Sports briefs: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern program faces first lawsuit

COLLEGES

Fitzgerald, Northwestern sued

A former Northwestern football player filed the first lawsuit against Pat Fitzgerald and members of the school's leadership, seeking damages stemming from a hazing scandal that cost the former football coach his job.

The player, identified in the lawsuit as John Doe, alleged Tuesday in the Cook County Court in Chicago that Fitzgerald, Northwestern University president Michael Schill, the board of trustees and athletic director Derrick Gragg enabled and concealed sexual misconduct and racial discrimination.

The player, who was on the football team from 2018 to 2022, had his filing submitted by the Chicago-based Salvi Law Firm.

“It wasn’t just confined to one bad actor," attorney Parker Stinar said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It wasn’t just confined to one team, like the football team. It also included a culture that was accepted and tolerated and encouraged on the baseball team and other sports teams, and also with men and women’s sports.

"So, it’s a tainted athletic department.”

The lawsuit allegations include naked players in locker rooms forcing freshmen to also strip naked and then perform various acts. It also accuses Fitzgerald of enabling a culture of racism, including forcing players of color to cut their hair and behave differently to be more in line with the “Wildcat Way.”

Messages seeking comment were left with Northwestern spokesperson Jon Yates and Gragg.

“We have no comment at this time,” said Fitzgerald’s agent, Bryan Harlan. The office of Fitzgerald’s lawyer, Dan Webb, said that Webb had no comment. Webb is a former U.S. attorney and for decades has been one of the most sought after private lawyers in the country, with a client list that includes multiple governors, Microsoft and tobacco giant Philip Morris.

A news conference is scheduled for Wednesday morning in Chicago with civil rights attorney Ben Crump, former Northwestern athletes and attorneys from Levin & Perconti. — AP

NHL

Islanders sign Skarek

The Islanders announced restricted free agent goalie Jakub Skarek, a third-round pick in 2018 who has spent the past four seasons with their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport and has yet to make his NHl debut, agreed to a two-year, two-way deal. The contract carries an annual average value of $775,000 at the NHL level and is worth a total of $190,000 at the AHL level, per CapFriendly.com. Skarek, 23, went 15-16-3 with a 3.37 goals-against average and an .892 save percentage last season for Bridgeport as he split time with Cory Schneider. Islanders president/general manager Lou Lamoriello reported last month Schneider, the Devils’ former No. 1 goalie, will play in Europe this season. — ANDREW GROSS

Galchenyuk apologizes

Former Arizona Coyotes player Alex Galchenyuk is entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and apologized for hurling threats at officers during his arrest earlier this month.

Galchenyuk tweeted a letter apologizing for repeatedly using racial slurs toward an officer in training and threatened to have two officers killed following a July 9 traffic stop.

“I am deeply ashamed of my recent behavior and I am beyond sorry to everyone I offended and hurt,” he wrote. “It was uncalled for, it was horrific and it has ruined this great new opportunity I was given by the Coyotes. I am beyond embarrassed and disappointed with myself and I feel awful for everyone I have let down.”

A Scottsdale Police Department report said Galchenyuk was erratic and aggressive toward officers after apparently crashing a car into a sign.

CYCLING

Vingegaard extends Tour lead

Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard may have time-trialed his way to a second straight Tour de France victory in Combloux, France.

A sensational time trial from Vingegaard saw the overall leader extend his advantage over two-time winner Tadej Pogačar to nearly two minutes with just five stages remaining — including Sunday’s largely ceremonial, final procession to Paris.

Vingegaard, who rides for the Jumbo-Visma team, started the day only 10 seconds ahead of Pogačar after little could separate the duo in a fascinating duel in the last two weeks.

However, when it came down to a direct head-to-head battle, Vingegaard was in a class of his own. The Danish cyclist finished the 22.4-kilometer (14-mile) hilly route from Passy to Combloux 1 minute, 38 seconds ahead of Pogačar. Wout van Aert was third at the end of the 16th stage, 2:51 behind Vingegaard. The 26-year-old Vingegaard now leads Pogačar by 1:48 overall and it will take something equally sensational from the Slovenian cylist to wrest the yellow jersey from his rival. Adam Yates moved into third overall, almost nine minutes behind Vingegaard. — AP