COLLEGES

Arkansas fires Petrino as football coach for misleading information after crash

Arkansas fired Coach Bobby Petrino on Tuesday, saying he engaged in reckless behavior that included hiring his mistress and then intentionally misleading his bosses about everything from their relationship to her presence at the motorcycle accident that ultimately cost him his job.

“He made the decision to mislead the public, (and it) adversely affected the university and the football program,” Athletic Director Jeff Long said at an evening news conference. There was a “pattern of misleading and manipulative behavior to deceive me.”

It was a stunning fall for Petrino, who had built Arkansas into a Southeastern Conference and national power over four seasons, including a 21-5 record the past two years. But Long made it clear that the success on the field was overshadowed by a laundry list of deceptive acts.

The 51-year-old Petrino was injured in an April 1 motorcycle accident. He was put on paid leave last week after admitting he lied about the presence of the 25-year-old employee, Jessica Dorrell, who had been riding with him.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: University of Connecticut sophomore guard Jeremy Lamb announced he has declared for the NBA draft. Lamb led the Huskies in scoring last season at 17.7 points per game, and was a key part of the team that won the NCAA championship in 2011.

• Jim Ferry, who led Long Island University to consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament, is the new head men’s basketball coach at Duquesne.

Ferry, 44, replaces Ron Everhart, who was fired last month after six seasons.

HIGH SCHOOLS

NYA: North Yarmouth Academy announced the appointment of Jack Hardy as director of athletics. He will begin his new position July 15.

Hardy spent the last seven years as the assistant principal of the Falmouth school system. He was previously the athletic director at Greely High School and Middle School for 14 years.

HOCKEY

AHL: The American Hockey League suspended two players and an assistat coach from the Worcester Sharks for their involvement in an on-ice, postgame brawl last Saturday night after the Pirates’ shootout win at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Left wing Jimmy Bonneau was suspended for eight games, defenseman Matt Pelech was suspended for four and assistant David Cunniff for one.

The Sharks were also fined.

NHL: The Edmonton Oilers won the NHL’s draft lottery, and own the No. 1 selection for the third straight year.

After choosing center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins last year, and fellow forward Taylor Hall No. 1 in 2010, the Oilers will now be in line to take Sarnia Sting forward Nail Yakupov, unless they trade the pick.

The Blue Jackets, who had the best chance to win the lottery after a league-worst 29-46-7 mark, will choose second, followed by the Canadiens, Islanders and Maple Leafs on June 22.

TENNIS

e-BOKS OPEN: Two-time defending champion Caroline Wozniacki overcame Urszula Radwanska of Poland 7-6 (4), 6-2 to reach the second round at Copenhagen, Denmark.

GOLF

PGA: Speeding between the Masters and his next tournament cost Jose Maria Olazabal $621 when a Georgia sheriff’s deputy pulled him over for driving 97 mph on a rural highway, where the posted limit was 65.

Olazabal agreed to follow a deputy to the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and pay the speeding ticket in cash to settle the matter after he was stopped Monday afternoon traveling from Augusta to Hilton Head, S.C., for the Heritage tournament, sheriff’s spokesman David Ehsanipoor said.

SOCCER

MLS: New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph was suspended for one game and fined for what Major League Soccer called a “reckless challenge that endangered the safety of his opponent.”

Joseph was penalized for his scissors tackle from behind of Dallas’ Ricardo Villar last Thursday.

• The Los Angeles Galaxy acquired defender David Junior Lopes from Chivas USA in a trade for midfielder Paolo Cardozo.