Sports in 2 Minutes

From The Associated Press

Christine Olson seeks reconciliation with Lute

TUCSON—The wife of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson has filed a court challenge to his attempt to divorce her.

Christine Olson said in a response petition that she “denies the marriage is irretrievably broken” and “remains committed to preserving the marital relationship.”

The petition, filed in Pima County Superior Court last Friday, seeks marital counseling through the court of conciliation.

The 73-year-old Hall of Fame coach filed for divorce on Dec. 6, the same day he announced that his leave of absence would be extended through the remainder of this season. He began his leave for unspecified personal reasons on Nov. 4, shortly before he was to have opened his 25th season at Arizona.

Christine Jack Olson, 50, is a prominent business executive and member of the Republican national committee from Pennsylvania. She married Olson in 2003.

She is Olson’s second wife. His wife of 47 years, Bobbie, died of ovarian cancer in 2001.

Kevin O’Neill is serving as interim coach and has been designated Olson’s eventual replacement. Olson has indicated he expects to return as coach next season.

Joe Gibbs resigns as coach of Washington Redskins

ASHBURN, Va.—After the toughest season of his Hall of Fame career, Joe Gibbs knew he needed to walk away from his Washington Redskins family to be closer to his wife, children and grandchildren.

He resigned as coach and team president of the Redskins on Tuesday, three days after a playoff loss ended an inspirational late-season run that followed the death of safety Sean Taylor.

The 67-year-old Gibbs said Redskins owner Dan Snyder tried to persuade him to stay on during a conversation that lasted until about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday.

“My family situation being what it is right now, I told him I couldn’t make the kind of commitment I needed to make,” Gibbs said during a news conference at the Redskins’ practice facility, standing a few feet from the three silver Super Bowl trophies he won during his first tenure with the team.

Gibbs did not go into specifics. But one of his grandsons, Taylor, was diagnosed with leukemia a year ago at age 2. Gibbs frequently talks lovingly about his “grandbabies,” and he made an overnight trip to North Carolina on Sunday to be with his family, interrupting the postseason routine of meetings that usually follow the final game of the season.

He had one season left on the five-year, $27.5 million deal that lured him out of his first NFL retirement and away from his second career as a NASCAR owner.

Gibbs went 31-36, including 1-2 in the playoffs, in his second stint with the Redskins, always maintaining he intended to fulfill the contract.

Gossage elected to Hall of Fame

NEW YORK—Goose Gossage became only the fifth relief pitcher elected to the Hall of Fame, earning baseball’s highest honor Tuesday in his ninth try on the ballot.

Known for his overpowering fastball, fiery temperament and bushy mustache, the Goose received 466 of 543 votes (85.8 percent) from 10-year members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

“It was very emotional I’ll tell you, off the charts. I can’t describe the feeling,” Gossage said after learning the news. “I can’t lie. There’s been some frustration and some disappointment.”

Jim Rice was passed over yet again in his next-to-last year on the ballot, getting 392 votes (72.2 percent), up from 346 (63.5 percent) last year but 16 short of the 75 percent needed.

Mark McGwire, a casualty of the Steroids Era in some writers’ minds, received just 128 votes—the exact total he had last year. His percentage increased slightly to 23.6 percent, up from 23.5 percent last year when he was on the ballot for the first time.

Brady named AP Offensive Player of Year

NEW YORK—Just like all those wins, the NFL awards keep rolling in for Tom Brady.

The league’s Most Valuable Player added The Associated Press 2007 Offensive Player of the Year honors to his collection Tuesday, easily outdistancing his main weapon on the unbeaten New England Patriots, Randy Moss.

Indeed, of the four players who received votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL, three were Patriots. Brady, of course, led the way, just as he did through the first 16-0 regular season in league history.

It’s been a rewarding season for Brady, the first New England player to be chosen MVP and now the first Patriot to win Offensive Player of the Year. He collected 35 1/2 votes to 12 1/2 for Moss. Wes Welker, the Patriots’ other starting receiver, got one, as did Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre.

LSU finishes No. 1, winning second AP national title

NEW ORLEANS—For the first time, a team with two losses ended up No. 1.

LSU climbed to the top of The Associated Press college football poll for the third time this season, winning its second title after beating Ohio State 38-24 in the BCS national championship game Monday night.

Right behind the Tigers, who received 60 of 65 first-place votes from the media panel, was another Southeastern Conference team. Georgia was No. 2, making the SEC the first league since the Big 8 in 1971 to have the top two teams in the final AP poll. National champion Nebraska was followed by Oklahoma that season.

Southern California, which started this season ranked No. 1, finished No. 3. Missouri was fourth, its best finish in the AP poll, and Ohio State fell from No. 1 to No. 5 after losing the title game.

Georgia received three first-place votes, USC got one and so did No. 7 Kansas.