Off the wire

BASEBALL Rodriguez sues MLB

Alex Rodriguez sued Major League Baseball and its players’ union Monday, seeking to overturn a season-long suspension imposed by an arbitrator who ruled there was “clear and convincing evidence” the New York Yankees third baseman used three banned substances and twice tried to obstruct the sport’s drug investigation. As part of the complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan, Rodriguez’s lawyers made public Saturday’s 34-page decision by arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, who shortened a penalty originally set at 211 games last August by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig for violations of the sport’s drug agreement and labor contract. Horowitz, 65, who is making his second decision as baseball’s independent arbitrator, trimmed the discipline to 162 games, plus all postseason games in 2014. Horowitz concluded Rodriguez used testosterone, human growth hormone and Insulin-like growth factor-1 in 2010, 2011 and 2012 in violation of baseball’s Joint Drug Agreement. He relied on evidence provided by the founderof the now-closed Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic in Florida. While the original notebooks were stolen, Horowitz allowed copies into evidence. Rodriguez’s suit accused the Major League Baseball Players Association of “bad faith,” said its representation during the hearing was “perfunctory at best” and accused it of failing to attack a civil suit filed by MLB in Florida state court as part of its Biogenesis investigation. His lawyers criticized Michael Weiner, the union head who died from a brain tumor in November, for saying last summer he recommended Rodriguez settle for a lesser penalty if MLB were to offer an acceptable length. The suit also claimed MLB engaged in “ethically challenged behavior” and was the source of media leaks in violation of baseball’s confidentiality rules.Rodriguez’s lawyers said Horowitz acted “with evident partiality” and “refused to entertain evidence that was pertinent and material.” They faulted Horowitz for denying Rodriguez’s request to have a different arbitrator hear the case, for not ordering Selig to testify and for allowing Anthony Bosch to claim Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination in refusing to answer questions during cross-examination. They also said Horowitz let the league introduce “unauthenticated documents and hearsay evidence … obtained by theft, coercion or payment,” wouldn’t allow them to examine Blackberry devices introduced by MLB and was fearful he would be fired if he didn’t side with management. Rodriguez asked the court to throw out Horowitz’s decision and find the league violated its agreements with the union and that the union breached its duty to represent him. The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos. Supreme Court decisions have set narrow grounds for judges to vacate arbitration decisions, instances such as corruption or not following the rules agreed to by the parties. The three-time AL MVP admitted five years ago he used performance-enhancing substances while with Texas from 2001-2003, but the third baseman has denied using them since. MLB’s Biogenesis investigation was sparked after thepublication of documents last January by Miami New Times.

Outfielder Dayan Viciedo and the Chicago White Sox have agreed to a $2.8 million one-year contract and avoided arbitration. Viciedo, 24, hit .265 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI last year, when he also made $2.8 million in his second full season with the club. He ranked third among AL outfielders with 12 assists. Viciedo is a career .264 hitter with 45 home runs and 153 RBI over four seasons with the White Sox. The deal announced Monday leaves the White Sox with two remaining arbitration-eligible players: infielder Gordon Beckham and outfielder Alejandro De Aza.

FOOTBALL LSU losing four to NFL

LSU’s top rusher and receiver are entering the NFL Draft, along with one of the Tigers’ starting offensive linemen. In separate announcements Monday, sophomore running back Jeremy Hill, junior receiver Jarvis Landry and sophomore right guard Trai Turner have confirmed their intentions to turn pro. LSU also confirmed receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s decision. Hill has played two seasons at LSU and was the Tigers’ leading rusher each season. Landry was expected to turn pro after racking up 1,193 yards receiving and 10touchdowns in his third season, and finally released his decision through a short written statement released by LSU. Beckham, a junior, and Landry accounted for 2,345 of the 3,263 yards receiving LSU had as a team. Turner has started at right guard since the middle of 2012, his redshirt freshman year, and leaves with two years of eligibility left. Hill rushed for 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, including a 216-yard, 2-touchdown performance in LSU’s 21-14 victory over Iowa in the Outback Bowl.

Southern California defensive line coach Bo Davis is leaving to work at Alabama six days after his hiring. USC announced Monday that Davis was leaving for a similar position with the Crimson Tide. Alabama does not announce such hires until coaches have signed contracts.Trojans Coach Steve Sarkisian said he “will move forward and find a great coach for our defensive line.” Alabama defensive line coach Chris Rumph reportedly took a position with Texas. Davis had spent three seasons coaching defensive tackles for the Longhorns. Before that, he had worked for Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban for eight of the previous nine years with Alabama, LSU and the Miami Dolphins. USC had announced his hiring on Jan. 7. Alabama has also hired former Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin as offensive coordinator.

Jackson State hired former Tigers player and NFL standout Harold Jackson as its football coach. Jackson replaces Rick Comegy, who was fired in December after eight seasons. Jackson State had an 8-4 record this fall, but lost to Southern in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game.Jackson, 68, played for Jackson State in the 1960s. He had a 16-year NFL career, including stops with the Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection. Jackson has also had a lengthy career as an assistant coach at the NFL and college levels. His most recent job was as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League in 2012. The school introduced Jackson during a Monday press conference on campus. Jackson State spokesman Eric Stringfellow said Jackson has a three-year contract that will pay $260,000 annually. Comegy madeabout $200,000 in his final season with the Tigers. Jackson State has advanced to the SWAC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons, but lost both times. The school’s most recent league championship was in 2007.

Former longtime Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker has died. He was 72. School spokesman Steve Roe told The Associated Press that Parker died early Monday at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. A cause of death was not released. Parker began his college coaching career in 1968. He made stops at Wake Forest, Minnesota, Illinois, East Carolina, Michigan State and Vanderbilt. He spent his last 13 seasons at Iowa, where he developed a reputation as one of the country’s top coordinators. Parker’s schemes were rarely flashy and often defined by a “bend but don’t break” style of play. But they usually worked, and the Hawkeyes identity was tied to Parker’s fundamentally sound defenses. The Hawkeyes finished in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense in 2008, 2009 and 2010 underParker, who retired following the 2011 season. Iowa also finished in the top 10 in rushing defense five times during Parker’s tenure. Parker battled health problems late in his tenure at Iowa. He had his foot amputated in the fall of 2010 because of diabetes.

OLYMPICS

Liljeroth snubs ceremony

Sweden’s sports minister said she will snub the opening ceremony at the Sochi Olympics for political reasons. In an interview with state broadcaster SVT, Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth said human rights are important and her decision to skip the Feb. 7 ceremony should be seen as a “political marker.” Liljeroth said she will attend the Olympics themselves to support Sweden’s athletes. Adelsohn Liljeroth, a member of Sweden’s ruling Conservative Party, called the opening ceremony a “propaganda stunt” by President Vladimir Putin. She said there are many unanswered questions about the cost of the event and its impact on the environment. Activists have called for a boycott of the games amid concerns for the environment, Russia’s human rights record and the anti-gay law enacted last year. Adelsohn Liljeroth spoke out at a time when Stockholm is bidding for the 2022 Winter Games.