NCAA rejects Kelvin Sampson’s appeal

The NCAA on Tuesday rejected an appeal from former Indiana basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, who was slapped with five years of potential penalties for taking part in more than 100 impermissible calls to recruits while coaching the Hoosiers.

The NCAA said it upheld the violations found in the case, which prompted an overhaul at the program and led to Sampson’s departure after 1 1/2 years. An NCAA spokeswoman said Sampson has used his only appeal, and the case is closed. Sampson is essentially barred from coaching in college until 2013.

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Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith has been appointed chairman of the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee for 2010-11, the NCAA announced.

Smith will succeed UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, who will be chair for the upcoming season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Senate to hold hearing on BCS

The Senate plans to hold a hearing next week looking into antitrust issues surrounding the Bowl Championship Series.

It’s the second time this year that Congress is shining a light on the polarizing system college football uses to crown its national champion.

MOTOR RACING

George is asked to resign at Indy

Tony George has been asked to step down as president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his family’s business, Hulman & Company, to spend more time running the Indy Racing League. The board of directors of both the speedway and Hulman & Company announced that a new management team will take over the Hulman-George companies today.

HOCKEY

Ducks deal with Niedermayer

The Ducks were negotiating with defenseman Scott Niedermayer, hoping to re-sign him before free agency began today. The Ducks also signed forward Erik Christensen to a one-year contract extension.

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The Ottawa Senators reportedly had reached agreement to trade disgruntled left wing Dany Heatley to the Edmonton Oilers for forwards Andrew Cogliano and Dustin Penner and defenseman Ladislav Smid, but the deal was on hold because of confusion over a $4-million bonus Heatley was due.

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Scott Gomez was traded by the New York Rangers to the Montreal Canadiens as part of a six-player deal. The key player coming back to New York is forward Chris Higgins, a Long Island native who is set to become a restricted free agent.

BASEBALL

Red Sox put Lowell on DL

Boston Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right hip.

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The injury-riddled New York Mets got some good news when a second examination of All-Star center fielder Carlos Beltran’s bruised right knee indicated surgery is not required.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates sent starting left fielder Nyjer Morgan to the Washington Nationals in a four-player deal involving outfielder Lastings Milledge and also shipped backup Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees. . . . Oakland Athletics left-hander Josh Outman has undergone ligament replacement surgery on his pitching elbow, ending his season. . . . Cleveland Indians All-Star center fielder Grady Sizemore will probably undergo postseason surgery on his inflamed left elbow.

JURISPRUDENCE

Smith gets 90 days for crash

A judge in Millstone, N.J., sentenced Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith to 90 days in jail for causing an auto accident that killed his friend, though Smith will likely end up serving only 30 days.

ETC.

U.S. soccer draws crowd on ESPN

The U.S. men’s soccer team’s 3-2 loss to Brazil on Sunday in the FIFA Confederations Cup final was the most-watched non-FIFA World Cup match featuring the U.S. men’s soccer national team, with an average of 3.945 million viewers on ESPN.

The channel said the telecast was seen by an average of 2.556 million television homes, based on a 2.6 rating.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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The Jacksonville Jaguars traded receiver Dennis Northcutt to the Detroit Lions for safety Gerald Alexander.