Date: 02/06/2013 05:29 AM
NW–SportsMinute/480
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from The Associated Press
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) – The Texas prosecutor who brokered a 10-year probationary sentence for former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf in 2010 says he is working on a plea deal that would allow the Montana native to serve his sentence in his home state. Randall County District Attorney James Farren says he’ll seek a seven-year sentence for Leaf for violating terms of his probation when he was arrested for drug possession in Montana last year. A Texas judge would have to approve. Leaf is a former star at Washington State whose NFL career flamed out. He’s currently is in prison after being kicked out of a drug treatment program.
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) – Washington State has dismissed 19-year-old wide receiver Drew Loftus from the football team after his arrest for allegedly trying to steal a couple of bottles of alcohol from a grocery store. Pullman police say Loftus tried to leave the Dissmore’s IGA store on Friday with two bottles of tequila shoved into the waistband of his sweatpants. The Spokesman-Review says he was arrested on misdemeanor counts of theft, minor in possession of alcohol and minor intoxicated in public.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) – The last remaining count in former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach’s lawsuit stemming from his firing has been dismissed by a judge in Lubbock. A state district Judge wrote the school and Leach’s attorney on Monday that Texas Tech didn’t violate the coach’s due process rights when he was fired in December 2009. Texas Tech spokesman Chris Cook says the school is pleased with the decision. Leach sued a month after he was fired for alleged mistreatment of a player. He denied the accusation. He was Texas Tech’s most successful football coach and now coaches at Washington State.
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) – A sophomore on the University of Montana men’s basketball team has been suspended for Thursday’s game after being charged with driving under the influence. UM athletic director Kent Haslam says Kevin Henderson, of Auburn, Wash., was stopped Sunday by campus police and cited for driving with a blood-alcohol level of greater than 0.02 percent, which is the legal limit for drivers under the age of 21. Henderson is 20. The 6-foot-5 forward pleaded not guilty on Monday.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Defending champion Hugh Neff has the lead in the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. Neff was the first musher Tuesday to reach Dawson City. He pulled into the checkpoint about two hours ahead of Allen Moore. Last year’s race was a battle between Moore and Neff. Moore led much of the race but Neff passed him in the end to win by 26 seconds in the closest finish ever in the 1,000-mile Quest. The race began Saturday with 26 teams, and will finish in Fairbanks.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
