Magazine Ordered to Reveal Sources for Story on Price

Sports Illustrated and one of its writers must reveal confidential sources for an article that led to Alabama’s firing of Mike Price, a judge ruled.

U.S. District Judge Lynwood Smith said the Alabama law protecting newspaper, television and radio reporters from being forced to disclose sources doesn’t extend to magazine reporters.

Price sued Time Inc., which publishes Sports Illustrated, and writer Don Yaeger for $20 million, alleging he was libeled by the article detailing Price’s actions in a strip club at Pensacola, Fla.

Alabama dismissed Price after he acknowledged drinking heavily and visiting the strip club the night before a golf outing. But Price denied the magazine’s report that he had sex with two women in a hotel after leaving the bar.

The judge said Price needed to know the identity of Yaeger’s sources to prove whether the allegations were true.

A Sports Illustrated spokesman said the magazine was reviewing the ruling.

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A Mississippi State recruit’s grandfather told investigators that retired coach Jackie Sherrill offered to provide the player a car, the NCAA said in its report on alleged rules violations by the football program.

The 22-page document, released Monday by the school, lists 13 possible violations that occurred from 1998 to 2002.

Several of the alleged violations involved assistant Glenn Davis and former assistant Jerry Fremin giving cash and gifts and offering improper benefits to prospective student-athletes and their families.

Mississippi State’s response to the NCAA’s notice of allegations, known as an official letter of inquiry, is due by March 2.

A message left for Sherrill at his home was not immediately returned.

Athletic Director Larry Templeton said the university would not comment on the allegations or the specifics of the investigation until the university’s attorneys submit a response.

Mississippi State has been cooperating with the NCAA and assisting with the investigation for the last 2 1/2 years, the university said in a release.

Mississippi State hired Sylvester Croom last week, making him the first black head football coach in the Southeastern Conference.

Sherrill, who retired last month after 13 seasons at Mississippi State, was mentioned in two of the allegations.

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Oklahoma senior cornerback Derrick Strait won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the defensive player of the year in the nation, beating out UCLA end Dave Ball, among others.

Strait led the Big 12 Conference in fumbles recovered with four and was fourth in passes defended with 12 breakups and three interceptions.

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Boise State senior quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie and Hawaii senior end Travis LaBoy were selected the Western Athletic Conference offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively.

Dinwiddie leads the WAC and is fourth nationally in passing efficiency with a 165.0 rating. He has completed 257 of 411 passes with only five interceptions.

LaBoy has 76 tackles and led the WAC with 13 sacks and 22 tackles for a loss.

Steve Kragthorpe, the first-year coach who led Tulsa to an 8-4 record and its first bowl berth in 12 years, was voted coach of the year.