Caribou’s Graves wins Maine Marathon
PORTLAND — Thirty-year-old Evan Graves of Caribou won Sunday’s Maine Marathon in 2 hours, 36 minutes and 53 seconds, with 31-year-old Lucas Churchill, of Bolton, Mass., finishing second over the 26.2-mile course.
Among women, 34-year-old Stephanie Crawford, of Dover, N.H., won in 3:07:08, with 29-year-old Laura Hutchinson, of Holyoke, Mass., coming in second.
More than 3,000 runners finished the marathon and the half-marathon races, which began and ended in Portland.
As part of the event, 100 soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines marched the course to pay tribute to military personnel who have been killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The service members marched the route in full uniform while carrying 30-pound military backpacks.
Surfing to be official high school sport in Hawaii
HONOLULU — Hawaii will soon become the first state in the nation to have surfing as an official high school sport.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state education officials on Monday said that surfing will join the likes of football, basketball, volleyball and swimming as a state-sanctioned prep sport, starting as early as Spring 2013.
A news conference was held on Waikiki beach near the statue of island icon Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic gold medal swimmer known as the father of modern surfing.
Surfing is part of the culture in Hawaii, known for its world-class surf breaks and competitions. The Aloha State is home to many pro surfers and has produced several world champions.
Hawaii’s Carissa Moore, who this summer became the youngest world champion at age 18, joined Abercrombie in the announcement.
Florida State QB Manuel expects to play Saturday
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel says his injured left shoulder is feeling significantly better after two weeks of rest.
Manuel, who suffered the injury in the loss to Oklahoma on Sept. 17, has done some light passing indoors with FSU trainers. He is expected to throw in practice for the first time since the injury on Monday afternoon as the No. 23 Seminoles (2-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) prepare for Saturday’s game at Wake Forest (3-1, 2-0).
Manuel says he is “feeling good” The quarterback says he is feeling much better than h was two weeks ago this time. He says his range of motion and strength are back.
When asked Monday if he expected to play on Saturday, Manuel said, “Yes, sir.”
No. 3 Oklahoma reinstates WR Franks for Texas game
NORMAN, Okla. — Receiver Trey Franks has been reinstated after serving a two-game suspension for No. 3 Oklahoma, allowing him to return in time for the Red River Rivalry game against No. 11 Texas on Saturday.
Coach Bob Stoops announced Monday that he was bringing back Franks, who he suspended indefinitely two weeks ago for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Franks started the Sooners’ first two games of the season. He had seven catches for 74 yards against Tulsa, then didn’t have any receptions at Florida State.
The sophomore played in all 14 games for Oklahoma last season, moving into the starting lineup for the final four games.
Giants agree with the officials; Cruz gave up self
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Coach Tom Coughlin believes referee Jerome Boger and his crew made the right call in ruling that receiver Victor Cruz was giving himself up and didn’t fumble after making a catch on the Giants’ game winning touchdown drive against the Arizona Cardinals.
Coughlin looked at the videotape of Cruz’s 19-yard catch with roughly three minutes to play in the Giants’ 31-27 victory Sunday and said there is no doubt in his mind the receiver was giving himself when he went to the turf at the Cardinals 29.
Cruz put the ball on the turf after going down and the Cardinals recovered it, believing Cruz had not been touched down so it was a fumble.
Boger ruled that Cruz gave himself up and added the Cardinals could not challenge that type of ruling.
“I’m standing by the way the rule was interpreted by the officials,” Coughlin said. “If you look at the way that play took place there is no question he was giving himself up and he was headed back to the huddle. I don’t know how you can call anything else.”
The NFL noted Monday that Rule 7, Section 2, Article 1 states that the ball is dead and the down ended once a runner declares himself down by falling to the ground, or kneeling, and making no effort to advance.
Hakeem Nicks, who caught a game-winning 29-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning on the ensuing play, said he was not aware of the rule.
“I’m just glad it turned out on our side,” Nicks said. “Initially during the game, I assumed he got touched when he went down. What I saw on film it was different, but I guess you can declare yourself down and that made the call and I am glad.”
Giants receiver Mario Manningham was a couple of yards away from Cruz after the play and he seemed to think it was a fumble when he flapped his arms.
“I think it was just the heat of the moment,” Nicks’ said of Manningham’s reaction. “Guys just wanted to win. We didn’t want to turn the ball over. I don’t think it was nothing like he was mad at Victor.”
Linebacker Michael Boley said the Giants are taught to grab every loose ball on the turf, so New York’s defense would have reacted the same way as the Cardinals. He added he was aware of the rule that allows a runner to give himself up.
“When it comes to the rule, it is all about how the ref sees it vs. the actual rule being in place,” Boley said. “We have our rules, but when it comes down to the game, it is about how the ref saw it.
“It could have gone either way.”
White Sox C Pierzynski to serve as playoff analyst
CHICAGO — Outspoken White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski will serve as a television analyst during the Major League Baseball playoffs.
The 14-year veteran will work on Fox’s pre- and postgame shows during the ALCS and the World Series.
Pierzynski started for Chicago’s 2005 championship team. Fox said Monday he would make his debut on-site before Saturday’s Game 1.
Fox Sports executive vice president Scott Ackerson calls the two-time All-Star “intelligent, engaging and candid with a bit of an edge.”
In 30 career postseason games, Pierzynski has hit .300 with five home runs, 17 RBIs and 16 runs.
Bears’ Spencer breaks bone in hand
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Chicago Bears offensive lineman Chris Spencer has a broken bone in his right hand.
Coach Lovie Smith says Spencer suffered a “small fracture” early in Sunday’s 34-29 victory over Carolina. He returned in the second half, and Smith says he will “hopefully” be ready for next Monday night’s game against Detroit.
Spencer made his third straight start at right guard after Lance Louis sustained an ankle injury
He says it’s a positive sign that Spencer returned, adding “whenever you have a player finish the game, you feel pretty good about him going into the next one.”
Louis filled in at right guard and then replaced Frank Omiyale at right tackle when Spencer came back in Sunday. The Bears were already missing right tackle Gabe Carimi (knee).