Auburn coach mum about scandals

AUBURN, Ala. — Hitting the midway point of spring practices leading up to A-Day, it was clear which topic Auburn football coach Gus Malzahn preferred to discuss Saturday.

Malzahn was more interested in talking about an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium than the recent reports and allegations swirling around the football program, much of which centers around activity during his stint as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator in 2009-11.

Reporters fired five questions at Malzahn about the Roopstigo.com report Wednesday and ESPN The Magazine narrative Thursday, ranging from accusations of NCAA violations to in-depth depictions of a designer drug epidemic during the national championship season of 2010.

Malzahn insisted “nobody” on the roster or coaching staff has been distracted by the off-field drama, while refusing to address the university’s current drug policy or whether there was an athletic department cover-up while he was on the previous staff.

“Like I said, the administration took care of it and as a head coach I feel good about the way they handled it,” Malzahn said. “… If you want to talk about the scrimmage, I’d be happy to do that.”

Serena routs sister at Family Circle

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Serena Williams had completed a dazzling display of tennis to dominate her opponent and advance to her fourth finals of the year at the Family Circle Cup on Saturday. Her excitement, though, was over the weeklong play of sister Venus despite big sister’s inability to slow Serena down.

“She’s had a great week,” Serena said.

So has Serena, who won her 14th straight match here with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Venus Williams — the most one-sided result in the sisters’ long, intense rivalry.

Serena understands better than almost anyone what her older sister has gone through in recent years due to injury and illness.

Since capturing this title in April 2012, Serena has won Wimbledon, Olympic gold, the U.S. Open and reclaimed the world’s No. 1 ranking.

DAVIS CUP: In Boise, Idaho, the United States trails Serbia 2-1 in a quarterfinal after the top-ranked doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan lost to Serbia’s Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 4-6, 15-13 on Saturday.

Verrazano runs like he’s Derby favorite

NEW YORK — Verrazano crossed his final bridge on the road to the Kentucky Derby with a narrow victory in the $1 million Wood Memorial that likely sends the colt to Churchill Downs as the horse to beat on the first Saturday in May.

Sweeping into the lead around the far turn, Verrazano held off the challenges of Vyjack and Normandy Invasion to improve his record to 4-0. The 3-year-old trained by Todd Pletcher won by three-quarters of a length over Normandy Invasion, who nipped Vyjack for second and likely punched his ticket to the Derby, as well.

Ridden by John Velazquez, 4-5 favorite Verrazano raced comfortably.

The Wood was a final prep before the Derby on May 4.

Etc. …

MMA: In Stockholm, Brazil’s Diego Brandao, who trains in Albuquerque at Jackson-Winkeljohn Mixed Martial Arts, defeated Pablo Garza by first-round submission (arm triangle) Saturday on a UFC card. Brandao is 17-8. Garza, of Fargo, N.D., is 12-4.

NFL: One day after Jason Hanson retired, the Detroit Lions signed David Akers as their new kicker.
— This article appeared on page D8 of the Albuquerque Journal