Sports

A&M OKs $450M Remodel of Kyle Field Into Texas' Biggest Stadium

Andrew Weber and Wells Dunbar, KUT News — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:59:48 +0000

Update: The Texas A&M Board of Regents approved the university’s $450 million plan to redevelop Kyle Field into the biggest stadium in Texas (by seating capacity). Demolition work on the existing stadium is slated to begin in November this year, with plans for a grand opening in time for the 2015 football season.

You can read a press release, and view a photo gallery here.

Original post (May 1): Football is big at Texas A&M and it could be getting bigger – even bigger than it is at UT Austin.

NBA's Jason Collins is First Active Player to Come Out as Gay

Mark Memmott, NPR — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:19:01 +0000

"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport," National Basketball Association center Jason Collins writes in a Sports Illustrated essay posted Monday, "but since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation."

With that, the 34-year-old veteran of 12 NBA seasons and six pro teams becomes the first active player in the four major American team sports to come out.

Why now?

Legally Blind Austin Man to Run Boston Marathon - With a Special Guest (Update)

Matt Largey, KUT News — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:19:05 +0000

UPDATE 7:15pm: KUT News has spoken with William Greer, who says he is fine, after a pair of explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

He and his sighted guide, Peter Sagal, finished with a time of about 4 hours and 4 minutes. The explosions went off about 5 minutes later.

Greer said, from his vantage point, it wasn't clear at first just what was happening, but when multiple emergency vehicles started speeding toward the sound of the explosions, it became clear that something serious had happened.

UPDATE: Peter Sagal tells All Things Considered that he and William Greer are safe, following two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Sagal says the pair had just finished the marathon and were making their way through the finish chute when they heard two explosions in quick succession. Marathon staff then told them and other runners to leave the area as quick as possible.

Original Story: Today, thousands will run in one of the country’s oldest and best-known road races: the Boston Marathon.

Among them will be a 43 year-old Austinite named William Greer. And he'll have a special guest along with him that might be familiar to listeners to weekend public radio.

Armstrong Will Sit Out Swimming Competition

Andrew Weber — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:48:50 +0000

Try as he might, Lance Armstrong just can’t return to competitive sport.

Armstrong was slated to compete in the Masters South Central Zone Swimming Championships this weekend at the University of Texas. But the executive director of U.S. Masters Swimming tells the AP the former cyclist decided not to swim after international swimming authorities objected.

3 Things You Need to Know About the Weekend's Basketball Action

Mark Memmott, NPR — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:25:48 +0000

Didn't have time to watch or didn't really care?

It's Not the NCAA - or the NIT - but the CBI for the Longhorn Men

Laura Rice, KUT News — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:05:25 +0000

The University of Texas at Austin men’s basketball team is not eligible to play in the upcoming NCAA tournament. The Longhorns were not even invited to play in the NIT.

But they have accepted a bid to the College Basketball Invitational or CBI.

So what is the CBI? According to the event's website, it's a single-elimination tournament for sixteen teams "that deserve a postseason experience."

'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius In Custody After Girlfriend's Death

Mark Memmott, NPR — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:54:46 +0000

Our most recent update was added at 1:45 p.m. ET.

South African Paralympic and Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius "has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend," The Associated Press reports from Pretoria.

Reeva Steenkamp was shot and killed inside Pistorius' home early Thursday, police say.

The AP adds that:

"Police said a 26-year-old male would appear in court later. ...

Special Olympics Athletes Return to Austin After Winning Honors in World Winter Games (Update)

Filipa Rodrigues — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:31:28 +0000

Update: Central Texans Alex Miller and Cory Gentry returned to Austin today after competing in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in South Korea. Figure skaters Miller and Gentry placed fourth and fifth in the worldwide competition. The games ran from Jan. 29 to Feb. 5.

To learn more, watch a video below with Gentry, Miller, their families and coach Peggy Grant below.

Original Post (Dec. 5, 2012): Thousands of athletes will descend on Pyeongchang, South Korea for the Special Olympics World Winter Games in January. Among them are two Austinites: Cory Gentry and Alex Miller.

Lance Armstrong's Celebrity Confessor: Oprah

Austin Feldman — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:36:58 +0000

From his home in Austin, Lance Armstrong will speak with Oprah Winfrey for his first interview since having his seven Tour de France titles vacated.

