Tiger Woods Holds Press Conference, Admits to Marital Infidelity, Apologizes

On February 19, 2010, Woods delivered a televised speech from the PGA Tour headquarters in Florida. He admitted that he had been unfaithful to his wife. He said he used to believe he was entitled to do whatever he wanted to do, and that, due to his success, normal rules did not apply to him. He said he realizes now that he was wrong to have had extramarital affairs, and apologized for the hurt his behavior caused to his family, friends, fans, and business partners. Woods also stated he had been in a therapy program for 45 days, and would be returning there soon. He stated he planned to return to competitive golf in the future, but was unspecific on details. He did not take questions.

Standing at a podium before about 40 of his closest associates, he read a 13 1/2-minute statement. He offered no new details of what happened or what's next, except that he would be attending more therapy sessions for sex addition. Excerpts from his statement include:

"I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did."

"I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated."

"What I did was not acceptable."

"It's now up to me to make amends, and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I've made."

"It's up to me to start living a life of integrity."

Woods did not say how much longer he would be in therapy, only that "I have a long way to go."

"I do plan to return to golf one day," Woods said. "I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game."

"As Elin pointed out to me, my apology to her will not come in the form of words. It will come from my behavior over time," Woods said. "We have a lot to discuss. However, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us."

When he finished, he stopped for a long embrace with his mother, Kultida, who said she whispered in his ear, "I'm so proud of you. Never think you stand alone. Mom will always be there for you, and I love you."

2010 Vancouver Games: American Shani Davis Skates to 1,000 Meters Gold, 1,500 Meters Silver

Results from the Men’s 1,000 Meters

Results from the Men’s 1,500 Meters

2010 Vancouver Games: Apollo Anton Ohno Wins 7th Career Medal, Becomes Most Decorated U.S. Winter Olympian Ever

Apollo Anton Ohno took the bronze in the men's short track 1,000 meters on the ninth day of the Winter Olympics. He broke a tie with Bonnie Blair, who accumulated six medals (five gold, one bronze) in speed skating in the 1980s-90s.

"I really had to fight," he said following his victory. "I can't wait to watch the tape and see how I came back from last place to win bronze."

Ohno started out near the back of the pack early in the nine-lap race. He briefly moved up to second, but fell back to last after slipping in the turn. Towards the end of the race, Ohno rallied and finished in third place.

In addition to his bronze, Ohno also won silver in the 1500 meters on Day 2 of competition. His seven career medals consist of two Golds, two Silvers and three Bronzes.

Alonzo “Jake Gaither and Eddie Robinson Head the Inaugural Class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame

Atlanta, GA - Alonzo “Jake Gaither (Coach, Florida A&M) and Eddie Robinson (Coach, Grambling State) are among eight players and one contributor selected for the inaugural class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

The other inductees into the Black College Football Hall of Fame include:

Buck Buchanan played at Grambling and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990, the Chiefs' Hall of Fame in 1981 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996;

Willie Lanier was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986, the Chiefs' Hall of Fame in 1985 and the NFL's 75th anniversary team in 1994;

Willie Galimore – Running Back, Florida A&M (Chicago Bears);

Deacon Jones – Defensive End, South Carolina St., Mississippi Valley St. (L.A. Rams, San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins);

Bill Nunn – Contributor, Journalist, NFL Scout (Pittsburgh Steelers);

Walter Payton – Running Back, Jackson State (Chicago Bears);

Jerry Rice – Wide Receiver, Mississippi Valley State (San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks);

Ben Stevenson – Halfback/Defensive Back, Tuskegee; and

Tank Younger – Running Back/Linebacker, Grambling State (L.A. Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers).

Venus Williams Wins Her 42nd Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Title, the Most of Any Active Player

Venus Williams continued her domination of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships by beating Victoria Azarenka for her second straight title at the prestigious event.

Williams, the No.3 seed at the $2-million tournament, won the first set, 6-3, on the strength of one break of serve in the seventh game, then raced out to a 3-1 lead in the second set, seemingly on her way to an easy win. Azarenka fought back, taking three games in a row to put it back on serve, but Williams broke again for a 6-5 lead then served it out to complete a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 victory.

"I expected her to come out and play well. I respect her game. The effort she gives... Even though I was leading in the second set, she just never gave up," Williams said. "Obviously I'm happy to close the tournament out. I've had a lot of success here the last two years, and I enjoy my time off the courts too. I go to the Souqs. So playing well here makes it even more satisfying for me."

"It was very high quality tennis from both of us. I'm proud of what I did today," Azarenka said. "It wasn't so much about power, but more about the precision - she was hitting it so close to the lines. She played too well today."

Williams had also won her only previous meeting with Azarenka in straight sets, at the Olympics two years ago.

The title was meaningful for Williams. It put her back in the lead for active leaders in singles titles on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, this is her 42nd, just ahead of Justine Henin's 41. (Source: www.wta.com)

Former University of the District of Columbia Men's Basketball Player, Amadou Gallo Fall, to Head NBA Africa Expansion Efforts

Dallas, TX - The National Basketball Association became a little more international. Commissioner David Stern announced that the league will open an office this spring in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Amadou Gallo Fall and a small staff will work to promote the game, encourage development and expand partnerships. "We think it's an extraordinary opportunity," said Stern, who later explained that the NBA plans "to invest in Africa." He said Fall was a slam-dunk choice to head the new office.

Before joining the NBA as its Vice-President of Development in Africa, Fall worked with the Dallas Mavericks as their Director of Player Personnel and Vice-President of International Affairs. He also worked in Africa with the NBA's Basketball Without Borders, a developmental program that goes beyond the sport to encourage education and social responsibility. "My story is a testament to the power of sports," Fall said, "and to sport as a tool for development."

