Off the wire

FOOTBALL Johnson violates probation

Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson has been arrested on charges that he violated probation stemming from an altercationwith his now exwife, TV reality star Evelyn Lozada. Johnson was jailed Monday morning by a Broward (Fla.) County judge and later released after posting $1,000 bail. Another hearing was set for June 3. An arrest warrant was issued earlierthis month when Johnson failed to meet his probation officer. The six-time Pro Bowl player formerly known as Chad Ochocinco is serving a year of probation after Lozada said he head-butted her during an argument last August. She quickly filed for divorce. They had been married since July 4. Johnson was released by the Miami Dolphins after the incident. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots. Lozada is on the “Basketball Wives” TV show.

Police said the Maryland home of Baltimore Ravens running backRay Rice was burglarized over the weekend, and $2 ,0 00 and two guns were stolen. Baltimore County police spokeswoman Cpl. Cathleen Batton said Monday that the burglary happened between 8:30 p.m. Eastern Friday and12:50 a.m. Saturday at the home in Reisterstow. Batton says Rice was out of town for the weekend, but a friend was staying at the home and reported the burglary to police. Batton says the burglar apparently forced his way in through a rear window and ransacked portions of the home. Batton said surveillance video shows the burglar.

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, who authorities have said is the mother of his baby daughter. A Maricopa County (Ariz.) Superior Court spokesman said Washington entered the plea Monday. Washington is charged with aggravated assault and criminal trespass. He has been free since he posted $2,400 bond after being arrested May 3. Phoenix police have said Washington’s ex-girlfriend claimed he grabbed her by the throat and shoved her to the ground following an argument at her apartment. Washington led the Cardinals with 134 tackles and nine sacks last season. He signed a six-year contract extension in September. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

Second-round pick Christine Michael and the Seattle Seahawks have reached an agreement on a multi-year contract just as organized team activities begin. Michael, the Seahawks’ top pick in April’s draft out of Texas A&M, signed with the club on Monday. Termsof his contract were not released. The Seahawks also re-signed tight end Darren Fells, who they originally signed on March 6, but released on May 8. Seattle released long snapper Adam Steiner to clear a spot on the 90-man roster. Michael wastaken with the final pick of the second round and is the ninth of Seattle’s 11 draft picks to sign. Only cornerback Tharold Simon (fifth round) and tackle Michael Bowie (seventh round) remain unsigned.

The Military Bowl is moving this season from RFK Stadium in Washington to Navy-Marine Corp Stadium in Annapolis, Md. The Military Bowl will match a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference against one from Conference USA and will be played Dec. 27. ESPN will broadcast the afternoon game. The bowl has been at RFK since its inception in 2008, and the switch is only for the 2013 season. But Annapolis is likely to become the permanent home, with bowl organizers negotiating contracts with conference partners for 2014 and beyond. Navy-Marine Corp Stadium was renovated in 2004 and holds 34,000. RFK Stadium seats more than 50,000 for football. The Military Bowl’s average attendance has been about 27,000. Last season San Jose State and Bowling Green drew only 17,835.

BASKETBALL Kansas adds Black

Memphis forward Tarik Black is transferring to Kansas and will be eligible to play immediately. Blackhas graduated from Memphis and has one year of eligibility left. Last season, Black started five of 32 games played for Memphis and averaged 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds. His 58.9 field goal percentage was second best on theteam. He had 20 blocked shots and 22 steals at the power forward position. For his career, Black has averaged 9.3 points and 4.9 rebounds and made 60 starts. Last Tuesday, Kansas signed the nation’s top prospect Andrew Wiggins and added former Arkansas forward Hunter Mickelson (Jonesboro Westside) in April. Mickelson will sit out the 2013-2014 season in accordance with NCAA rules and then will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Kent (Wash.) police said Boston Celtics forward Terrence Williams was arrested Sunday and accused of brandishing a gun at the mother of his 10-year-old son during a visitation exchange. He was booked into the King County Jail in Seattle early Monday for investigation of an assault charge, with a court appearance expected later in the day. Det. Melanie Frasier said the woman called police about 1 p.m. Sunday and said she had been threatened with a gun.Williams had left the scene but was later arrested. No one was injured. Police are withholding other details while the case is under investigation. The 25-year-old Williams is a three-year pro who grew up in Seattle and played for Louisville in college.

Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is changing his team’s name to the Hornets, said a person familiar with the situation. The person said Jordan will detail the timetable for the change to be completed at a press conference the Bobcats have scheduled for today. The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday on condition of anonymity because the name change has not been publicly announced. NBA deputy commissioner andCOO Adam Silver previously said it would take “about 18 months” for the Bobcats to change their name. That means Charlotte could once again become the Hornets by the 2014-2015 season. The Hornets resided in Charlotte from 1988-2002 before then-owner George Shinn moved the franchise to New Orleans. The New Orleans Hornets recently changed their name to the Pelicans. The Bobcats conducted a Harris Interactive poll in January to determine if fans were in favor of a name change. The Bobcats have never announced the results of those polls. The name Bobcats originally incorporated the first name of the team’s initial owner, Bob Johnson, who later sold the team to Jordan in 2010.

Guard Malik Smith has signed his tender to transfer from Florida International to Minnesota. Minnesota announced the completion of the transfer on Monday. Smith is following Coach Richard Pitino to the Golden Gophers. He averaged 14.1 points per game as a junior starter for FIU last season. He will be eligible to play right away because FIU will be banned from postseason play next season thanks to poor academic performance under previous coach Isiah Thomas. Smith hit 96 three-pointers last season. His average of 3 three-pointers made per game ranked 16th nationally. Smith joins guards Deandre Mathieu and Daquan McNeil as members of Pitino’s first recruiting class at Minnesota. Guard Joe Coleman has announced his intention to transfer and forwards Rodney Williams and Trevor Mbakwe have graduated.

HOCKEY Ducks sign defenseman

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin has undergone successful reconstructive surgery on a ligament in his right knee. The Ducks announced Monday that Beauchemin hopes to return in time for the start of next season. Beauchemin played the past month with a torn ligament in his knee. He had surgery last Thursday, shortly after the Pacific Division champion Ducks were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs. Beauchemin turns 33 next month. He is expected to recover fully, the Ducks said. Beauchemin had six goals and 18 assists.

Sports, Pages 20 on 05/21/2013

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