Redskins Defeat Dallas

Led by a pair of rookies serenaded loudly and lovingly as ''R-G-3!'' and ''Al-fred Mor-ris!,'' the Redskins claimed their first division title since 1999, beating the archrival Dallas Cowboys 28-18 Sunday night in a winner-take-all finale to end the NFL's regular season.

Griffin, the Heisman Trophy winner drafted second overall, ran for 63 yards and a touchdown. Morris, the out-of-nowhere sixth-rounder from Florida Atlantic, ran for 200 yards and three scores. He set the franchise single-season rushing record for the Redskins (10-6), who revived the season behind their quarterback's talent and leadership to win seven straight after their bye week. They are the first NFL team to rally from 3-6 and make the playoffs since the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1996.
''I could never imagine coming in here my rookie year and doing what I've been able to do,'' Morris said. ''It's better than my wildest dreams.''

After the final whistle, team captain Griffin walked off the field with a big smile, holding up his left index finger in a No. 1 gesture. He then held his left fist aloft.

''These aren't ordinary rookies,'' cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. ''For a guy to win the Heisman Trophy, be the top pick, the savior of the franchise, come in here so humble - from Day 1 he came in here working, that's why he has that `C' on his chest.''a/p

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Chiefs LB Belcher kills self and girlfriend

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)

Police say Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Javon Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend early Saturday, then drove to Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide in front of his coach and general manager.
Police spokesman Darin Snapp confirmed it was Belcher, a fourth-year player from West Babylon, N.Y., who played college ball at Maine. The woman's name has not yet been released.
Snapp said Belcher shot the woman at a Kansas City residence, then drove to the Chiefs facility. He thanked Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli and Romeo Crennel for all they had done for him, then shot himself.A/P

Hector Macho Camacho Dies

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico AP

Former championship boxer Hector ''Macho'' Camacho died Saturday at the hospital in Puerto Rico where he has been unconscious since he was shot in the face in an attack in his hometown.
Camacho went into cardiac arrest in the pre-dawn hours and he was then taken off life support and died shortly thereafter, said Dr. Ernesto Torres, the director of the Centro Medico trauma center in San Juan.

Camacho's mother, Maria Matias, said Friday night that she had supported removing him from life support after his three sons had arrived from the U.S. mainland and had a chance to see their father for the last time. They managed to visit him before he died, said former pro boxer Victor ''Luvi'' Callejas, a longtime friend.
''The family is destroyed,'' Callejas said outside the hospital.
Doctors had declared Camacho brain dead on Thursday. Matias had said she decided it was time for doctors to disconnect life support over the objections of the boxer's eldest son, Hector Jr., because there was no chance of recovery.
''I lost my son three days ago. He's alive only because of a machine,'' she said Friday night. ''My son is not alive. My son is only alive for the people who love him,'' she added.
Torres said that none of the boxer's organs could be donated because of the time between when he was declared brain dead and his death after going into cardiac arrest for the second time since the shooting.
Callejas lamented the inability to donate the organs. ''It's unfortunate that five more lives could not have been saved,'' he said. ''This could have been avoided.''
Camacho was shot as he sat in a car with a friend, 49-year-old Adrian Mojica Moreno, who was killed in the attack. Police spokesman Alex Diaz said officers found nine small bags of cocaine in the friend's pocket and a 10th bag open inside the car.
Police reported no arrests and said investigators continued to look for potential witnesses. Capt. Rafael Rosa told reporters they were following several leads, but declined to say whether police had identified any suspects. He said very few witnesses were cooperating.
Hector Camacho Jr. decried the violence that grips Puerto Rico, a U.S. island territory of nearly 4 million people that reported a record 1,117 homicides last year.

''Death, jail, drugs, killings,'' he said. ''That's what the streets are now.''
Camacho's sisters have said they would like to fly Camacho's body to New York and bury him there. Camacho grew up mostly in Harlem, earning the nickname the ''Harlem Heckler.''

