Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — Tanner to become AD

South Carolina’s two-time national champion baseball coach Ray Tanner will be the school’s next athletic director, said a person familiar with the move. Tanner is expected to be introduced today, the person told The AssociatedPress on Thursday on condition of anonymity because the school has not publicly announced the hire. Tanner, 54, replaces Eric Hyman, who resigned two weeks ago to become athletic director at Texas A&M. Tannerbrought the school its first men’s national team titles in any sport when the Gamecocks won the College World Series in 2010 and 2011. South Carolina reached the CWS again last month, finishing runnerup to Arizona in the championship series. Tanner’s top assistant, Chad Holbrook, is expected to take over as South Carolina baseball coach. Tanner has long considered athletic administration as his next step and was interested in the athletic director’s position in 2005 when Hyman was hired. Tanner had been an assistant athletic director at North Carolina State. Tanner was 738-316 in 16 seasons with the Gamecocks. He led the team to six College World Series appearances, including the past three seasons.

FOOTBALL

Seau’s brain to be studied

Junior Seau’s family has donated some of his brain tissue for research amid questions about whether damage from his footballcareer contributed to his decision to commit suicide, officials said Thursday. The San Diego County medical examiner’s office recently released preserved brain tissue to the National Institutes of Health. The tissue was released at the request of Seau’s family. The 43-yearold former NFL linebacker shot himself in the chest at his Oceanside, Calif., home in May, less than 21/2 years after ending his Pro Bowl career.

The Cleveland Browns selected former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon in the second round of the NFL’s supplemental draft. Gordon’s selection, the only pick Thursday, fills a need for the Browns, who must forfeit their second-round pick in the 2013 draft. Gordon wassuspended for marijuana as a junior in 2011 at Baylor. He transferred to Utah but decided not to play. He caught 42 passes for 714 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2010.

BASKETBALL

U.S. wins exhibition

Kevin Durant had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the U.S. Olympic team to a 113-59 victory over the Dominican Republic on Thursday night at an exhibition game in Las Vegas. Durant came off the bench to shoot 9 of 11 from the floor, making 5 of 6 three-pointers in 22 minutes. Andre Iguodala added 18 points and Carmelo Anthony had 13 for the Americans, who were without All-Star forwardBlake Griffin. He returned to Los Angeles for evaluation Thursday after experiencing discomfort following practice Wednesday in his left knee, the same one that bothered him in the playoffs. ESPN reported late Thursday that Griffin has a torn meniscus and will miss the London Olympics. Alternate Anthony Davis took his place and was in uniform against his college coach at Kentucky, John Calipari. Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks shot 1 of 12 for the Dominicans.

Brendan Haywood has been waived by the Dallas Mavericks, who designated the 7-foot center as their amnesty player. With the move Thursday, the Mavericks took advantage of the one-time provision in the new collective bargaining agreement allowing them to let Haywood go without his remaining contract counting against their salary cap or luxury tax. Haywood is set to make $8.3 million next season and is due $27 million over the final three guaranteed years in his deal.

HORSE RACING

Jockey guilty of assault

Jockey Robby Albarado was convicted Thursday of assaulting his former girlfriend during a scuffle for his cell phone. Albarado, who has won more than 4,300 races, including the 2007 Preakness aboard Curlin, was present as the Jefferson County District Court jury in Louisville, Ky., convicted him of fourthdegree assault, a misdemeanor. The jury recommended he pay a $500 fine but serve no jail time. Albarado was accused of assaulting Carolina Martinez during a late-night confrontation at his home in late April. He was arrested a few days later, hours before he was to ride in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

CYCLING Rolland wins stage, Wiggins leads

LA TOUSSUIRE, France - Pierre Rolland of France won the hardest Alpine stage in the Tour de France on Thursday, and Bradley Wiggins dusted defending champion Cadel Evans in the final climb to extend his overall lead.

Rolland gave the Europcar team its second consecutive stage victory after the 92-mile ride in the Alps from Albertville ended with a grueling ascent to the ski resort of La Toussuire.

Rolland won by 55 seconds, ahead of Thibaut Pinot of France and Christopher Froome of Britain. Wiggins and two rivals for the title, Jurgen Van Den Broeck of Belgium and Vincenzo Nibali of Italy, were another two seconds slower.

“I’d been dreaming about this stage for six months ... I got allsorts of messages this morning saying, ‘It’s your turn, it’s your turn,’ ” Rolland said. “My second victory in the Alps in two years - I don’t have the words to describe the feeling.”

Wiggins, along with Froome and other Sky teammates, repelled repeated attacks by his yellow jersey rivals over three huge ascents in the ride. Evans fell from second place overall after losing more than a minute to Wiggins. He’s 3:19 back.

The route was brutal, with at least 40 miles of climbs, over two of the most grueling ascents in pro cycling, plus an uphill finish. The race stays in the Alps today with a 140-mile ride from Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne to Annonay Davezieux.