In the not too distant past, newly hired Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice (formerly of Robert Morris) and current Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez (formerly of the West Virginia University Mountaineers), left their universities holding the bag. To say that these men exemplify the legal jargon “breach of contract” would be quite an understatement.

Both coaches bolted with quickness from their schools, players and fans without any true remorse or emotion. There were also no discernible penalties assessed on either coach by the NCAA. Is that a tad weird or what? If coaches are permitted to do what is best for their families and their careers then why are student-athletes competing under the umbrella of the NCAA forced to sit out a year if they decide to transfer to another school.

by Tom Withers
Associated Press Writer

CLEVELAND (AP)—NBA commissioner David Stern knows Cleveland fans are anxious about this summer and LeBron James’ pending free agency. He is rooting for the same outcome as Cavaliers fans.

“Hopefully he’ll stay,” Stern said May 3 before Game 2 between Cleveland and Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals. “That’s the way the system is designed.”

Stern helped negotiate the current collective bargaining agreement, which provides teams the ability to pay more and add an extra year for their own free agents. Stern is hopeful that will allow teams such as Cleveland to retain its stars.

TWO IN A ROW—NBA Commissioner David Stern, left, presents the NBA MVP trophy to Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James before Game 2 against the Boston Celtics in the second round of an NBA basketball playoff series May 3, in Cleveland.

A recent study was done on the disparities of girls’ sports in the city so we asked Pittsburghers what they thought. Here’s what you said.

No. Even when I was in school uniforms weren’t updated as often. The games weren’t put in the same type of facilities, smaller, less costly facilities. People need to speak up about it. I think it’s probably gone on since the ’50s when maybe there weren’t as many women playing sports. ”
Erica Picket
Point Breeze
Outreach worker

Erica Picket, Ashtin Harris, Jamar Reeves

by Tim Dahlberg
Associate Press Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP)—Floyd Mayweather Jr. is usually content to just win a fight. This time, though, Money Mayweather wanted to earn his cash.

Fighting more aggressively than usual, Mayweather overcame a near knockdown in the second round Saturday night to dominate the rest of the way and win a lopsided 12-round decision over Shane Mosley in their welterweight showdown.

“I wanted to give the fans what they wanted to see, a toe-to-toe battle,” Mayweather said. “It wasn’t the same style for me but I wanted to be aggressive and I knew I could do it.”

MASTERFUL PERFORMANCE—“Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr., right, connects against “Sugar” Shane Mosley during their WBA welterweight boxing match May 1, in Las Vegas.