Rex Ryan In Tears After Loss

According to ESPN New York's Rich Cimini, several Jets players indicated their head coach actually cried during his postgame address in the locker room following the team's 28-7 loss to Seattle. A fiery and emotional Ryan reportedly implored his team to "believe" in one another with their playoff hopes seemingly fading away. Gang Green is currently mired in a three-game losing streak and is just 3-9 over its last 12 regular season contests. New York squandered yet another opportunity to halt its skid and get back on the winning track against the Seahawks this past Sunday.  Fresh off a bye week, Mark Sanchez and the offensive unit produced just 185 total yards, with the team's only points coming off defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson's 21-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Sanchez tossed a costly red-zone interception to Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman and lost a key fourth-quarter fumble that ultimately sealed the Jets' fate.  No wonder Ryan was weeping after what he deemed a "brutal loss" at Century Link Field in Seattle. Famed for his braggadocios behavior, Ryan showed a more vulnerable side this past Sunday, apparently trying to light a fire under a team that is definitely not living up to its preseason hype. The Jets return to the gridiron next week to face the St. Louis Rams before preparing for a Thanksgiving Night matchup.by rick laughland

Doug Martin Rushes For 251 Yards

Martin rushed for a franchise-record 251 yards and four touchdowns and Ahmad Black intercepted a Carson Palmer pass after Oakland had cut an 18-point deficit to three late in the fourth quarter as the Bucs beat the Raiders 42-32 on Sunday.

Martin, who was born in Oakland and went to high school in nearby Stockton, had a memorable return home for the Bucs (4-4) by scoring on runs of 1, 45, 67 and 70 yards in front of more than 60 friends and family members.

''Everybody was there. It was awesome,'' he said. ''It's surreal right now. I'm just doing my job out there. I'm honored.''

Martin, the 31st pick in April out of Boise State, became the first back since at least 1940 to score on three TD runs of at least 45 yards in one game, according to STATS LLC

He finished 45 yards shy of tying Adrian Peterson's single game record of 296 set in his rookie season in 2007 and joined Denver's Mike Anderson as the only backs with at least 250 yards rushing and four TDs in a single game
.
Martin had 214 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns last week in Minnesota to cap a month in which he was the NFL's top offensive rookie.A/P

L.A.Lakers Off To 0-3 Start

 

Los Angeles Lakers are off to their first 0-3 start in 34 years after a thrashing from the Los Angeles Clippers, whose younger stars are shining a whole lot brighter so far.

So, Kobe Bryant, when is it time to push the panic button on this grand experiment?
''Now,'' he said.
Chris Paul had 18 points and 15 assists, Jamal Crawford scored 21 points and the Clippers beat the Lakers 105-95 Friday night to keep their Staples Center co-tenants winless.
Bryant later said he was only joking about that panic button, but it's tough not to worry about a team that still hasn't walked off any court together with a victory.

Bryant scored 40 points and Dwight Howard had 13 points and eight rebounds while battling constant foul trouble for the Lakers, who are 0-3 for just the fourth time in franchise history. Steve Nash sat out with a bruised left leg for the Lakers, who have followed up their 0-8 preseason with three losses in four days.

''We need a win, obviously,'' Lakers coach Mike Brown said. ''I'm not trying to fool anyone here. That's part of the reason Kobe played the minutes he played, which is too many.''
Bryant logged 43 minutes on his bruised foot. While soaking it in ice after the game, he said it ''felt like it's about to fall off.''A/P

NYC Marathon Will Go On Says Mayor

Michael Bloomberg came under fire Friday for pressing ahead with this weekend's New York Marathon in a city still reeling from Superstorm Sandy, with some New Yorkers saying that holding the race would be insensitive and divert police, generators and other resources when many are still suffering.

Joan Wacks, whose Staten Island waterfront condo was swamped with 4 feet of water, predicted authorities will still be recovering bodies when the estimated 40,000 runners from around the world hit the streets for the 26.2-mile race Sunday, and she called the mayor "tone deaf."

"He is clueless without a paddle to the reality of what everyone else is dealing with," she said. "If there are any resources being put toward the marathon, that's wrong. I'm sorry, that's wrong."
At a news conference, Bloomberg defended his decision as a way to raise money for the stricken city and boost morale less than a week after Sandy flooded neighbourhoods, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands homes and businesses and killed at least 39 people.

