Serena Williams upset in Charleston
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Top-ranked Serena Williams has been ousted from the Family Circle Cup, shocked in straight sets by Jana Cepelova of Slovakia 6-4, 6-4.
The 20-year old Cepelova is ranked No. 78 in the world.
Williams, who was looking for her third straight Family Circle crown and for her third title of the season, was behind 0-5 in the first set with only 18 minutes gone in the match in Charleston. She rallied, winning four straight games surrendering only six points and it looked like Cepelova’s lead would be short-lived.
But Cepelova came back and, holding serve in the final game, was able to win the set.
Rams sign WR Kenny Britt
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams signed Kenny Britt to a free agent deal on Tuesday, adding depth to a young group at wide receiver with a player in need of a career reboot.
The Rams also added defensive lineman Alex Carrington on Tuesday. In other recent moves, St. Louis added backup quarterback Shaun Hill, linebacker Etienne Sabino and cornerback Greg Reid.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Britt was a first-round pick of the Titans in 2009 when Rams coach Jeff Fisher was in Tennessee. He caught 84 passes for 12 touchdowns in his first two seasons, averaging 18.5 yards per catch in 2010. He has since been hindered by a knee injury and personal issues.
Last season, in the final year of his rookie contract, Britt made just three starts and totaled 11 receptions for 96 yards and no touchdowns. In one six-game stretch, he had no catches, and in the final month he became a healthy scratch.
Pat Summitt’s son, Tyler, named women’s basketball coach at Louisiana Tech
Tyler Summitt, the son of a women’s basketball coaching legend, is becoming head coach of a storied women’s program.
The son of former Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt will be introduced Wednesday as the new coach at Louisiana Tech, the school announced on Tuesday.
The release said neither Summitt nor school officials would comment on the hire until a Wednesday press conference.
After two years as an assistant at Marquette, Summitt, 23, will become the sixth coach in Louisiana Tech history. He’s replacing Teresa Weatherspoon, who was Tech’s coach for the past five seasons.
Jets sign WR Jacoby Ford, Dimitri Patterson
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets have signed free agent receiver-kick returner Jacoby Ford.
Ford saw limited action last season for Oakland, catching only 13 passes. He was used more on punt and kickoff returns, and figures to handle those chores for the Jets.
New York previously signed Eric Decker away from Denver and Decker is expected to start along with holdover Jeremy Kerley.
Jets wide receiver coach Sanjay Lal previously worked with Ford in Oakland.
The speedy Ford was a fourth-round draft pick in 2010 out of Clemson. He has 57 receptions and three touchdowns in his four pro seasons.
Also on Monday, the Jets signed cornerback Dimitri Patterson. Patterson played the past two seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He played only six games last season, but had four interceptions for Miami.
Mujica agrees to restore police protection
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Uruguay President Jose Mujica has agreed to restore police protection to domestic football matches, provided clubs sign a FIFA agreement that deducts points from those involved in hooligan violence.
Mujica met Tuesday with first-division club officials to finalize out the arrangement.
Mujica withdrew police protection Thursday from the home stadiums of popular clubs Penarol and Nacional after Nacional fans injured 40 police officers in post-game violence the night before.
The entire executive committee of the Uruguay Football Association resigned Monday in the wake of Mujica’s suspension of police protection. They are expected to be replaced on a provisional basis, but officials say the move would not affect Uruguay’s participation in the World Cup, which opens June 12 in Brazil.