Pennsylvania governor to sue NCAA over Penn State sanctions

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said Tuesday he plans to sue the NCAA in federal court over stiff sanctions imposed against Penn State University because of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

The Republican governor scheduled a Wednesday news conference on the Penn State campus in State College to announce the antitrust filing in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg.

The sanctions, which were agreed to by the university in July, included a $60-million fine that would be used nationally to finance child abuse prevention grants.

The sanctions also included a four-year bowl game ban for the university’s marquee football program, reduced football scholarships and the forfeiture of 112 wins but didn’t include a suspension of the football program, the so-called death penalty.

ETC.

Brandon is now Bills president

Buffalo Bills Chief Executive Russ Brandon added the title of team president Tuesday, and said Buddy Nix will remain the club’s general manager.

The announcement came a day after the Bills fired coach Chan Gailey following three losing seasons.

Brandon’s promotion gives him operational control of the franchise, and he will report directly to owner Ralph Wilson, who previously held the president’s title.

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The San Francisco 49ers signed kicker Billy Cundiff to compete with struggling veteran David Akers.

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Maria Sharapova withdrew from the Brisbane International in Australia because of an injured right collarbone that left her unable to serve. She said she didn’t want to aggravate the injury with the Australian Open two weeks away.

Also out was 2011 champion Petra Kvitova, who lost, 6-4, 7-5, to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a season-opening tournament that has proved rough for many of the top players.

Serena Williams, however, had no such problems. She carried her relentless winning form into 2013, reaching the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 44-ranked Alize Cornet.

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Top-seeded David Ferrer rallied to defeat German qualifier Dustin Brown, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, in the opening round of the Qatar Open at Doha.

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The United States rallied past France, 2-1, with John Isner and Venus Williams capturing the decisive mixed doubles to win a second straight series in the Hopman Cup at Perth, Australia.