Memphis to join Big East
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Memphis is the latest school to sign up for a spot in the new Big East.
A person familiar with the decision says Memphis is joining the Big East for all sports in 2013.
The Big East announced it would hold a teleconference today with commissioner John Marinatto, University of Memphis President Shirley C. Raines and Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson, though it did not give any details about what would be discussed.
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) couldn't wait until the news became official to celebrate.
"I am thrilled that my hometown team and alma mater the University of Memphis is being invited to join the Big East," Cohen said in a statement. "Joining the Big East will not only be great for the University of Memphis, but it will be an economic catalyst for the City of Memphis."
The Tigers will become the fourth Conference USA team to move to the Big East in the last two months, along with Houston, Central Florida and SMU.
Memphis is the seventh future member the Big East has added in the past two months, but the first that brings more value in basketball than football.
NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers avoided a salary arbitration hearing next week, agreeing to a $19 million, two-year contract. Tuesday's deal for the 23-year-old left-hander calls for a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $7.5 million this year and $11 million in 2013. It covers all but his final year of arbitration eligibility.
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• Oakland Athletics owner Lew Wolff said the team has agreed to extend the contracts of general manager Billy Beane and team president Michael Crowley through the 2019 season.
French Open champion Li Na retired with a sore back against Tsvetana Pironkova in the second set of her opening match at the Open GDF Suez in Paris. Third-seeded Li took a medical timeout while trailing, 7-6 (5), 3-2, to have her lower back massaged and played a few more points before retiring. Fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic withdrew because of a left thigh strain.
Kimi Raikkonen's Formula One comeback with Lotus started perfectly when the former world champion was fastest on the first day of preseason testing. The Finnish driver and 2007 F1 champion marked his first official ride since the end of 2009 with a lap time of 1 minute, 19.670 seconds at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain.
Harry Keough, who played for the U.S. soccer team that famously upset England at the 1950 World Cup, died Tuesday at his home in St. Louis. He was 84.
First Published February 8, 2012 12:00 am
