Sports in Brief: Saints deny eavesdropping at Superdome

The embattled New Orleans Saints vehemently denied an ESPN report alleging that general manager Mickey Loomis' booth was wired so he could listen to opposing coaches' communications during games in the Superdome.

A report from an anonymous source on Monday's Outside the Lines said Loomis would have been able to eavesdrop on opponents from 2002 to 2004. The report said the system was disabled in 2005, when the Superdome was damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel called the report "1,000 percent false." Bensel said the Saints and Loomis "are seeking all legal recourse" following the report.

The Eagles did not play the Saints in the Superdome in the 2002-2004 seasons.

HORSE RACING: Jockey John Velazquez and Ghostzapper, who edged Smarty Jones for 2004 horse of the year, have been elected to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Also elected to the hall were trainers Roger Attfield and Robert Wheeler.

Velazquez, with more than 4,800 wins, was the nation's top rider in 2004 and 2005.

TENNIS: The Freedoms chose 19-year old Ryan Harrison of Austin, Texas, as their wild-card player for the 2012 World Team Tennis season. He will play in matches on July 11, 13 and 14 at the Pavilion at Villanova. Harrison is ranked No. 58 in singles.

BOXING: The Front Street Gym hosted the Pennsylvania Golden Gloves on Saturday, featuring regional champions from the East and West.

The winner in the open class were Antonio Duboise (Shuler Memorial Gym) at 123 pounds; Sefaid Jihad (Boyz's Dungeon) at 132; Tyrone Davis (Delaware) at 165; and Marquise Dacres (Fast Lane Gym) at 201.

In the novice class, Mike DiPlocido (Rocco's) won at 178 and Servino Coffey (Joe Hand Boxing Gym) was the victor at 201 plus.

In the cadet class, Tyrone Arzeivo (Allentown) won at 114, and Kyree Lyons (Front Street Gym) won at 119.

COLLEGES: Larry Brown, 71, the only coach ever to win both an NCAA championship and an NBA title, was formally introduced as the coach at Southern Methodist.

Former assistant John L. Smith was named interim coach at Arkansas, replacing the fired Bobby Petrino. Smith, the former head coach at Louisville and Michigan State, left Arkansas after last season to become head coach at his alma mater, Weber State.

Seth Greenberg was fired as the men's basketball coach at Virginia Tech. Greenberg spent nine seasons in Blacksburg, guiding the Hokies to a 170-123 record.

Connecticut said basketball players Michael Bradley and Roscoe Smith will transfer. A total of five underclassmen have left UConn since the NCAA banned the Huskies from the 2013 tournament for failing to meet academic standards over a period of years.

SOCCER: Schalke manager Horst Heldt says "everything is fine again" after the club's American midfielder Jermaine Jones and Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar traded punches and had to be separated by teammates at Saturday's training session. Heldt said he ordered both players to take an extra session of jogging to cool off. The top-flight German club plays the Union in a friendly at PPL Park in Chester on May 9.

Genoa has been banned from its stadium for its final two home games this season following a tumultuous 4-1 loss to Siena on Sunday. The match was delayed for about 45 minutes in the second half after Genoa fans argued with players on the bench, threw flares onto the field, and battled stadium security in riot gear. The loss left Genoa near relegation, and resulted in coach Alberto Malesani being fired for the second time this season. Malesani was first fired in December, but was rehired earlier this month after his replacement Pasquale Marino was let go.

- Staff and wire reports