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SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015 SPORTS

NCAA agrees to restore wins to Penn State, title to Paterno

STATE COLLEGE: The NCAA agreed Friday million fine spent in Pennsylvania, not come. Hundreds of students celebrated Penn State’s then-President, Rodney Michael Boni, a lawyer for one of the to restore 112 football wins it had stripped spread to abuse-prevention programs Friday night with a subdued rally outside Erickson, agreed to the sanctions in 2012, victims who testified at Sandusky’s trial, from Penn State and Joe Paterno in the around the nation. the university’s administration building, in the weeks after Sandusky was convicted. said he supported the restoration of Penn Jerry Sandusky child-molestation scandal The pact emerged just days after a fed- followed by a march to the nearby Beaver Just days earlier, former FBI Director Louis State’s scholarships and bowl eligibility last and to reinstate the venerated late coach eral judge declined to rule on the constitu- Canyon apartment area. As many as 500 Freeh released a scathing report commis- fall, but does not believe Paterno’s victories as the winningest in major college football tionality of the sanctions and weeks before people joined the march. sioned by Penn State’s trustees, and the should be reinstated because they were history. a Pennsylvania court was to hold a trial on Someone projected a huge photo of school removed an iconic bronze statue of “tarnished” by Sandusky. The agreement, swiftly approved by the the legality of the penalties. Paterno onto the side of an apartment Paterno from the school’s Beaver Stadium. He also said he sensed a shift in Penn boards of the NCAA and the university “Hopefully, today we’ll begin to make building. Others chanted, “We are Penn Freeh’s report accused Paterno and oth- State’s attitude after the criminal case after intermittent talks heated up this right the damage that has been done,” said State!” In the agreement, Penn State er top Penn State officials of burying child against Sandusky wrapped up and it con- week, lifts the last of the sanctions Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake acknowledged that the NCAA had acted in sex-abuse allegations against Sandusky to cluded civil settlements with victims. imposed in 2012 and wipes away the black Corman, who had sued the NCAA with good faith in the Sandusky matter, and avoid bad publicity. The report portrayed “There was a movement away from marks that had tainted one of the nation’s state Treasurer Rob McCord. “Today is a vic- university President Eric Barron said he the Hall of Fame coach as more deeply what I thought was a genuine mea culpa most celebrated college athletics pro- tory for due process, which was unafforded believed the agency had a legitimate con- involved in the scandal than previously on the part of Penn State, having accepted grams. After more than two years of criti- in this case. Today is a victory for the peo- cern about institutional control. thought. The alleged cover-up by Paterno, the NCAA sanctions, and one toward, ‘Why cism that the NCAA had overstepped its ple of Pennsylvania. Today is a victory for NCAA officials said Friday that their then-university President Graham Spanier did we cave so easily?’ That was disap- authority, officials with college sports’ gov- Penn State nation. The NCAA has surren- motivation in the deal was to start funding and two other Penn State administrators pointing,” Boni said. erning body did not back down. Instead, dered.” The unprecedented scope of the abuse-prevention programs with the fine. allowed Sandusky to prey on other boys The sanctions eliminated all wins from they said they were focused on ending liti- sanctions had drawn intense criticism from “The victors are those of us who were for years, it said. 1998, when police investigated a mother’s gation that had held up distribution of the Penn State alumni and fans who defended advocating for the children,” said Harris Paterno was never charged with a complaint that Sandusky had showered university’s $60 million fine to fund child Paterno as innocent in the scandal and Pastides, an NCAA board member and crime, although Spanier and the two other with her son, through 2011, Paterno’s final abuse-prevention programs. called the school’s athletics program a president of the University of South former administrators continue to fight season as head coach after six decades Before the deal, the NCAA had agreed national model. They accused the NCAA of Carolina. They did not back off their right charges in court. Paterno’s family called with the team and the year Sandusky was last year to eliminate some of the sanc- rushing to judgment to assert its domi- to take such action. “The board felt they Friday’s announcement “a great victory for charged. The restored wins include 111 tions, including reinstating Penn State’s full nance, ultimately punishing people who had to quickly and decisively put forward a everyone who has fought for the truth in under Paterno and the final victory of complement of scholarships and letting had nothing to do with Sandusky. set of sanctions. I hope we never have to the Sandusky tragedy.” 2011, after trustees fired Paterno in the the team participate in post-season play. The family of Paterno, who died as the do this again,” said Kirk Schulz, an NCAA “This case should always have been wake of the charges against Sandusky and Friday’s agreement threw out the rest of scandal was unfolding, hailed the agree- board member and Kansas State’s presi- about the pursuit of the truth, not the the team was coached by Tom Bradley. the sanctions, including eliminating a five- ment, while lawyers for Sandusky’s victims dent. unjust vilification of the culture of a great That returns Paterno’s record to 409-136-3. year probation period and scholarship and worried that the NCAA’s retreat sent the The penalties sprung from the scandal institution and the scapegoating of coach- He died of lung cancer at 85 shortly after transfer rules, and restoring the wins that wrong message. In State College, home to that erupted when Sandusky, a retired es, players and administrators who were the season ended. Sandusky was convicted had been wiped out. It also bowed to Penn State’s sprawling main campus nick- assistant coach, was accused of sexually never given a chance to defend them- of 45 counts and is now serving a 30- to Pennsylvania officials’ desire to see the $60 named Happy Valley, the news was wel- abusing boys, some of them on campus. selves,” they said. 60-year prison sentence. — AP

