Soccer
Timbers formally name coach — For months, Caleb Porter has been torn by his loyalty to the Akron Zips while waiting to take over as coach of the Portland Timbers. “I wanted to get going," Porter said Tuesday when he was formally — and finally — introduced by the Timbers. “I can’t wait for that first meeting, the first training session." Porter was hired as the Major League Soccer team’s coach in late August, but he wrapped up his seventh season with Akron before fully making the move. It was the sixth straight season Akron had made it to the tournament; the Zips won the national championship in 2010. He finished with a 123-18-17 overall record at Akron and the highest winning percentage (.832) among current Division I coaches.
Football
Redskins’ RG3 to have knee surgery — Robert Griffin III is having surgery today on a torn ligament in his right knee — and to see if there’s a second ligament that also needs to be repaired. Baylor coach Art Briles confirmed to USA Today and The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the Washington Redskins rookie has a torn lateral collateral ligament. He said the surgery also will determine whether Griffin damaged his ACL in that knee.
Jaguars hire GM — The Jacksonville Jaguars have hired Atlanta director of player personnel David Caldwell as general manager, charging him with turning around one of the league’s worst teams. His first move will be deciding the fate of coach Mike Mularkey. Owner Shad Khan tabbed the 38-year-old Caldwell on Tuesday, a day after a third interview.
Cardinals promote Keim to GM — The Arizona Cardinals have chosen to stay in-house with the promotion of Steve Keim to general manager as the search for a new head coach goes on. The 40-year-old Keim has worked for the franchise for 14 years. He joined the Cardinals in 1999 as a scout, became director of college scouting in 2006 and director of player personnel in 2008 before being named vice president for player personnel last year.
Baseball
Nats resign LaRoche — The wait for Adam LaRoche to make up his mind had played out long enough. It was time to decide if he would take the Washington Nationals’ offer or move on. The slugging first baseman decided to stay with the Nationals on Tuesday, agreeing to a $24 million, two-year deal with a mutual option for a third year.
Cycling
USADA chief says Armstrong offered ‘donation’ — The chief of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency tells “60 Minutes Sports" that a representative for Lance Armstrong offered the agency a “donation" in excess of $150,000 several years before a USADA investigation led to Armstrong being stripped of seven Tour de France titles. In an interview on the show’s premiere airing on Showtime Wednesday night, USADA CEO Travis Tygart said he was “stunned" when he received the offer in 2004. “It was a clear conflict of interest for USADA," Tygart said. “We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer." Armstrong’s attorney, Tim Herman, denied such an offer was made.
College
Track and field returns to OSU — Oregon State will hold a pair of track and field meets this spring, the first such events at the school since 1988. The Beavers will debut their new Whyte Track and Field Center on March 23 with a meet that will include fellow athletes from the University of Portland and Willamette University. The Beavers will also host the inaugural OSY High Performance meet April 26 for regional college athletes as well as open and club qualifiers.
— From wire reports
