BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Former Alabama football coach Mike Price sued Time Inc. for $20-million, contending he was defamed by a Sports Illustrated article about the strip club visit that led to his firing.
The suit seeks $10-million in compensation, the value of the seven-year deal Price had with Alabama, which fired him after his night of drunken carousing in Pensacola in April. The suit, filed in state court, also seeks $10-million in punitive damages from Time, which publishes Sports Illustrated.
Named in the suit was Don Yaeger, who wrote the article and appeared as a guest on a Birmingham radio show to discuss it. Additional people who helped with the story will be added as defendants later, the suit said. Art Berke, an SI spokesman, said the magazine stands by its story.
Alabama president Robert Witt fired Price May3, about five days before the magazine was released. Price is appealing his dismissal.
ALABAMA: The university board approved the contract for new coach Mike Shula, who agreed in principle to the contract when he was hired May8. He gets a six-year deal worth about $900,000 annually, plus incentives, with a $1-million buyout. The contract was forwarded to Shula and UA president Witt to complete.
CENTRAL FLORIDA: Tampa's WDCF-AM 1350 (full time) and WZHR-AM 1400 are part of the six-station radio network that will broadcast games this season.
Teams like CWS format
OMAHA, Neb. - Stanford loves the new best-of-three championship final format at the College World Series.
Two years ago, the Cardinal went through bracket play unbeaten only to lose 12-1 to Miami in the winner-takes-all final. In the final a third time in four years, Stanford (50-16) opens the championship today against Rice (56-11).
"There are good days and bad days in baseball, and there are those types of games where one team has the upper hand," Stanford rightfielder Carlos Quentin said. "Our team loves (the format). It makes a statement. If you win this, you did it the right way."
Rice is 3-0 in the tournament, and Stanford is 4-1.
