COLLEGE: Auburn fires Chizik
Auburn’s rapid fall from a national championship to 3-9 and the SEC doormat led to Gene Chizik’s firing yesterday, the day after a humbling 49-0 loss to No. 2 Alabama.
The Tigers endured the worst slide within two years of winning a national championship of any team since the AP poll started in 1936. The decision came 17 months after Auburn gave Chizik a contract worth some $3.5 million annually through 2015 with a hefty buyout.
Boston College fired football coach Frank Spaziani after four years of progressively worse records and two straight seasons without a bowl appearance. The Eagles finished the season 2-10.
North Carolina State fired football coach Tom O’Brien after six seasons, one day after the Wolfpack finished a 7-5 regular season to become bowl-eligible for the fourth time in O’Brien’s tenure.
Jon Embree is out as head football coach at Colorado after just two seasons and four wins in 25 games. Embree’s quick hook took his players by surprise.
Danny Hope is out as Purdue’s football coach after going 22-27 in four seasons.
GOLF: McIlroy wins season finale
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Rory McIlroy made five straight birdies down the stretch to overtake Justin Rose and win the Dubai World Championship, ending a historic year in which the 23-year-old won the PGA Championship and the European and PGA tour money titles.
The top-ranked McIlroy recovered from early putting woes to finish at 6-under 66 for a total 23-under 265 at the season-ending tournament. Rose surged into contention after shooting a course-record 62 that included an eagle and eight birdies.
AUTO: Vettel claims F1 title
In Sao Paulo, Sebastian Vettel captured his third straight Formula One championship title, overcoming a first-lap crash to finish sixth in a Brazilian Grand Prix won by Jenson Button.
Vettel, who at 25 became the youngest three-time champion in F1, appeared in big trouble, but he steadily worked his way up the field and held off Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, the only other driver contending for the title.
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher finished seventh in his final race after 19 seasons.
ETC.: After 138, Taylor scores 21
In his encore to an NCAA record-setting 138-point game Tuesday night, Jack Taylor scored 21 points for Grinnell College in a 131-116 loss to William Penn. He was 6 for 21 from the field, making 3 of 13 attempts from 3-point range.
Alexandra “Sasha” McHale, the daughter of Rockets coach Kevin McHale, died Saturday at 23. Kevin McHale has been on leave since Nov. 10 to deal with what the team called a family matter.
During his absence, Kelvin Sampson has been the interim coach. There is no timetable for Kevin McHale’s return.In Orlando, Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Rajon Rondo was one rebound shy of a triple double with 15 points and 16 assists as the Celtics outlasted the Magic 116-110 in overtime.
Rafa Benitez endured a hostile reception and gave Chelsea fans nothing to cheer about as his first match in charge ended in a drab 0-0 draw with Manchester City.