It was a rough 2012 for Armstrong: He saw his wins vacated once he stopped fighting doping charges from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency last summer. USADA then issued a scathing report detailing alleged doping throughout Armstrong’s career. The fallout lead to Armstrong’s formal separation from the cancer organization he founded, Livestrong.

Texas Tops Michigan in Women's Volleyball, Heads to Finals

Greg Echlin — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:07:37 +0000

The Texas Longhorns have advanced to the women’s volleyball championship game for the third time in four years. The only thing standing in the way of a possible national title is Penn State.

The Lady Lions has defeated the Longhorns in their last two final four appearances. Texas coach Jerritt Elliott hopes this will be different than their last trip to the title game in Tampa three years ago, a heartbreaking five-set loss against Penn State.

Collision Course: F1, Horns on Same Weekend in 2013? (Update)

Matt Largey, KUT News — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:53:02 +0000

Update: Circuit of the Americas emails KUT News the following statement from COTA principal Bobby Epstein:

"Circuit of The Americas has expressed our strong preference for an alternate race date in 2013. We understand that setting a global calendar can be very challenging, involves many factors and is out of our control. We feel confident that Formula One has taken our concerns seriously and is working earnestly towards a collective solution. Ultimately, our 2013 race date may remain as it currently stands."

Original post (Nov. 20, 4:51 p.m.): If you thought it was crowded in Austin last weekend, just wait until next November.

What Austin Needs to Know About the Actual F1 Race This Weekend

Tyler Pratt and Wells Dunbar, KUT News — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:42:56 +0000

Ready or not, Formula 1 has arrived.

As Austin readies for an onslaught of some 100,000 visitors, we’ve heard lots about traffic plans, helicopter permits, and even counter-terrorism measures. But what about the actual race: the cars, the drivers and the sport itself? Confused? KUT News has assembled a primer on this weekend’s Formula 1 race.

What Sort of Cars Are These?

The FIA Formula One World Championship is the highest class of single-seater auto racing that is authorized by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.

The "formula" in Formula 1 refers to a set of guidelines that each racing car must adhere to. The results are state-of-the-art.

DKR Memorabilia at Auction to Benefit Alzheimer's Research

Laura Rice, KUT News — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 20:07:56 +0000

An auction of Coach Darrell K Royal’s sports memorabilia, personal collections and historic artifacts is happening this Sunday.

The event had been planned for months but takes on new meaning after the longtime University of Texas at Austin football coach died on Wednesday. He was 88 years-old.

For fans that no longer have the opportunity to meet Coach Royal, it’s a chance for them to find a certain closeness to him.

“Before this even happened, Edith, Coach Royal’s wife Edith Royal, who is of equal importance, made the statement that she hoped that Darrells’s fans would be the ones to own these things now. She’s cherished them for a lifetime. And that was her wish that Darrell’s fans would come out and be able to share the memories by owning a piece of that history that they created," Chris Featherston, co-owner of Austin Auction, says.

With Bowl Bid, Houston Dreams of Being 'Super' Once More

Hady Karl Mawajdeh — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:17:44 +0000

The City of Houston has been selected as one of two finalists to host Super Bowl LI in February 2017.

At the NFL’s Fall Meeting, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that San Francisco and South Florida will duke it out for the opportunity to host the NFL’s 50th Super Bowl, Super Bowl L, in 2016. Goodell says the losing city will compete with Houston for the chance to host Super Bowl LI.

NFL owners will vote on the two Super Bowl sites during league meetings in Boston next May.

Houston’s bid is being lead by the Texans, the Greater Houston Convention and Visitor Bureau, the Harris County – Sports Authority and Reliant Park.

Texans president Jamey Rootes says Houston should feel good about their chances to host the Super Bowl in 2017.

From Special Forces to Special Teams: Iraq Vet Newest Longhorn

Brandon Mulder — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 20:49:14 +0000

Green Beret Staff Sgt. Nate Boyer fulfilled a long-time dream during last Saturday’s Longhorn football game against New Mexico. Boyer joined the team as a walk-on after his tour with the Special Forces in Iraq. Now he represents the Longhorns’ special teams as a deep snapper.

Boyer is a unique figure on the team. Being ten or so years older than his teammates, he brings a certain sense of maturity and imbues a breath of enthusiasm into the new season.

Having gone to a high school without a football team, Boyer said at today's Mack Brown press conference that his only advantage was his work ethic and his ‘no-regrets’ mentality. “I just felt confident that going through what I’d gone through, I could make the team and help out in any way and at least be a part of it,” Boyer said.