Trial on alleged extortion of Kentucky coach Rick Pitino starts Monday | College basketball

Basketball

Sypher is charged with extortion: It started as a fling between a former model and a famous — and married — college coach at the table of an Italian restaurant after closing time.

The woman, Karen Cunagin Sypher, heads to trial Monday on charges she tried to extort Louisville coach Rick Pitino, allegedly demanding college tuition for her children, having her house paid off and $10 million for her silence.

Prosecutors say they plan to use multiple witnesses, secretly recorded conversations and testimony from Pitino to prove Sypher is guilty of multiple charges, including threatening communications with the intent to extort, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness.

Sypher has pleaded not guilty.

Huggins remains hospitalized: West Virginia coach Bob Huggins is going to be hospitalized longer than expected, a team spokesman said.

Huggins, 56, is expected to be released in the next "couple days," Bryan Messerly said. Huggins broke four ribs in a fall at his Las Vegas hotel room Friday. He had been expected to be out of the hospital the next day.

Atlanta snaps four-game WNBA losing streak: Angel McCoughtry scored 28 points and the Atlanta Dream went on a late 11-0 run to snap a four-game losing streak with an 82-75 victory over the visiting New York Liberty.

Iziane Castro Marques, a former Storm player, scored 21 points for the Dream (15-9).

Cappie Pondexter led the Liberty (11-11) with 28 points. Leilani Mitchell, a former Kennewick High School standout, added 13 points.

Horse racing

Baze's mount moved head back, struck jockey in face: Seattle native Tyler Baze is expected to miss from three weeks to two months after suffering facial injuries at Del Mar, near San Diego.

Baze, 27, was struck by the head of his mount, 3-year-old Night Justice, behind the starting gate before Saturday's fifth race.

Vic Stauffer, Baze's agent, said the jockey had several orbital fractures around his right eye and a broken nose. The eye was swollen shut and Baze was hospitalized.

On Sunday's card, favored Evening Jewel won the Grade II San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on turf. Evening Jewel, trained by James Cassidy and ridden by Victor Espinoza, ran a mile in 1 minute, 35.36 seconds and beat City to City by three-quarters of a length.

Evening Jewel paid $5.40 to win in the $150,000 race.

Maybesomaybenot prevails at Saratoga: Maybesomaybenot led virtually all the way and defeated Nacho Saint by 1 ½ lengths to win the Grade II Sanford for 2-year-olds at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Maybesomaybenot, trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Julien Leparoux, ran 6 furlongs in 1:10.97 on a dirt surface rated good. The gelding paid $21.20 to win in the $150,000 race.

NFL

Ravens' Kindle is injured in a fall at a house: Baltimore Ravens linebacker Sergio Kindle suffered a head injury in a fall at a house Thursday in Austin, Texas, a mishap that will prevent him from reporting to rookie camp Monday.

The 22-year-old Kindle, a second-round draft pick who played college ball at Texas, reportedly fell down two flights of stairs, according to multiple media outlets. He was listed in stable condition at a hospital.

Cowboys rookie Bryant declines to carry Williams' pads: Rookie receiver Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys declined to carry the pads of veteran receiver Roy Williams after practice in San Antonio. Cowboys veterans traditionally hand their pads to a rookie after practice; Williams said he carried pads and paid for meals when he was a rookie for Detroit in 2004.

Bryant, a first-round draft pick from Oklahoma State, said, "I feel like I was drafted to play football, not carry another player's pads. If I was a free agent, it would still be the same thing."

College football

Quarterback Cotton to leave Mississippi program: Mississippi coach Houston Nutt said redshirt-freshman quarterback Raymond Cotton is leaving the university.

A prep All-American from Fort Meade (Md.) High, Cotton was No. 2 at Mississippi after competing in spring drills with Nathan Stanley.

Soccer

Kansas City Wizards beat Manchester United: The Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer beat English powerhouse Manchester United 2-1 in an exhibition match before 52,342 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Davy Arnaud and Kei Kamara scored for the Wizards.

Softball

Lawrie helps Canada beat U.S.: Ex-Washington Huskies pitcher Danielle Lawrie pitched scoreless innings of relief in the fifth and sixth to help Canada beat the United States 5-2 at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, ending the U.S. team's winning streak at the event at 22 games.

Lawrie got into a two-out jam in the seventh inning, giving up a run, before Canada starter Jenna Caira re-entered and got the final out. Lawrie gave up five hits and struck out three in 2-2/3 innings.

Canada improved to 2-4; the U.S. team is 4-1.

Tennis

Fish takes Atlanta Tennis Championships title: Sixth-seeded Mardy Fish beat second-seeded John Isner 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) for the title in a matchup of Americans at the Atlanta Tennis Championships in Johns Creek, Ga.

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