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Peyton Manning accused of sexual abuse in college

Peyton Manning, the best-known and most-seen player in the NFL and whose public image has been spotless, is the subject of an expose by the New York Daily News that suggests he and his father, Archie Manning, covered up a sexual indiscretion at the U of Tennessee.  Citing a 74-page, 13-year-old court document, Shaun King wrote that the Mannings “ruined the good name and career of Dr. Jamie Naughright, a respected scholar, professor and trainer.”  Dr. Naughright claimed that while she was in the training room examining Peyton Manning’s foot for a possible stress fracture, “he forcefully maneuvered” his genitals and rectum so that they were on top of her head.  Manning claimed any contact with the woman was inadvertent, that he was trying to moon his teammate Malcolm Saxon.  But Saxon signed an affidavit swearing that Manning did not moon him.  The Daily News also obtained a copy of a letter Saxon wrote to Manning urging him to “take some personal responsibility” for what he did.  In 2001 Archie and Peyton Manning issued a book, Manning, in which they claimed Dr. Naughton, who left Tennessee to work at Florida Southern College, was sexually promiscuous, especially with African-American student-athletes.  She was subsequently fired by Florida Southern, and she sued the Mannings for defamation of character.  The lawsuit was settled, but not the issue.

Chad Johnson treated sore ankles with teammates’ urine

When he was a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, Chad Johnson, a/k/a Ochocinco, had an unconventional way of treating ankle injuries.  Appearing on ESPN’s Mike and Mike, he said he soaked his injured foot in a tub of urine collected from teammates.  “I’d heat it up and put my ankle in it for thirty minutes,” Johnson said.  He did not say where he learned of this particular treatment, and he wasn’t asked.

Hope Solo shuns Olympics with Zika virus infesting Brazil

Hope Solo, star goaltender of the U.S. women’s soccer team, said that if the summer Olympics were held today in Brazil, she would not participate, because she wonders about danger from the Zika virus, transmitted by mosquitoes.  “Fortunately the Olympics are six months away,” she said, “so I believe we have some time to get our doubts and questions answered.”  Most people afflicted by the virus show few symptoms, but there have been fatalaties, and it is suspected of causing microcephaly, a birth defect marked by an abnormally small head.  Zika has spread throughout Latin America, but Olympics organizers in Rio de Janeiro expect to have it contained by August, when the games begin.  In the southern hemisphere, August is in the winter, when mosquitoes are less prevalent.

Argentine soccer player kill a ref for issuing a red card

A soccer player shot and killed a referee and wounded another player during a game in Cordoba, Argentina, on Sunday.  Referee Cesar Flores, 48, showed a player a red card for tackling on an opponent.  The penalized player then retrieved a gun from his backpack, returned to the pitch and shot the ref three times, in the head, neck and chest.  The alleged assailant, whose name has not yet been released by police, also wounded another player, Walter Zarate, 25, before fleeing the scene.  Zarate is expected to recover.

Heat turning cold toward Whiteside, who keeps fouling-up

The NBA’s leading shot-blocker, Hassan Whiteside, is getting the cold shoulder from Miami Heat teammates because of his overly aggressive play.  They did not offer excuses for him after his vicious elbowing led to a one-game suspension.  Whiteside committed two flagrant fouls against the San Antionio Spurs, the second being an elbow to the head of center Boban Marjanovic.  Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “We don’t condone that kind of play.  We’ve been through this before.”   Indeed, Hassan 26, has a history of fighting and flagrant fouling, and his teammates are tiring of it.  Dwyane Wade said: “Sometimes you have to live with the decisions that you make.  He has to live with that.  Whatever consequences come, he has to deal with it.”  Chris Bosh: “The next step for him is learning about reputation.  Unfortunately he’s taken a step back.”  Whiteside will serve the suspension on Friday (Feb. 19), when the Heat play at Atlanta.   It’s possible he won’t play another game for the Heat, who reportedly are talking to several teams about trading him.  He will be a free agent when the season ends, and his market value is thought to be more than $15 million a year.