"New York has to show we are here and we are going to recover ... to give people something to cheer about in what has been a dismal week for a lot of people," he said.
He noted that his predecessor, Rudolph Giuliani, went ahead with the New York Marathon two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"If you go back to 9-11, Rudy made the right decision in those days to run the marathon and pull people together," Bloomberg said. He said the marathon's organizers are "running this race to help New York City, and the donations from all the runners in the club will be a great help for our relief efforts."

One of the world's pre-eminent road races, the New York Marathon generates an estimated $340 million into the city.
The course runs from the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge on hard-hit Staten Island to Central Park, sending runners through all five boroughs. The course will not be changed, since there was little damage along the route.A/P

Man Runs Marathon in Flip Flops

Keith Levasseur ran Saturday's Baltimore Marathon in 2:46:58 while wearing flip flops. Levasseur will file paperwork with the Guinness Book of World Records to have the feat acknowledged as a world record for a marathon in flip flops.

Levasseur, a member of Maryland's Howard County Striders, ran his marathon PR of 2:38 at last year's Marine Corps Marathon. Before the Baltimore Marathon, he said his goal was to go sub-3:00 in flip flops.

"I had every intention of sticking to the race plan of finishing a little under 3:00, so my initial pace starting out was 6:40-6:50 [per mile]," Levasseur told Runner's World Newswire. "After a few miles, I decided I go with whatever pace I could comfortably run, even if it was faster than my target pace. I know there are some decent hills later in the race and I didn't know how I would be doing from a time perspective at that point, so I gave myself some wiggle room by letting go on the downhills and cruising in the low 6:00's."


Levasseur said that fellow racers as well as spectators noticed his footwear. Runners, he said, "were supportive of the effort and after a 'you're crazy' comment or two, they wished me luck. I heard a number of spectators saying, 'Hey, that's the flip flop guy!' as I passed."

A little past halfway, Levasseur started to get a hot spot on the top of his right foot. (The farthest he had gone in training in flip flops was 14 miles.) "I knew that what would normally result in a blister wasn't happening because there wasn't any room due to the snugness of the strap," Levasseur said. "Instead I figured it would just rub away the skin, which is what it essentially did.

"I knew it was all about maintaining a very efficient and balanced stride," he said. "There were times when I my feet and ankles would get tired from maintaining a more rigid stride than I might otherwise have and I would start landing more on the outside of the my foot and cause my heel to slip off the sandal. It only happened a few times and when it did, it would refocus my concentration on my stride and posture."

Levasseur said other challenges were cobblestones and railroad tracks, as well as uphills "since all the uphills were run more like stair stepping instead of fluid running."

The rules Levasseur had worked out with Guinness for record purposes required that he cover the entire course in flip flops; if one came off, Levasseur was to go back to it, put it back on, and then resume running. "They never fell off," Levasseur said. "There were times I would have to drive the front of my foot into the ground to re-secure the fit if they started to slide off. There were also a few times my heel would slip to the side, though they never touched the ground."

By the following day, Levasseur said, the balls of his feet were "quite sore," in part because "with the minimal padding and inability to place my foot like I normally do, I had to slap the front of my foot quite a bit, especially on the downhills." Levasseur said his ankles and quadriceps were also more sore than usual because of his altered gait.

"Many friends have asked if I'll do it again and my answer has been a resounding 'no,'" Levasseur said. "If someone breaks the record, I will simply congratulate them."by scott douglas

BMX cyclist dies in car crash

BMX cyclist Kyle Bennett was killed in an automobile accident in eastern Texas. He was 33.

A statement from USA Cycling says the single-vehicle crash happened early Sunday in Conroe, Texas, north of Houston.

Bennett was a three-time BMX world champion and won an automatic spot the first U.S. BMX Olympic team in 2008.

In the statement, USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson said Bennett was a pioneer in Olympic BMX cycling and an inspiration to those who knew him.
Bennett is survived by his fiance and a young daughter.A/P

Alabama is unanimous No. 1 In Associated Press

Alabama is a unanimous No. 1 and LSU slipped another spot in The Associated Press college football poll.

