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sports Diabierna 11 Maart 2022

Bruce Weber resigns as basketball coach at Kansas State

(AP) — Bruce Weber re- “Hopefully I’ve impacted peting for championships.
signed as the basketball people and helped them with
coach at Kansas State on their lives so that now they They went 9-20 last season
Thursday, one day after can help others.” and 14-17 this season, leav-
the struggling Wildcats ing Weber — who took the
lost to West Virginia in the The 65-year-old Weber was a Illini to the national champi-
opening round of the Big largely unpopular pick to re- onship game in 2005 — with
12 Tournament to cap a place Frank Martin when he a 184–147 record with the
third straight losing sea- was hired by former athletic Wildcats. His career mark,
son. director John Currie in 2012, including a highly successful
shortly after he was fired by run at Southern Illinois that
He didn’t walk away quietly. Illinois. Weber was mulling included two NCAA tourney
mid-major jobs when Cur- appearances, stands at 407-
First, the long-time coach rie selected him to take over 301 with 13 appearances in
criticized the NCAA over its a program that had suddenly the NCAA Tournament.
handling of the FBI probe shot to national prominence
into college basketball cor- on the back of six straight 20- “The negativity that sur- some took as a swipe at rival “Lon Kruger told me the
ruption. Then, Weber struck win seasons. rounds K-State times is really Kansas. other day, all the guys in the
out at Kansas State fans who sad to me,” Weber said. “This FBI (probe) except one are in
used social media to berate Weber kept the momentum is the only school I’ve been The Jayhawks have ap- the NCAA Tournament. All
him and his program. And fi- going for a while. He led the associated with that I tell our pealed their penalties to the those teams are going to be in
nally, he professed his desire Wildcats to a share of the Big recruits to avoid our social Independent Accountabil- the NCAA Tournament.”
to continue coaching, asking 12 title in his first season, media. I’m afraid of what ity Resolution Process, while
for “some (athletic director) made five NCAA tourna- they’ll see. Hopefully that another Big 12 member — Yet the Wildcats will be sit-
out there who would appre- ments in his first seven sea- can change, maybe with the Oklahoma State — is serving ting home for the third
ciate a coach that graduates sons and added a share of new coach, and everybody a postseason ban this year. straight year, this time pon-
players, wins championships, another conference title just can be positive about K-State dering their next head coach.
supports the university and four years ago. and K-State athletics.” “We won titles. We did it the
embraces the community.” right way,” Weber said. “I’m As for Weber, his immediate
But the past few years have Weber made headlines fol- on the NCAA ethics com- plans are to spend more time
“I’ve been preparing for this been a struggle, and all the lowing the loss to the Moun- mittee. I was told they were with his family, including
for a long time,” said Weber, hard-won support Weber taineers at T-Mobile Center going to take care of the peo- four rambunctious grand-
who had one year remaining had gained over most of the on Wednesday night when he ple in the FBI stuff, so I told kids. But it was his wife, Me-
on his contract. “I got into previous decade simply dis- lambasted the NCAA over somebody I’m going to grow gan, who made sure that We-
coaching — I got into teach- appeared. He was forced to its handling of the FBI probe my hair until something ber wasn’t closing the door
ing — because my dad and completely rebuild the roster over the past few years. We- happens. Obviously, it’s still on coaching again.
mom thought there was no after the 2019 season, then ber said he had refused to cut growing.
better life than to help others. struggled to recruit at a level his silver hair until schools “She said, ‘You’re not done.
That’s been my goal. to get the Wildcats back to the that were identified in the “That’s the sad part about Don’t tell people you’re re-
point where they were com- probe were punished, which our business,” Weber added. tiring,’” Weber said.

Chelsea feels effects of sanctions imposed on Abramovich

(AP) — Chelsea fans re- special “Russia Regulations” force in European football, the season will be able to at-
ceived an unwelcome The aluminum magnate is license that among other re- had put the squad up for sale tend matches, but those with-
present on the Premier among seven wealthy Rus- strictions prohibits the team last week amid growing calls out will stay without while
English League team’s sians who had their assets fro- from selling new tickets or that sanctions be imposed away fans will be unable to
117th birthday Thurs- zen under British sanctions merchandise, or signing new on a man the government purchase tickets for upcom-
day: British government on Thursday in response to players. has labeled a “pro-Kremlin ing games held at Stamford
sanctions against Russian Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. oligarch” linked to “desta- Bridge stadium.
owner Roman Abramov- The club’s future was al- bilizing ... undermining and
ich that only served to in- Under the unprecedented ready in doubt: Abramovich, threatening” Ukraine. The new rules also limit the
tensify the team’s growing government action, Chelsea whose $2 billion investment club to spending a maximum
pariah status in the soccer will operate through the end in the club over 19 years The British government also of 500,000 pounds ($657,000)
world. of the season May 31 with a transformed the team into a has alleged that Abramovich on each match at Stamford
has obtained financial bene- Bridge, including on security
fits from Putin’s administra- and catering. A maximum of
tion, including contracts in 20,000 pounds can be spent
the buildup to Russia hosting on travel to matches. Chel-
the 2018 World Cup. sea plays in France at Lille in
the Champions League next
Club sponsors are respond- week.
ing in their own way: The
telecommunications firm Staff, including players, will
Three announced Thurs- continue to be paid. The
day that it would suspend its club’s wage bill was almost 28
sponsorship of the team and million pounds ($37 million)
remove its logo from Chel- a month in the most recent
sea’s jerseys. The men’s team accounts. The club also has
is at Norwich on Thursday been effectively placed under
night when the women play a transfer ban since it cannot
at West Ham. spend money to register new
players.
Soccer fans immediately felt
the effects of the British gov- Even worse for fans, though,
ernment’s sanctions: Anyone is uncertainty about the
with tickets until the end of club’s fate.