Valentine fired as

Red Sox manager

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox fired manager Bobby Valentine on Thursday after one season in which he failed to bring order to a clubhouse that disintegrated during the 2011 pennant race.

Valentine finished with a record of 69-93 on a team that was beset by injuries before management gave up on this season and traded some of its best players — and biggest salaries.

 

Big Ten determines

no eye gouging

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Big Ten has determined that a Michigan State player did not violate the conference’s conduct policy after Ohio State sent in film that appeared to show him trying to gouge the eyes of a Buckeyes player.

In a statement, Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said the Big Ten determined that MSU offensive lineman Jack Allen didn’t violate the conference’s sportsmanlike conduct policy.

A video Ohio State sent to the Big Ten appeared to show Allen trying to get his gloved hand inside the facemask of Ohio State defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins during Saturday’s Ohio State victory in East Lansing. At the same time, Hankins was trying to get his hands inside Allen’s facemask.

Hollis concluded that Allen’s actions “weren’t a football play” but also it was not an eye-gouging incident.

 

WVU offering limited

basketball beer sales

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia University will offer limited beer sales at its men’s basketball games this season.

WVU athletic director Oliver Luck said Thursday that sales will be offered in the Coliseum’s Statler Club Lounge area. No beer sales will be conducted in the general concession and seating areas, and beer won’t be permitted outside the club lounge area.

Patrons will be required to show identification and be limited to two beers per purchase. Sales will start 90 minutes before tipoff and conclude at the end of halftime.

Luck says controlled beer sales at football games have gone well and enabled the university to look at other licensed venues to offer the same service.

 

Browns’ safety Ward

back at practice

BEREA (AP) — Browns starting safety T.J. Ward is practicing with a broken right thumb and could play this Sunday against the New York Giants.

Ward had a protective cast on his hand as the Browns worked out Thursday. It was his first time back on the field since breaking his thumb last week in a loss at Baltimore. Ward underwent surgery earlier this week and had screws and plates inserted into his thumb. Ward’s backup Ray Ventrone recently sustained a similar injury.

Browns wide receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Travis Benjamin both remained sidelined with hamstring injuries. If both are out this week, rookie Josh Gordon could have a larger role in Cleveland’s game plan.