NFL Kokinis firing a mystery in Cleve

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NFL

Kokinis firing a
mystery in Cleveland

BEREA, Ohio – The ominous silence over Monday’s ouster of Browns General Manager George Kokinis could signal a legal battle over money still due Kokinis.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Tuesday that the Browns were seeking dismissal “for cause.” On Monday, Mortensen reported that the Browns were trying to work out a settlement with Kokinis in which he would resign, but that Kokinis refused.

Terms of his contract were never disclosed after Kokinis, handpicked by coach Eric Mangini, was hired on Jan. 23.

Mangini avoided almost all questions about Kokinis, even though they had been friends for years. Those ties might have been severed in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, Mangini didn’t even wish Kokinis well.

“Any time a decision like this is made, it is difficult personally and professionally,” Mangini said. “George is a friend of mine and I respect him and I wish his family well. I can tell you that for a variety of reasons, things didn’t work out.”

WOMEN’S HOOPS

Moore tops on AP All-America list

Preseason or postseason, Maya Moore is making a habit of racking up honors.

The UConn junior became just the seventh unanimous choice on The Associated Press’ preseason All-America team Tuesday, garnering all 40 votes from a national media panel. It’s the third straight year a player has been a unanimous choice in the preseason.

“It’s a great honor to be mentioned with them,” said Moore, who was one vote short of being an unanimous choice last preseason.

Moore was joined on the preseason squad by teammate Tina Charles, Stanford’s Jayne Appel, Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender, and Virginia’s Monica Wright. It was the fifth time two players from the same team made the All-America squad.

NBA

Sterling ordered to pay $2.73 million

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Clippers owner and real estate mogul Donald Sterling has agreed to pay a record $2.73 million to settle allegations by the government that he refused to rent apartments to Hispanics, blacks and to families with children, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

The Justice Department sued Sterling in August 2006 for allegations of housing discrimination in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles. Other defendants were Sterling’s wife, Rochelle, and the Sterling Family Trust.

The defendants allegedly made statements to employees indicating that African-Americans and Hispanics were not desirable tenants.

Court filings indicated that Sterling rented to fewer blacks and Hispanics in Koreatown than would be expected based on demographics, according to the Justice Department.