COLLEGES

QB Mauk sues NCAA on eligibility

CINCINNATI - Quarterback Ben Mauk has launched a legal Hail Mary in an effort to keep his college football career alive.

Mauk filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the NCAA, less than a week after the association rejected his final appeal for another year of eligibility at Cincinnati.

The same day the lawsuit was filed, Hardin County Judge William Hart in Mauk's home area of Kenton, Ohio, granted a temporary restraining order that says the NCAA cannot prevent him from practicing with the Bearcats.

The judge set an Aug. 22 hearing on Mauk's request for a permanent injunction against the NCAA.

QB McGee will start for Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Senior Stephen McGee was chosen Texas A&M's starting quarterback by new coach Mike Sherman, ending the competition with sophomore Jerrod Johnson.

In other news:

HORSE RACING

Kentucky group proposes steroid ban

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky horse racing officials are set to approve what they call the nation's toughest steroid ban, which among other things would outlaw the drug Big Brown had in his system before winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

The sweeping ban on anabolic steroids was approved by the state's equine drug research council and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is expected to approve it later this month.

BASEBALL

2 minor leaguers suspended for drugs

NEW YORK - Chicago Cubs pitcher Jesse Lebron and second baseman Alexander Mejia, both with the club's Dominican Summer League farm team, were suspended for 50 games each after testing positive under baseball's minor league drug program. Lebron tested positive for Methandienone metabolites and Mejia for a metabolite of Boldenone.

HOCKEY

Flyers sign Stevens to extension

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Flyers signed coach John Stevens to a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2010-11 season. The 42-year-old Stevens led the Flyers to a remarkable turnaround that included an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals in his first full season as coach.

NBA

Retired player arrested on sex charges

MIAMI - Retired NBA player Vincent Askew posted bond after his arrest on charges that he had sex with a 16-year-old girl. Askew played for eight NBA teams in nine seasons. Police said he approached the victim three months ago and told her that he was recruiting players for a Miami-Dade County prep school. Authorities said the 43-year-old and the teen later met at a hotel and had sex. Askew was trying to get a coaching job at the school, police said.

In other news:

TENNIS

Jenkins, Delic among wild cards

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Scoville Jenkins, who lost to Roger Federer in the first round at Flushing Meadows last year, and former NCAA champion Amer Delic were among eight men receiving wild card entries into the U.S. Open. The USTA also invited Americans Brendan Evans, Austin Krajicek, Jesse Levine and Sam Warburg, along with Carsten Ball of Australia and Laurent Recouderc of France. AROUND THE STATE