, 36, had a career record of 430-176 record and 14 career singles crowns from 1990-2004. Besides reaching the finals in two of her first three WTA events, she won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic women's final.
She came back to the game in 1999 after a four-year hiatus and became the world's No. 1 player for 18 weeks in Oct. 2001. In fact, all three of her Grand Slam titles -- 2001 and 2002 Australian Open titles and the 2001 French Open -- occurred after her comeback.
Capriati did have troubles during her playing days. While taking a break from the game in the mid-1990s for what she called burnout, she was arrested for shoplifting and possession of marijuana.
