Sports in brief

COLLEGESReport: Big East, BYU

talks broken off

Negotiations between the Big East and Brigham Young have broken off and the school will not be joining the conference, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The negotiations with BYU have held up the Big East's expansion plans. The league has been courting Boise State, Air Force and Navy as football-only members, and Conference USA schools SMU, Houston and Central Florida to join in all sports.

TENNIS

Federer routs Nadal

Roger Federer raced to one of his easiest wins over rival Rafael Nadal Tuesday, routing the Spaniard, 6-3, 6-0, to earn a semifinal berth at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

HORSE RACINGTrainer Bob Holthus, 77

Trainer Bob Holthus, a regular in Kentucky, Arkansas and the Midwest for 59 years, died Tuesday morning in Louisville, Ky., at 77. He was preparing to head to Churchill Downs when stricken, apparently by heart attack. Holthus won 2,824 races, including the 1989 Met Mile at Belmont Park with Proper Reality.

Record 20th straight win

Rapid Redux, a former $6,250 claimer, made history with his 20th consecutive win Monday night at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia. He broke the record shared by 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta and Peppers Pride.

TELEVISIONSkipper made ESPN prez

ESPN announced that John Skipper, its top executive in charge of content, will succeed George Bodenheimer as president and assume day-to-day control effective Jan. 1, making him one of the most powerful people in sports. Bodenheimer will become executive chairman of ESPN.