BASEBALL
Bonds’ former mistress testifies about player’s suspected steroid use
SAN FRANCISCO | Barry Bonds’ former mistress testified Monday that he blamed a 1999 elbow injury on steroid use, and that the body and behavior of baseball’s home-run king changed during their nine-year relationship.
Called by prosecutors to the witness stand, Kimberly Bell choked up as she recalled Bonds once threatening “to cut my head off and leave me in a ditch,” an outburst that prosecutors attribute to steroid use. The defense portrayed Bell as an unreliable witness, hungry to capitalize on her affair with Bonds, and Bell acknowledged that the relationship benefited her financially.
Bell took the stand Monday morning after San Francisco Giants clubhouse manager Mike Murphy nervously testified that Bonds needed a bigger hat for the 2002 season. Prosecutors say that testimony is important because an enlarged head is a side effect of human growth hormone use.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Irish finally beat Lady Vols to advance to Final Four
DAYTON, Ohio | Skylar Diggins scored 24 points and second-seeded Notre Dame made up for 28 years of losses at the hands of Tennessee, upsetting the top-seeded Lady Vols 73-59 Monday night to earn a spot in the Final Four.
The Fighting Irish (30-7) came in 0-20 all-time against the Lady Vols. But the operative number on this night was 3-0 - Notre Dame’s record in regional championship games.
Natalie Novosel added 17 points and Becca Bruszewski - who didn’t practice Sunday and was listed as questionable to even play with a knee injury - had 13 for the Fighting Irish.
BASEBALL
Home of Rays’ Price, Longoria burglarized; jewelry, gun taken
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. | Authorities in southwest Florida are investigating a burglary at a home being rented by Tampa Bay Rays players Evan Longoria, David Price and Reid Brignac during spring training.
According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the items stolen Saturday were valued at nearly $56,000 and included jewelry, cash, computer equipment and electronics.
An AK-47 rifle, which the sheriff’s office said was legal and belonged to Longoria, was also taken from the home.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Georgia Tech hires Dayton’s Gregory to replace Hewitt
ATLANTA | Georgia Tech picked Dayton coach Brian Gregory on Monday to rebuild its beleaguered basketball program, which fell on hard times after reaching the national championship game in 2004.
Gregory told his Dayton players of the decision at an early-morning meeting, then headed to Atlanta to take over for the fired Paul Hewitt.
The 44-year-old Gregory had coached at Dayton for eight seasons, posting a record of 172-94. He guided the Flyers to a pair of NCAA appearances, reaching the second round in 2009 with an upset of West Virginia. Dayton also won the NIT in 2010, beating North Carolina in the championship game.
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