Metro Sports Report

Big Ten, Pac-12 news hit like a bombshell

TEMPE, Ariz. - Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has struck again.

The Big Ten and the Pac-12 have done a different kind of merger. It’s not the fact that they’re expanding. Rather, they plan to make a bigger footprint on the college scene by keeping the same number of teams they currently have.

The Big Ten and the Pac-12 are satisfied that they've explored expansion and do not want to add more schools to their leagues. Consequently they will now work together to enhance the marketability of their two conferences by playing against each other on a regular basis.

John Campbell not ready to retire at KCRG

John Campbell has thought seriously in recent months about retiring as the sports director at KCRG-TV9. Goodness knows he's earned it.

He's covered Rose Bowls and RAGBRAI, the Final 4 and Big Ol' Fish, preps and pros, triumphs and tragedies for more than 40 years, including the past 32 years in Cedar Rapids.

He'll turn 65 in two weeks, a traditional age for retiring and passing the baton to the next generation, for traveling and accepting a new set of challenges.

Strait shooting Cougar

Dennis Roloff has coached some outstanding guards during his years at Cedar Rapids Kennedy with players like Anne O'Neil, Amy Wold, Sarah Russell and Dawn Hynek.

Now he's adding Courtney Strait to the list.

"I've had some fantastic guards," Roloff said Tuesday after practice. "She ranks right up there with some of the best."

Ryan Sweeney traded to Red Sox

Former Cedar Rapids Xavier prep Ryan Sweeney was traded Wednesday from the Oakland Athletics to the Boston Red Sox as part of a five-player deal.

Oakland sent Sweeney and pitcher Andrew Bailey to Boston for outfielder Josh Reddick, and minor league infielder Miles Head and pitcher Raul Alcantara.