Pitino apologizes for his ‘indiscretion’

Louisville men’s basketball Coach Rick Pitino on Wednesday apologized for his “indiscretion” of having sex with a woman who later was charged with trying to extort him and vowed to continue coaching the Cardinals for as long as “they will have me.”

His comments were the first since news broke Tuesday that he told police that he and Karen Sypher had sex on a table at a Louisville restaurant six years ago.

Two weeks later, the married father of five gave Sypher $3,000 after she said she needed an abortion and didn’t have health insurance, according to a summary of Pitino’s July 12 statement to police. His attorney said the money was to help her get medical coverage, not specifically for an abortion.

“I do want to say that the past seven months have been very difficult on the people I love,” Pitino said. “I am here today because I personally apologize to my family every single day. I let them down with my indiscretion six years ago and I’m sorry for that and I tell them that every day.”

TENNIS

Nadal wins in return from injury

Rafael Nadal won his first match since May when David Ferrer retired because of a left knee injury in the first set of their match at the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Nadal, recovering from tendinitis in both knees, led, 4-3, when Ferrer informed the chair umpire he could not continue. Earlier, Andy Roddick, playing in front of newly appreciative fans, beat Igor Andreev, 6-1, 7-6 (3), to reach the third round as well.

Playing her second competitive match in more than two years, Kim Clijsters reached the third round of the Cincinnati Open with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Patty Schnyder in Mason, Ohio. The 26-year-old Clijsters is scheduled to meet sixth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova in the next round. Second-seeded Serena Williams had 14 aces, nine in the second set, on her way to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Kateryna Bondarenko.

PRO BASKETBALL

Cavaliers sign free-agent Powe

Cleveland signed free agent forward Leon Powe, who as a youth played with Cavaliers star LeBron James on several AAU teams, to a two-year contract. Powe tore a ligament in his left knee in the playoffs and isn’t expected to be ready to play for the Cavaliers until February.

Ben Wallace said he was very close to retiring before deciding to rejoin the Detroit Pistons. After three seasons away from Detroit, the four-time All Star signed a free-agent contract. . . . Free-agent guard Von Wafer has signed a two-year, $10-million deal to play for Olympiakos, the same Greek team that landed Linus Kleiza from the Nuggets this week.

Jeremy Tyler of San Diego High signed a one-year, $140,000 contract with Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier League. Tyler, 18, is skipping his senior year and is the first American-born player to leave high school early to play basketball professionally overseas.

GYMNASTICS

Horton rallies to lead at nationals

Jonathan Horton overcame an early fall from the pommel horse with a solid high bar routine to take the lead after the first day at U.S. gymnastics championships in Dallas. Horton finished with 91.25 points, 0.65 ahead of David Sender.

ETC.

Pavlik, Williams set October fight

Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik has agreed to defend his two title belts against Paul Williams, perhaps the most avoided fighter in boxing.

They will fight Oct. 3 at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, Williams promoter Dan Goossen told the Associated Press after finishing the negotiations.

Trainer John Shirreffs said he will not race his star mare Zenyatta in a match race against Rachel Alexandra that was proposed by horse owner James McIngvale, the New York Daily News reported.