Buckeyes, Obama share spotlight
One of the many perks for winning a national championship is getting to meet the president of the United States, and on Monday, it was The Ohio State University Buckeyes’ turn share the spotlight with the most powerful man in the world.
“It was an exciting season from start to finish and to say that Ohio State’s path to the title felt improbable at times would be an understatement,” Obama told the team during a 12-minute visit.
The president lauded coach Urban Meyer for earning a third trip to the White House.
Body ID’d as son of ESPN’s Maisel
A body found Friday in Lake Ontario has been identified as Max Maisel, the son of ESPN senior writer Ivan Maisel.
The 21-year-old Rochester Institute of Technology student had been missing since Feb. 22 and was last seen near the Charlotte Pier.
A fisherman spotted the body about 7:30 p.m. floating in the water about 200 yards from a Coast Guard station. The cause of death is unknown.
Blind long snapper gets chance at USC
On the final day when he still could see, Jake Olson just had to watch his beloved USC Trojans’ football practice — just one last time.
It was 2009 and Olson was 12. He had been born with retinoblastoma, a rare cancer of the retina. By the time he was 1, he had lost sight in his left eye.
Numerous surgeries couldn’t save the sight in his right eye. Southern Cal was his favorite team. The Trojans welcomed Olson into their family, allowing the young boy into the locker room and on the sidelines.
With the help of his high school teammates, Olson adapted with his disability.
Nw the 6-foot-4, 195-pound 18-year-old will attend Southern Cal this fall on a scholarship designed for athletes who are “physically challenged.”
Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian said Olson will one day snap in a game for USC.
Gonzaga’s Wiltjer coming back
Gonzaga All-America forward Kyle Wiltjer on Monday announced he would return to Spokane for his senior season.
Wiltjer averaged 16.8 points and 6.2 rebounds last season for the Zags. He most likely will be one of the preseason favorites for national player of the year next season.
Wiltjer had seriously considered forgoing his final year, but most draft experts projected that the 23-year-old would not be drafted and would end up playing in Europe.
Wilson set to retire as a Cardinal
Five-time Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson on Monday signed a one-day deal that allows him to retire as a member of the Arizona Cardinals.
The move came 14 years to the day after Arizona drafted him. Wilson, 35, is scheduled to announce his retirement Tuesday.
He played in 181 games for the Cardinals from 2001-12 and said that he expects to have a front-office role with the team moving forward. Wilson is one of only six players in NFL history with at least 25 sacks and 25 interceptions.
Utes’ Poeltl to return
Utah center Jakob Poeltl on Monday announced that he would not declare for the NBA Draft this year and instead will return to the Utes for his sophomore season.
As a freshman, the 7-foot Australian native averaged 9.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.
Some draft experts had Poeltl being drafted in the first round.