OU president: Sooners to stay in Big 12
NORMAN, Okla. — University president David Boren expects Oklahoma to stay in the Big 12. He doesn't think any other schools are leaving the conference either. Following a disputed report that fellow Big 12 members Nebraska and Missouri had been offered the chance to join the Big Ten, Boren told The Associated Press on Thursday that he believes "if any member decided to leave, they would regret it later on." "We're very happy with the Big 12 Conference and we certainly expect to stay in the Big 12 Conference," Boren said. "I was sort of shocked to read speculation that OU might leave the Big 12 Conference. Certainly not.
"And I really think that the likelihood of any of the schools leaving the conference is really being blown out of proportion. I think the conference will stay intact."
Boren said Big 12 schools are contemplating ways to bridge a revenue gap that has the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences providing member schools with a higher annual payout, including starting its own leaguewide network. But he pointed out that the nation's economic picture has changed since the Big Ten launched its lucrative cable network, which allows the conference to pay its schools about $22 million per year — millions more than Big 12 schools receive.
Jones takes lead at Texas Open
SAN ANTONIO — Matt Jones eagled the par-5 14th hole and finished with a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead Thursday after the first round of the Texas Open. Jones, the 30-year-old Australian who played at Arizona State, also had four birdies in a back-nine 30.
Munoz leads Bell Micro LPGA Classic
MOBILE, Ala. — Azahara Munoz shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Katherine Hull and Jee Young Lee in the Bell Micro LPGA Classic, the LPGA Tour's first event since Erica Blasberg was found dead. Munoz, the former Spanish amateur star who won the 2008 NCAA individual title to lead Arizona State to the team championship, had a bogey-free round on The Crossings course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Magnolia Grove complex.
41 accused of rioting in Montreal
MONTREAL — Forty-one people were arrested in the mayhem after the Montreal Canadiens' Game 7 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Some stores were looted and police fired tear gas at hundreds of bottle-throwers.
The Canadiens ousted the defending champions Wednesday night to reach the Eastern Conference final against Boston or Philadelphia, prompting a celebration that degenerated into the looting of several businesses along the Sainte-Catherine Street shopping district.
Williams' sisters claim 1-2 rankings
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Serena and Venus Williams are going to be back at the top of the rankings together for the first time in seven years.
The WTA Tour says that Venus Williams is assured of moving up to No. 2 on Monday, one spot behind younger sister Serena. It will mark the 46th week overall the siblings have been Nos. 1-2 — but they haven't occupied those spots since May 2003.
Tomlinson nominated to U.S team
PARK CITY — JJ Tomlinson has been nominated as a member of the U.S. Snowboard Cross Team.
The official U.S. team will be announced in June once athlete contracts are finalized. At 18 years old, he will be the youngest competitor on the team, Tomlinson is nine years younger than the average top 32 World Cup competitor. His 2009-2010 season highlights included competing on the PacSun snowboard team; making the finals and finishing fifth at the X-Games; ranking 10th amongst U.S. riders on the World Cup, 42nd overall; and being one of the youngest competitors on the World Cup tour.
Tomlinson is a senior at Park City's Winter Sports School, the college prep school that specializes in priming elite winter sports student athletes.
—Deseret News staff and wire reports