The Crimson Tide received all 60 first-place votes for the first time this season. The Tigers had a second straight sketchy performance, this time against Towson, and dropped a spot for the second consecutive week.

LSU won 38-22 at home against the FCS opponent Saturday night and is ranked No. 4 in the new media poll.

Oregon remained No. 2 and Florida State moved past LSU to No. 3.
After beating Stanford on Thursday, Washington moved into the rankings at No. 23. No. 24 Northwestern is ranked for the first time this season.A/P

Cincinnati Reds Homer Bailey Throws No-Hitter

Homer Bailey had a certain milestone on his mind when he walked to the mound Friday night. He wound up pulling off an even bigger feat.

Bailey pitched the seventh no-hitter in the majors this season, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The right-hander began the night with 195 innings pitched this season and was eager to reach 200 for the first time in his six-year career.

''I looked up at the scoreboard (after the fifth inning) to see if I had hit 200 and saw a couple of zeros,'' Bailey said. ''That's when I knew I had a chance at a no-hitter. It's not something you think about doing.''

It was the 15th no-hitter in Reds history and first since Tom Browning's perfect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 16, 1988.
The seven major league no-hitters match the modern record for one season, tying 1990 and 1991. There were eight no-hitters in 1884.

''I don't think there is any reason why there have been so many,'' Bailey said. ''There is a real fine line there in throwing a no-hitter. A bloop can fall in the outfield or an infielder can be in the wrong position and there goes your hit. You have to be extremely fortunate to throw a no-hitter and we had luck on our side tonight.''

Bailey (13-10) struck out 10 and walked one. He threw 115 pitches and retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out pinch-hitter Brock Holt before getting pinch-hitter Michael McKenry and Alex Presley to pop out.A/P

Miami Dolphins Reggie Busch Injury Not Serious

DAVIE, Fla. (AP)

Reggie Bush's knee problem may not be a major issue for the Miami Dolphins.

Bush tweeted on Monday that he ''received some great news,'' one day after leaving the Dolphins' game against the New York Jets late in the first half with a left knee injury.

The Dolphins have not issued any official updates on Bush's status. They said he was ''questionable'' to return on Sunday after he departed with a pronounced limp. Players were to be available to reporters later Monday afternoon.

Bush returned to the sideline for the second half and was riding a stationary bike for several minutes, but didn't play again. He finished with 61 yards on 10 carries, and the Dolphins lost to the Jets 23-20 in overtime.
Miami (1-2) visits Arizona (3-0) on Sunday.

Corrie Sanders Was Killed

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)

Corrie Sanders, the South African southpaw who knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in one of the great upsets in heavyweight boxing, has died after being shot by robbers at a restaurant during a family celebration.The former WBO and WBU champion was 46.

Sanders was shot in the hand and stomach at a family member's 21st birthday party at the restaurant in Brits, in South Africa's North West province, on Saturday night, police said. He died in a hospital in the capital city of Pretoria in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Police Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said three armed men entered the restaurant with the apparent intention to rob it and shot randomly, hitting Sanders. No other injuries were reported. The robbers took a cellphone and a bag from customers, Ngubane said.

No arrests had been made but a murder investigation has been opened.
Renowned for his hand speed, the 6-foot-4 Sanders was one of South Africa's most successful and popular fighters after a nearly 20-year professional career.

He retired in 2008 with a 42-4 record, with 31 knockouts. But he was most remembered for the shocking second-round knockout of Klitschko in Germany in 2003 that earned him the WBO title and respect across the world as a wily, fast and clever fighter and powerful puncher.

No. 2 LSU barely beats Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. (AP)

Sam Montgomery and the LSU defense delivered a first-quarter safety and shut out Auburn in the second half to give the second-ranked Tigers a 12-10 victory Saturday night.


Auburn led 10-9 at halftime but managed only 183 yards.
A fumbled punt return by Auburn's Quan Bray set up Drew Alleman's 30-yard field goal late in the third quarter that gave LSU (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) a 12-10 lead. Alleman missed a 34-yarder with 39 seconds remaining.
Auburn (1-3, 0-2 SEC) managed only one first down on its final possession. Kiehl Frazier's final pass was intercepted by Tharold Simon as the game ended.
The win gave LSU its sixth straight 4-0 start and extended its streak of regular-season wins to 17, the longest in the nation.