Boost for McLaren after Honda win engine argument

LONDON: McLaren have been given a available to them, taken as an average of boost after Formula One’s governing body the three. tweaked the rules to allow Honda, the “For example, if the three 2014 manu- team’s new partner, to develop their engine facturers have eight, seven and five unused this season in line with rival manufacturers. tokens respectively at the start of the sea- The Japanese company, who have son, then the new manufacturer will be replaced Mercedes at McLaren, are return- allowed to use six during the season,” ing to Formula One as the sport’s fourth The current manufacturers are allowed engine supplier. to improve their engine using a complicat- Mercedes, and Ferrari are ed system of ‘tokens’ within set limits. allowed to introduce limited upgrades dur- Tne tokens are assigned to parts of the ing the season but Honda, as a new engine and divided into three categories, entrant, had been told to present their meaning that some parts require more engine for approval on Feb. 28 with no fur- than others and manufacturers must ther development permitted. choose which areas to improve. Honda met International Automobile There are 66 tokens and the existing Federation officials last Monday to present manufacturers can use 32 during the their view that the situation was unfair. A course of 2015, with the number reduced document issued to teams on Friday by over time so that by 2018 there will be only Formula One race director Charlie Whiting, 15 tokens available. seen by Reuters and confirmed by the FIA, Honda, who partnered McLaren from did not name Honda but clarified the situa- 1988 to 1992 when they won four con- tion with an amendment in their favour. structors’ titles, quit F1 as a constructor at “As each of the four 2015 manufacturers the end of 2008. will have an homologated power unit at McLaren have not won a race since 2012 the start of the season, we believe it would and finished fifth last year. Double world be fair to ensure that each of them enjoys champion Fernando Alonso has now joined equal opportunities for upgrades during from Ferrari to partner Briton’s Jenson the season,” it said. Button. The season starts in Australia on “We will therefore allow the new manu- March 15, with champions Mercedes again facturer to use the same number of tokens expected to set the pace after a dominant that the other three manufacturers have 2014.— Reuters

