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Basketball • Dennis Rodman apologized Thursday for comments he made in North Korea about a detained American missionary, saying he had been drinking and was under pressure as he organized a game with former NBA players.
The former basketball star issued the apology in an email message to The Associated Press, a day after he sang "Happy Birthday" to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the game.
Rodman has been slammed for not using his influence with Kim to help free Kenneth Bae, the missionary in poor health who is being confined in North Korea for "anti-state" crimes.
In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Rodman implied Bae was at fault.
Louisville hires Petrino again
College Football • Bobby Petrino is back as Louisville's football coach. And athletic director Tom Jurich insists the school is getting a "changed person."
Petrino led the Cardinals to a 41-9 mark from 2003-06 and is 83-30 overall as a college coach. His record includes a 34-17 mark at Arkansas, which fired him in April 2012 following a motorcycle accident in which his mistress was a passenger.
He came to the Razorbacks after a 3-10 season in 2007 with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons that ended with him announcing his departure by letters left at the players' lockers.
He received a seven-year contract from Louisville with a base annual salary of $3.5 million. It includes a $10 million buyout for leaving that decreases after four years.
The Associated Press