OSU wrestles wins title and Smith gets bonus

COLUMBUS (AP) — Athletic director Gene Smith will receive a bonus of more than $18,000 — one week of his base salary — for Ohio State’s Logan Stieber winning the 141-pound weight class at the NCAA wrestling championships.

Smith signed a new contract this year that pays him a bonus for “exceptional athletic achievements,” including Final Four and Bowl Championship Series appearances or titles won by individuals in any of 20 sports.

Stieber, a redshirt junior, won his third consecutive NCAA title on Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

As one of the highest-paid athletic directors in the nation, Smith has a base salary of $940,484. He could earn more than $1.5 million a year in salary and bonuses under the pact that runs through June 2020.

 

Ex-Bills QB Kelly expects more cancer surgery

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly is expected to undergo surgery following the return of oral cancer. His wife, Jill, says the cancer is aggressive and starting to spread.

The 54-year-old former Buffalo Bills star is being treated in New York City. Brother Dan Kelly tells The Associated Press on Tuesday that doctors are leaning toward surgery on Thursday or perhaps April 1.

 

Florida gives Donovan 3-year extension, raise

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Billy Donovan has signed a three-year contract extension that raises his average salary to $3.7 million over the next six years.

Donovan signed the extension in February, before the Gators became the first team in Southeastern Conference history to go 18-0 in the regular season. Florida also won the SEC tournament and earned the NCAA tournament’s overall top seed.

Donovan’s extension, which was agreed to in June, paid him a $250,000 longevity bonus before March 1 and increased his base salary nearly $100,000 a season.

Because of the bonus, Donovan will earn $3.9 million this season. He will make $3.681 million in each of the next five years.

 

MLB hopes new drug deal to be OK’d this week

NEW YORK (AP) — People familiar with the negotiations tell The Associated Press that baseball players and management hope to reach a new drug agreement this week that would increase initial penalties for muscle-building steroids and decrease suspensions for some positive tests caused by unintentional use.

The deal would also eliminate the loophole allowing Alex Rodriguez to earn almost $4 million during his season-long ban, the people said.

They spoke on condition of anonymity in recent days because talks are ongoing.

The sides hope to reach an agreement by Sunday, when the Los Angeles Dodgers open the U.S. portion of the major league schedule at the San Diego Padres.