Sportshorts for Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012
CORRECTION
Morrison’s Hunter Hamstra was pictured playing defense against Rock Falls in a photo appearing on B4 of Saturday’s edition. Hamstra was misidentified in the photo and box score on the same page.
SVM regrets the errors.
NHL
Federal mediators to assist NHL talks
The NHL and the players association will get some help in an effort to work toward a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement and end the lockout.
The sides have agreed on mediation and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service has assigned three men to the case in an effort to ease the stalemate between the owners and players that began Sept. 15 and has caused the cancellation of the 2012-13 regular-season schedule through games of Dec. 14.
NFL
Peterson missed bus to Sunday’s game
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson literally missed the bus Sunday, but coach Leslie Frazier wasn’t ready to say the incident contributed to the team missing the bus figuratively on the field in Chicago.
Peterson came to Soldier Field via cab prior to the Vikings’ 28-10 loss to the Bears, and multiple media outlets reported that he arrived later than the players’ mandated time.
Patriots’ Cunningham suspended 4 games
New England Patriots defensive end Jermaine Cunningham has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
His suspension begins immediately and he will be eligible to return to the active roster on Dec. 24.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
NIU returner honored by MAC West
Northern Illinois sophomore Tommylee Lewis has been named Mid-American Conference West Special Teams Player of the Week after his 93-yard kickoff return in Friday’s 49-7 win over Eastern Michigan.
The kickoff return for a touchdown was the third of Lewis’ career.
High ratings for Notre Dame-USC game
Notre Dame’s 22-13 victory over USC on Saturday to clinch a spot in the BCS title game reportedly earned a 10.3 Nielson overnight rating, the best college football overnight this season.
According to Sports Business Daily, the game surpassed the previous high of 7.0 for CBS’ Alabama-LSU game on Nov. 3.
MLB
Cubs hire former Brewer Deer
The Chicago Cubs are adding former Milwaukee Brewers slugger Rob Deer as a staff assistant, to work alongside hitting coach James Rowson.
Deer will serve in the same capacity as Mike Borzello and Franklin Font, helping prepare players for games but not being in uniform with manager Dale Sveum, Rowson and five other coaches during games.