Holtz, wife safe as home is destroyed

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Former college football coach Lou Holtz and his wife Beth made it safely out of their $1.6 million Orlando home which officials say was destroyed by a fire likely caused by a lightning strike.

The fire broke out early Sunday morning in the 11,000-square-foot home in the gated Lake Nona Gold and Country Club community, which is known for its multimillion-dollar homes.

Holtz told the Orlando Sentinel he was awakened by smoke alarms about 2:30 a.m. He says he tried to go upstairs to grab his wallet and cellphone but there was too much smoke. The couple called 911 and ran outside.

More than 60 Orlando firefighters responded.

Holtz, who coached at Notre Dame and South Carolina and retired in 2004, says he’s thankful to have survived. He says lost about half of his sports memorabilia collection in the blaze.

 

OSU wrestling star will take redshirt

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio State star wrestler Kyle Snyder will redshirt next season in an effort to earn a spot on the U.S. team headed to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Snyder was the NCAA runner-up at 197 pounds as a true freshman last year, helping the Buckeyes win their first national team title.

Snyder’s biggest breakthrough came earlier this month at the U.S. World Team Trials. He upset 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner to earn a spot in the World Championships.

Snyder will have three years of eligibility at Ohio State left starting in 2016-17.

 

CMU football player dies from leukemia

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Central Michigan cornerback Derrick Nash, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2013 when he was still in high school, has died. He was 20.

Nash died Monday at University of Michigan Health System, according to Paradise Funeral Chapel in Saginaw.

“Derrick was an inspiration to us all and the fight he showed will never be forgotten,” Dave Heeke, Central Michigan athletic director, said in a news release announcing the death. “The incredible courage he exhibited in never allowing this terrible disease to dampen his positive outlook on life, is a tremendous representation of the type of man he was.”

Nash was a freshman who signed with Central Michigan in February 2013. He was diagnosed with leukemia that May during his senior year at Saginaw’s Carrollton High School, where he was a running back who earned first team all-state honors in 2012. After undergoing chemotherapy, Nash joined the team in 2014 and took part in spring practice.

He was on schedule to claim a spot on the active roster for the 2014 season when doctors found the leukemia had returned, the athletic department said.

 

Baseball HOF will recognize Flood

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Baseball’s Hall of Fame will make a special recognition of Curt Flood at its annual awards presentation on July 25, a day before its annual induction ceremony.

The Hall said Tuesday that players’ association head Tony Clark will speak on behalf of Flood’s challenge to the reserve system, a case Flood lost in 1970 in a 5-3 vote by the U.S. Supreme Court. Five years later, the players’ union gained the right to free agency in an arbitration case filed on behalf of Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally.

The Hall also will mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II by recognizing players who served, including 36 Hall of Famers. U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus will speak on behalf of all U.S. military branches.

 

Canadian standout picks Kentucky

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian guard Jamal Murray is headed to University of Kentucky.

Murray announced his decision Wednesday, selecting the Wildcats over Oregon.

“Beyond blessed to announce that I will be attending the University of Kentucky,” Murray said on Twitter.

The 6-foot-5 Murray was the most valuable player in the Nike Hoop Summit All-Star game, leading the world team with 30 points in a 103-101 victory over the United States Selects.

Murray played for Canada in the 2014 FIBA under-17 world championships.