Discovered at a basketball camp in Africa by a member of the Peace Corps, Fall went on to play for the University of the District of Columbia, where he graduated magna cum laude. In 1997, he put together a Senegal team that won the African Championship. Prior to joining the Mavericks, he worked in Senegal with the Ministry of Youth and Sport. He is also the founder of the SEED (Sports for Education and Economic Development) Academy.

"There is tremendous potential to grow the game in Africa," Stern said, "and the opening of an NBA office will help us to expand our business in the region.... With a presence on the ground, we can enhance our ability to increase our social responsibility efforts and develop more activities to engage our fans."

Heidi Ueberroth, the NBA's President of International Business Operations, said the league never has been more optimistic about its future and especially about its future abroad. "Africa is a priority," she said.

Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria, selected in the first round of the NBA Draft in 1984, was the first native African to play in the league. Since then, 24 more Africans have played in the NBA. Some were on hand for this announcement, including the NBA's Official Global Ambassador, Dikembe Mutombo of Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Also on hand, was Rolando Blackman, the former Mavericks standout, who is now the team's Director of Basketball Development. He described Africa as a "bastion" of talent that needed only some positive input and organization to realize its potential.

Sponsored by the U.S. State Department, various NBA and WNBA players have participated in humanitarian efforts, as well as basketball camps, throughout Africa. Former players visited Mozambique and Uganda last year.

36th Annual Black College All-American Weekend an Orlando, Florida, Success

Orlando, FL – The annual SBN Sports Black College All-American Awards (BCAA) weekend took place on Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13, 2010 in Orlando, Florida.  Celebrating its 36th anniversary, the weekend of activities, culminated in an awards luncheon recognizing the top football student-athletes from the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It also celebrated the accomplishments recent BCAA honorees continue to have on and off the field.

The weekend of BCAA events began at the Doubletree Resort Orlando-International Drive Friday, February 12, 2010 with a welcoming reception for the BCAA Honorary Committee, 2009 honorees, current and former members of the NFL, and other dignitaries. It was an evening of camaraderie, food, music and fun. Special recognition was given to sponsors.

The main event, Saturday, February 13, 2010, was co-hosted by Ty Miller, SBN Director of Sports, and Chrystal Holmes, on-air personality for Star 94.5 FM-Orlando. A moving keynote address was delivered by ESPN Analyst and NFL Hall of Fame nominee Cris Carter.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach, Raheem Morris, presented the SBN Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year Award to Prairie View A&M University quarterback, KJ Black. Former Pittsburgh Steelers, Greg Lloyd, presented the SBN Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year Award to Grambling State University defensive lineman, Christian Anthony. Prairie View A&M University Head Coach Henry Frazier, III, received the SBN Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award for the second consecutive year. The South Carolina State Bulldogs were recognized as the 2009 SBN Jake Gaither Black College National Championship Team. Each of the 25 members of SBN’s 2009 Black College All-American Team received SBN’s signature Black College All-American Trophy and the custom-made SBN Black College All-American ring.

In commenting on the weekend, Jerry Lopes, American Urban Radio Networks President of Program Operations and Affiliations remarked, “With the beautiful backdrop of the Doubletree Resort Orlando, it was an extraordinary weekend for our clients, honorees, their families and other guests, including some 50 kids and coaches from Orange County Public Schools, who were our special guests. Cris Carter's keynote was right on point and our honorary committee including former NFL standouts Larry Little, Eddie Robinson Jr., Greg Lloyd, Ken Burrough and L.C. Greenwood did their usual job of sharing little nuggets with our All-Americans and the high school athletes. I cannot say enough about young pros like Jacoby Jones of the Houston Texans, Marcus Benard of the Cleveland Browns, Javarris Williams of the Kansas City Chiefs and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who came back to share with the All-Americans what their early years have been like in the NFL. Rodgers-Cromartie, especially, who is rehabbing after suffering an injury in Arizona's playoff loss to Minnesota.”

Clark Atlanta University Athletics Joins Forces with WBCA Pink Zone and the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development – Honors Cancer Survivors at Game

Atlanta, GA – On February 15, 2010, Clark Atlanta University’s (CAU) Department of Athletics joined forces with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Pink Zone, a breast cancer awareness initiative, and the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development (CCRTD), an organization focusing on prostate cancer awareness, to honor breast and prostate cancer survivors. Fans were invited to watch the CAU’s basketball game as they face Lemoyne-Owen College. There were special presentations at halftime of both women’s and men’s games to honor survivors of these devastating diseases.

The global WBCA Pink Zone initiative took place February 12-21, and fans were encouraged to wear pink as a unified display of support for breast cancer awareness. The WBCA began the WBCA Pink Zone®, formerly known as "Think Pink," in 2007, as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities. In its inaugural year, over 120 schools participated in the initiative, and in 2008, over 1,200 schools signed up for the program. In 2009, participating institutions raised over $1.3 million, and the WBCA has inked over 1,500 constituents for the 2010 campaign.

CAU took the evening a step further by collaborating with CCRTD to increase prostate cancer awareness as well. Although CCRTD’s research concentrates on prostate cancer, Dr. Kimberly Davis, Dr. Shafiq Khan and Dr. Belinda Oliver were unyielding in their efforts to partner with CAU’s Department of Athletics to increase the community’s knowledge of cancer and provide information on prostate and breast health.

Clark Atlanta’s Department of Athletics continues to embrace the community, and Atlanta residents were encouraged to share in this special evening, as CAU honored and celebrated breast and prostate cancer survivors.