UMaine’s ‘Skate with the Bears’ set Dec. 12
ORONO — The Friends of Maine Hockey’s annual free “Skate with the Bears” on Saturday, Dec. 12. Join the 2015-2016 University of Maine Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey teams on the ice at the Alfond Arena from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Fans can get autographs and have their picture taken with their favorite players and coaches. Friends of Maine Hockey board members will be on hand to answer questions, sign up new members and will have Boxes of Player Cards available. Domino’s will provide free pizza while hot cocoa, coffee and donuts will be provided by your local Dunkin’ Donuts.
Foles to start for Rams
Nick Foles will start at quarterback again this week for the St. Louis Rams while Case Keenum continues to recover from a concussion.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher announced Thursday that Keenum remains in concussion protocol but could be cleared before Sunday’s game against the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals. If Keenum is available, he would serve as the No. 2 quarterback.
Keenum was injured when he landed on the back of his helmet during a loss two weeks ago to the Baltimore Ravens.
Foles started last week in the Rams’ 31-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He was replaced late in the blowout by Sean Mannion, who will be the backup again if Keenum is not able to play.
Blue Jays name Adkins as GM
The Toronto Blue Jays hired Ross Atkins as their new general manager, the club announced Thursday.
Atkins had been a member of the Cleveland Indians front office since 2001 and most recently was the team’s player personnel director. He is a close friend and former co-worker of Toronto president Mark Shapiro.
The 42-year-old Atkins replaces Alex Anthopoulos, who departed after the Blue Jays were eliminated from the American League playoffs by the Kansas City Royals.
ASU’s Norvell to take Memphis job
Arizona State offensive coordinator Mike Norvell will be the next head coach at Memphis, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.
Memphis president Dr. M. David Rudd tweeted, “Hired a great football coach today. Details to follow,” and announced that a press conference would be held Friday.
Justin Fuente left the Tigers on Sunday to take the head coaching job at Virginia Tech.
Norvell, 34, was the Sun Devils’ offensive coordinator for four years, the past two also holding the title of deputy head coach.
Norvell’s boss in Tempe, Todd Graham, was also his boss in previous stops at Pittsburgh and Tulsa.
Arizona State (6-6) has the nation’s 23rd-ranked total offense this year. Last year, the Sun Devils rated 16th in the nation in scoring.
Man charged in shooting of former boxing champ
ATLANTA — Atlanta police on Thursday charged a young man with the fatal shooting last month of former cruiserweight boxing champion O’Neil “Supernova” Bell.
Bell, 40, was killed during a robbery after leaving a bus, said police, who found him lying in the street on Nov. 25. A second man was also shot but survived.
Tycorion Davis, 18, was charged with killing Bell, Atlanta homicide commander Charles Hampton said in a news conference.
Bell, who was born in Jamaica, was the undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2006, winning the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation titles after a 10th-round knockout of Jean-Marc Mormeck in New York.