Black athlete expelled after intimidation charge. Days after word that White students allegedly used racial intimidation against Black college athletes, one of the players is charged with the same crime. Harold Washington, 18, has been expelled from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut after he was charged with bigotry-based intimidation, harassment and breach of peace against one of two Black fellow basketball players. Washington’s White roommate Charles Merritt was first charged with intimidation and expelled after Washington and the other Black athletes allegedly received threatening, racist phone calls. Two other students were also charged. But police say their investigation led them to interviews and searches connected to Washington when another victim complained of racist comments posted to his Facebook.com page. Washington’s “response was not to the person harassing him,” says Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra. “His response was to a fellow victim, and that’s what’s disturbing to us.” No motive, such as whether Washington competed with the other Black student for playing time, was revealed.

“Refrigerator” Perry suffers from Guillain-Barré Syndrome.  An ex-athlete who once brought attention to the NFL, even from non-football fans, is fighting a life-threatening illness. Ex-Chicago Bears star William “The Refrigerator” Perry frequently relies on a wheelchair as he undergoes rehab after a five-month stint in the hospital for Guillain-Barré Syndrome. The affliction causes progressive physical weakness by attacking the peripheral nervous system. “I’m doing fine,” says Perry, whose accolades include having a song recorded in his honor and a clever rap part on the Bears’ tune “Super Bowl Shuffle.” “I’m walking a little bit and rehabbing…Tell everybody that I’m doing a whole lot better…I hope to be up and about in a walker real soon.” A 350-pound defensive lineman, Perry drove Bears fans wild and surprised opponents by scoring three touchdowns as a rookie, including a four-yard pass reception.

USC star wounded at Halloween party. A title-holding college sprinter is recovering from surgery after he was shot three times in the leg at a Halloween Party last weekend. Bryshon Nellum, 19, was struck as he was leaving a restaurant near the L.A. campus, where the party was held, say police. “He was was walking out to his car and a group of guys in a car pulled up next to him and yelled some sort of gang-affiliated name and shot him,” says spokesman Sam Park. Nellum was hit three times in the left thigh and hamstring, but doctors are hopeful that he’ll be able to race again, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram newspaper. Nellum was the first athlete to win two California state titles in both the 200- and 400-meter sprints in 2007. Police say it’s not known whether he knew the shooters.

Three arrested for alleged racism against Black players. Three teenagers have been expelled from Connecticut’s Quinnipiac University and arrested after allegedly harassing Black athletes. Players on Quinnipiac’s men’s and women’s hoops squads, and a Black resident assistant, all received threatening telephone calls from Charles Merritt, 18, Emily Loschiavo and Courtney Stellwag, both 19, last week, school officials say. Quinnipiac President John L. Lahey says all three were arrested on charges ranging from intimidation to harassment. Merritt was a roommate with players he allegedly harassed.