Wisconsin running back Montee Ball makes first appearance since assault | College football

Wisconsin running back Montee Ball makes first appearance since assault | College football

College football

Wisconsin's Ball makes first appearance since assault

Montee Ball made his first public appearance since the Wisconsin running back was assaulted Aug. 1 near campus, speaking Sunday at Camp Randall Stadium during the Badgers' media day.

Ball made it clear that he didn't have anything to do with a fight before he was assaulted.

"I had nothing to do with it at all but with the police investigation still going on there's not much I can say," Ball said. "But I can 100 percent tell you that I had nothing to do with that first fight, honestly."

Ball, who sustained a concussion when he was assaulted, didn't dodge any questions, including those concerning his Heisman Trophy candidacy and his physical condition heading into the season.

Penn State trustees support acceptance of penalties

Penn State trustees took no formal vote but the vast majority of members voiced support Sunday for the university president's acceptance of tough penalties imposed by the NCAA over the university's handling of its child molestation scandal.

Board chairwoman Karen Peetz told fellow trustees during an evening conference call that the panel could not vote because 10 days' notice of the meeting was required, an objection two members raised at the outset of the call. But more than two dozen members of the 32-member board then voiced support for President Rodney Erickson's decision and a desire to move forward, although many criticized the NCAA sanctions themselves.

Soccer

Man. City beats Chelsea, wins Community Shield

Manchester City scored three second-half goals to beat 10-man Chelsea 3-2 on Sunday in a bad-tempered Community Shield, the traditional start to the English football season.

Fernando Torres put Chelsea ahead in the 40th minute, but the game turned after teammate Branislav Ivanovic was sent off just moments later. Three goals in 12 minutes, from Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri, put City firmly in control before Ryan Bertrand scored a late second for Chelsea.

For Premier League winner City, it was a first success since 1972 in the annual curtain raiser between the English champions and the FA Cup holders.

"It was a good performance," City coach Roberto Mancini said, acknowledging the advantage of having an extra man.

"It had an impact on the game. It is impossible to say 'no' because 11 versus 11 is different. But we played better than Chelsea, played better football."

Montreal edges

New England

Sanna Nyassi scored in the 61st minute to help the visiting Montreal Impact beat the New England Revolution 1-0.

Montreal (10-13-3) has won four of its last five games overall and improved to 2-10-1 on the road.

New England (6-12-5) suffered its ninth shutout loss of the season, its third straight at home.

Also in the MLS, Chris Rolfe scored two goals and Ame Friedrich had one to lead Chicago to a 3-1 victory over host Philadelphia.

Vitor Junior scored two goals 10 minutes apart, and the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy blanked Chivas USA 4-0.

U.S. men switch up roster for Mexico

Brek Shea is back on the U.S. national team roster following a tumultuous season with FC Dallas.

Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra and Steve Cherundolo were among the veterans omitted for Wednesday night's exhibition game at Mexico, while defenders Steven Beitashour and Matt Besler could make their national team debuts. Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Clarence Goodson also were left off for the match, the first for the national team since the opening round of World Cup qualifiers in June.

Elsewhere

• Top-seeded Novak Djokovic won his second straight Rogers Cup title in Toronto and third overall, beating Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-2.

• Tenth-seeded Li Na rallied to beat 16th-seeded Lucie Safarova 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the final in the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Li, from China, will face fifth-seeded Petra Kvitova, a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 winner over seventh-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in Monday's final.

• Johan Tschopp finished with an overall time of 21 hours, 26 minutes, 32 seconds to win the Tour of Utah cycling event. Six American riders placed in the top 10, led by second-place finisher Matthew Busche — 43 seconds behind Tschopp.

Levi Leipheimer won the stage, surviving the rugged climb through the Wasatch Mountains to finish the 76.8-mile ride in 3:06:53.

Steven Kruijswijk was second, and Leopold Koenig finished third — both 49 seconds behind Leipheimer.

• CFL rushing leader Cory Boyd has been released by the Toronto Argonauts.

The 6-foot-1, 209-pound Boyd is the CFL's leading rusher this season with 447 yards and was averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Boyd finished second overall in league rushing in each of the last two seasons.

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