BUENOS AIRES: Mini’s driver Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar (R) and co-driver Mathieu Baumel of France celebrate their victory at the end of Stage 13 of the Dakar 2015 between Rosario and , , yesterday. Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar won the car title for the Neureuther wins World Cup second time ahead of of South Africa and Krzysztof Holowczyc of Poland. — AFP slalom, Hirscher skis out WENGEN: Felix Neureuther took advan- slalom. Neureuther earned 100 points for Qatar’s Al-Attiyah wins tage of a rare mistake by of his 11th career World Cup win, his second Austria to win a World Cup slalom yester- this season, and leads Hirscher by 44 in the day and retake the discipline standings slalom standings. He also climbed to third lead from his great rival. Neureuther seized overall. Neureuther has had top-3 finishes second Dakar Rally title his chance after Hirscher, the world cham- in five of six slaloms this season in another pion from Austria, skied out of a slalom duel with Hirscher, who clinched the crystal BARDAERO: Nasser Al-Attiyah and riding a Honda and almost 17 minutes adrift Sanz, the 29-year-old Spaniard who betterred by event for the first time in three seasons. globe trophy on the final day of last season. avoided any last minute drama to claim the car with Australia’s , on another KTM, fin- one place the highest ever finish for a woman ’s Neureuther rose from fifth The 30-year-old German’s only blip was and bike titles in the which ishing third in the overall standings. rider. Russian Airat Mardeev won the trucks race after the first run by racing down a tricky failing to finish last Sunday at nearby after 9,000 gruelling kilometres concluded in Yesterday’s closing 393 kilometre (101km and Rafal Sonik of Poland came out on top in slope in steadily falling snow to beat where Gross got his first career Baradero yesterday. timed) stage between Rosario and Baradero was quads. Over half the 406 competitors that set Stefano Gross of Italy by 0.20 seconds. win. Hirscher’s consistent run of slalom For both it was a case of renewed glory in the won by Ivan Jakes of Slovakia. out two weeks ago completed the rally. “It’s a special moment for me,” said results ended when he straddled a gate. “I notoriously tough event described as rallying’s He was followed across the line by his compa- This year’s edition cost one competitor his life Neureuther, who also won this race two would rather be fast and go out than be in Everest, with Qatari Al-Attiyah having won the triot Stefan Svitko with Price taking third for a - Polish motorbike rider Michal Hernik dying as a years ago. “This classic hill is amazing.” the fifth or sixth position with a big gap 2011 title and defending champion Coma claim- KTM 1-2-3. Organisers were forced to shorten result of hyperthermia and dehydration during Olympic bronze medalist Henrik between the leader and yourself,” said ing his fifth victory in the two-wheel category. the stage as heavy rain had rendered sections of the third vstage from San Juan to Chilecito. Kristoffersen of Norway was third, trailing Hirscher. “It sucks that I struggled but it was And for Al-Attiyah’s Mini team it was a fourth the road too dangerous. Hernik, 39, was found dead a few hundred 0.44 behind Neureuther’s combined time definitely not easy.” First-run leader Mattias successive Dakar title and for Coma’s KTM outfit Coma, who came in fifth yesterday, inherited metres from the track after a helicopter had of 1 minute, 46.93 seconds. Hargin of Sweden finished sixth, 0.96 a 14th victory overall. the lead in the overall standings from Honda’s been sent out to look for him when he failed to In the finish area, Neureuther was greet- behind Neureuther. “The key was to remain in front each day, and after the eighth stage. Coma turn up at the finish and his tracker stopped ed by Kristoffersen kneeling to bow in a Both American racers who qualified for a that wasn’t easy,” said the 44-year-old Al-Attiyah opened his Dakar account in Africa in 2006, he sending a signal. show of respect before the two racers second run dropped in the rankings. David who became only the seventh multiple car win- then won again in 2009, the first time it was held His was the fifth death since the rally was hugged. “Felix’s second run was unbeliev- Chodounsky went from 13th to finish 18th, ner with sixth in the 13th stage from Rosario to in South America, adding the 2011, 2014 and moved to South America over security concerns able,” Kristoffersen said. “It’s cool to see trailing by 2.79. fell to 27th from Bardero north of Buenos Aires which was short- now this year’s title. in the Sahara desert and the 24th overall since someone ski that fast. It makes me go on a 24th, and was 3.65 behind his good friend ened to only 34 kilometres due to heavy rain. Finishing in ninth place overall came Laia the race was created in 1979. — AFP higher level, too.” Neureuther. “I’m just upset with myself,” He added: “We had to work day after day, but we Hirscher went out early in the morning said Chodounsky, from Crested Butte, did a great job with Mathieu (Baumel, his co-dri- run and last failed to reach a slalom finish Colorado. “I didn’t quite let it go as much as ver). I reckon experience helped in this second line in March 2012 at Schladming, Austria. I could have. That was just on me.” The race title, and training.” Coma for his part said he was The three-time defending overall World was switched from its usual Sunday slot, “proud and happy” of his fifth Dakar victory. “To Cup champion missed the chance to allowing the classic Lauberhorn downhill to talk about a sixth title next year is still too early, I extend his big lead in those standings over be pushed back a day when better weather want to first of all enjoy this fifth win.” Kjetil Jansrud of Norway, who does not race is forecast. —AP Al-Attiyah, who has also enjoyed success in the Olympic Games, winning bronze in skeet shooting at the 2012 Games in London, domi- nated from start to finish. He set down his marker for the title when posting the quickest time in the opening stage leaving Buenos Aires a fortnight ago. He was subsequently stripped of the first stage for speeding, but did not let that hiccup distract him as he bounced back to take the second stage, and ended with five stage wins in all.

Masterful Al-Attiyah Assisted by Baumel of France he dealt mas- terfully with all the Dakar could throw at him, from crossing the Andes to coping with ’s to Bolivia’s salt flats. In the curtailed closing stage, came out on top, the American crossing the line over half a minute clear of Leeroy Poulter. Argentina’s Emiliano Spataro crossed in third. In the bikes race, Coma, the 38-year-old from Catalonia, equalled the number of titles held by French duo and , who now competes in the car category for , and one behind another Frenchman, Stephane WENGEN: Felix Neureuther, center, winner of an alpine ski, men’s World Cup slalom, Peterhansel. celebrates on the podium with second placed Stefano Gross, left, and third placed Coma added: “Everyone was saying that the Henrik Kristoffersen in Wengen, Switzerland, yesterday. Felix Neureuther won a World absence of Despres would make it easy for me, DOHA: Brazil’s Fabio Chiuffa (C) passes the ball during the 24th Men’s Handball World Cup slalom yesterday to retake the discipline standings lead from Marcel Hirscher of but that was absolutely not the case.” Coma was Championships preliminary round Group A match Brazil vs Spain at the Duhail Handball Austria, who skied out of the event for the first time in three seasons. —AP joined on the final podium by Paulo Goncalves, Sports Hall in Doha yesterday. — AFP