Brandon Williams was impressive in only his second indoor football game Saturday – executing at defensive end, running back and kicking off in a FireHawks’ victory – but his night came to an early end.
Williams and Miami Valley offensive tackle Eric Starks were ejected after a skirmish in the fourth quarter. Williams said Starks spit in his face.
Williams, an Indianapolis native, apologized after the game for his part in the incident.
Still, the retaliation could cost Williams.
The CIFL rule book says “any player ejected from a CIFL game will be fined $500 and suspended for three league games.
Following the suspension, if the fine is not paid, the player is not eligible to return.”
League co-founder Jeff Spitaleri said in a text message that punishment depends on the severity of the foul.
He said he will review the game film and have a decision today or Tuesday.
BASKETBALL
Gortat honors Polish president
Orlando Magic center Marcin Gortat, a Poland native, paid tribute to his homeland’s president, who was killed along with 95 others in a plane crash in Russia. Gortat wrote the number of the fatal flight on his sneakers before the Magic played the Cleveland Cavaliers and wrote President Lech Kaczynski’s name on the tape around his wrist. “It’s very sad,” Gortat said. “There were a lot of people putting our country on the right path to become one of the strongest and most powerful countries in Europe. Obviously, we pray for them.” Kaczynski and dozens of political, military and religious leaders were killed in the crash.
FOOTBALL
Hoosiers pick up QB commitment
Tre Roberson, a quarterback from Lawrence Central, made an oral commitment to Indiana. Roberson, who is 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, is the fourth recruit for the Hoosiers’ class of 2011.
HORSE RACING
Roundup
Four-year-old filly Unzip Me won her fourth straight and ended the downhill dominance of Gotta Have Her with a gate-to-wire victory in the $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Joe Talamo, Unzip Me went straight to the lead on Santa Anita’s downhill turf course and never yielded, beating Czechers by 1 1/4 lengths and covering about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:12.80. … Dubai Rainbow won the $44,000 allowance feature at Aqueduct in New York for his third victory in the last four starts. Dubai Rainbow, the even-money favorite, held off Jack On The Rocks by three-quarters of a length. Ridden by Channing Hill, the winner was timed in 1:10.30 for the six furlongs on a fast track.
TENNIS
Roundup
Igor Andreev of Russia and Italy’s Andreas Seppi both advanced to the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco. Andreev had three aces in a 6-3, 6-4 win against Simone Bolelli, and Seppi was leading 7-6 (3) against Olivier Rochus when the Belgian player retired with a lower back problem. … Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina won his first tournament in over three years with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory against American Sam Querrey at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston. Ranked 82nd in the world, Chela started winning as the seeded players lost.
