Sports Log

Magic in air for excited Dodgers fans

March 29, 2012

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Baseball

At the little hole-in-the-wall cafe that has served for half a century as the unofficial pit stop for Los Angeles Dodgers fans heading to baseball games, there was Magic in the air Wednesday. That’s Magic as in Earvin Johnson, who, along with former Braves and Nationals president Stan Kasten, Tuesday night was named one of the new co-owners of the team. “Everyone loves Magic,’’ said Dorman Austin as he sat in Philippe’s, the 104-year-old corner deli that has been a haven for Dodgers fans since 1962. “The whole town is going to go crazy,’’ said Wally Quan. “Magic Johnson, he’s the right guy to do this.’’ The deal still must be approved by Major League Baseball and a federal bankruptcy court . . . Nationals closer Drew Storen will start the season on the disabled list because of an inflamed right elbow . . . Backup infielder Omar Vizquel was added to the Blue Jays’ roster a month before his 45th birthday, making him the oldest active position player in the big leagues . . . Royals righthander Felipe Paulino will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list with a sore elbow . . . The Twins released righthander Joel Zumaya, whose career is in jeopardy because of an elbow injury, to make room on their 40-man roster.

Freshman Hooper will leave Harvard

College basketball

Harvard freshman guard Max Hooper is leaving the Crimson program for a simple reason. “He just wants to play,’’ said Harvard coach Tommy Amaker in confirming the decision by the 6-foot-6-inch Hooper to transfer. Hooper, from Camel Valley, Calif., via Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, appeared in only two games for a total of four minutes. There has been some speculation that Hooper was looking at St. John’s as his next stop, but Amaker said Hooper also told him that he prefers to play closer to his home for family reasons. “We wish him well,’’ said Amaker.

Mark Blaudschun

N. Carolina’s McAdoo intends to return

The father of North Carolina freshman forward James Michael McAdoo says the family will review his NBA options but that his son “has every intention of being a Tar Heel next year.’’ Ronnie McAdoo, whose son will return home to Norfolk, Va., this weekend to discuss his future, said his son eventually wants to play in the NBA, but is happy at school and that “we anticipate that he will continue to be a Tar Heel.’’ . . . Southern Illinois hired former Missouri State coach Barry Hinson as its new men’s coach . . . Brittney Griner of Baylor, Nnemkadi Ogwumike of Stanford, and Skylar Diggins of Notre Dame are among the finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, given to the top women’s college player.

Badgers sign ex-Maryland QB O’Brien

College football

Former Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien committed to playing for Wisconsin, marking the second year in a row the Badgers have snapped up a high-profile QB who was looking to switch schools. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema announced the addition, which fills a gap for the Badgers after the departure of Russell Wilson. Like Wilson, O’Brien is taking advantage of an NCAA rule that allows players who have graduated to transfer without sitting out a year. O’Brien played 17 games at Maryland over two seasons and was ACC Rookie of the Year in 2010 . . . Maine coach Jack Cosgrove added Paul Ferraro to his staff as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Venus, Azarenka lose at Key Biscayne

Miscellany

Venus Williams, weary after winning three consecutive three-set matches, was eliminated by Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open, 6-4, 6-1, in Key Biscayne, Fla., and top-ranked Victoria Azarenka lost for the first time this year when she was beaten by Marion Bartoli, 6-3, 6-3 . . . The NBA fined Magic forward Glen Davis $35,000 for making an obscene gesture in the second quarter of Monday’s 117-101 win over Toronto . . . New York Giants owner John Mara said the team expects to work out an extension for coach Tom Coughlin probably within the next month . . . Cornerback Ronde Barber is returning to the Buccaneers for his 16th NFL season, signing a one-year contract . . . The 49ers agreed to terms with former Giants running back Brandon Jacobs on a one-year contract . . . Financial adviser Eva Weinberg of Los Angeles and Michael Stern of Miami face wire fraud charges in Los Angeles for allegedly swindling $2.2 million from Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney . . . Sabres defenseman Christian Ehrhoff is out indefinitely after hurting his left knee Tuesday vs. Washington . . . Ron Stewart, who played 21 seasons in the NHL, was an All-Star wing and was on three Stanley Cup championship teams with the Maple Leafs, and played for and coached the Rangers, died March 17 at 79. The career of Stewart, who also played two seasons with the Bruins, was marred by an incident April 29, 1970, when after a fight with a Rangers teammate, Terry Sawchuk, the Hall of Fame goaltender fell, injured his gallbladder and liver, and died at age 40 . . . Ex-Maine defenseman Will O’Neill signed with the Jets and will report to St. John’s of the AHL . . . UMass pitcher Sara Plourde became the team’s career strikeout leader in softball after fanning 16 in a 1-0 no-hit victory over Quinnipiac in Amherst. Plourde’s 1,353 strikeouts, 15th in NCAA Div. 1 history, surpassed UMass All-American and Olympian Danielle Henderson.