Thursday's sports briefs

Mel Turpin, a former NBA player and an All-America center at Kentucky, committed suicide Thursday, authorities said. He was 49.

Police and the coroner were called to his North Lexington (Ky.) house Thursday afternoon on a personal injury call. They found Turpin dead.

Coroner Gary Ginn says that Turpin had committed suicide, but would not say how. He also would not say whether Turpin left behind a suicide note.

The 6-11 Turpin was an All-Southeastern Conference player for the Wildcats from 1980-84. He was the sixth player selected in the 1984 NBA draft that included Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley, but never had the NBA success of those future stars in his five-year pro career.

Weir skipping skating season U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir is skipping the 2010-11 season.

A three-time U.S. champion (2004-06) and two-time Olympian, Weir is known as much for his outlandish costumes and frank comments as his short and long programs.

"My decision comes after months of weighing the pros and cons of competing this season, and I have decided that I need a year to explore and reinvent myself as an athlete and artist," the 26-year-old Weir said Thursday.

USC ineligible for coaches' poll Southern California is ineligible for the USA Today coaches' poll for the upcoming football season after being hit with sanctions by the NCAA.

Grant Teaff, the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, issued a statement to USA Today on Thursday confirming that his organization's members aren't allowed to vote for any school on major probation, such as a bowl ban. The coaches' poll is part of the BCS formula used to determine its national champion.

College hockey: The NCAA has decided against making icing a penalty at all times during college games, even for shorthanded teams. The ice hockey rules committee announced its decision Thursday after schools objected.

NHL: The Los Angeles Kings have again said no to signing free agent Ilya Kovalchuk. After crunching the numbers, the Kings calculated they couldn't sign Kovalchuk and have salary cap space to retain the young players who are becoming the franchise's cornerstones. ... Right winger Eric Fehr has signed a $4.4 million, two-year contract to stay with the Capitals. ... The Sabres re-signed veteran free agent goalie Patrick Lalime to a one-year contract. ... John Torchetti has left the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks to serve as associate coach under Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay.

College baseball: Darin Erstad, a former Cornhusker who went on to play 14 years in the majors before retiring last fall, has rejoined Nebraska's baseball team as a hitting coach.

Tennis: A world record tennis crowd watched Kim Clijsters defeat Wimbledon champion Serena Williams 6-3, 6-2 in an exhibition in Brussels. The crowd of 35,681 at King Baudouin Stadium surpassed the previous record of 30,472 set in 1973 at the Houston Astrodome in the Battle of the Sexes match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.

WNBA: Tamika Catchings scored 24 points to lead host Indiana to a 100-72 victory over Tulsa.