LSU's Zach Mettenberger had two first-half fumbles but threw a 33-yard pass to running back Spencer Ware on a key third-down late in the game.
Montgomery tackled Tre Mason in the end zone midway through the first quarter and Michael Ford's 1-yard TD run four minutes later made it 9-0 LSU.
Onterrio McCalebb scored Auburn's touchdown on 4-yard run on the last play of the first quarter to make it 9-7 and from there it was nothing but field goals and defense.

McCalebb was held to 24 yards on 11 carries.
LSU outscored its first three opponents 145-31, but its conference opener was a much bigger challenge. LSU was favored by almost three touchdowns but managed only 182 yards rushing - almost 100 yards below its SEC-leading average.
Ware, who was only fifth on the team with 38 yards rushing through three games, led LSU with 16 carries for 90 yards.

LSU held the ball for 11 plays on its opening drive, moving to the Auburn 2 before Auburn defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker recovered Mettenberger's fumbled snap. LSU center P.J. Lonergan left with a leg injury earlier in the series, and the fumble came on the snap from backup center Elliott Porter.
Lonergan returned on LSU's next possession.

Auburn had a false-start penalty on its first play after the turnover, pushing the Tigers back to their 1, setting up Montgomery's tackle of Mason for the safety.A/P

Charles Barkley Questions Tiger Woods Toughness

former golf pro Greg Norman challenged Woods by saying that rising star Rory McIlroy was intimidating the living legend, Barkley is asking Woods to tap into his inner Sir Charles.
"I would like for him to just blast Greg Norman," Barkley told the Waddle and Silvy radio show in Chicago.

Barkley said he himself has built a reputation for not taking assaults on his talent and reputation, and he suggested Woods do the same.
"That situation gave everybody a chance to dump on [Woods]," Barkley said, "and [Woods] still tried to take the high road. I'm not a high road guy. I want him to come out and really blast Greg Norman

Barkley said Woods should go "ballistic" on the fellow golfer, whose resume is a bit shorter than Woods' despite a still-illustrious career. But Barkley didn't stop there.
"I wish I could put some of my blackness in him ... like toughness," Barkley said
.
Chances that Woods will answer Norman's challenge the way he always has -- by dominating on the course -- but the exchange did provide some nice takeaways. Thanks for these lessons, Mr. Barkley: (A) Charles Barkley does not take the high road. (B) Charles Barkley is black. (C) Tiger Woods has at least one part of his reputation (the rare ability among athletes not to spout off whenever he's slighted) intact.
Now, if only we could hear what Norman thinks about Barkley's golf swing.Nesn source

TEAM USA BEATS SPAIN GET GOLD IN BASKETBALL

Team USA held off an aggressive Spain squad for an 107-100 victory in the men's basketball gold-medal game at the London Olympics on Sunday.
Kevin Durant led the Americans with 30 points and nine rebounds while LeBron James chipped in with 19 points and Kobe Bryant added 17.
On Saturday, Mike Krzyzewski said that the gold-medal game would be his last as Team USA's coach. Coach K also led Team USA to the gold in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Matt Hasselbeck No TD's In Return To Seattle

Hasselbeck, who was Seattle's anchor at quarterback for nearly a decade, saw the first play of the game — a pass intended for Nate Washington — get deflected into the arms of Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner and returned 23 yards for a touchdown. Seattle went ahead 17-3 on the first drive of the second half when Wilson, in a three-way competition for the Seahawks' QB job, threw a 39-yard scoring pass to Braylon Edwards. Wilson added a 32-yard bootleg touchdown run with 1:51 left to cap an impressive debut.

Matt Flynn got the start at quarterback for Seattle while incumbent Tarvaris Jackson was left to watch this week. Coach Pete Carroll has given no indication how the rotation will be next week when Seattle travels to Denver.
Hasselbeck barely had time to be acknowledged by the Seattle crowd before watching the Seahawks take the lead. He was adorned with cheers and signs before the game with plenty of fans still donning No. 8 Seahawks jerseys. Hasselbeck said he got choked up speaking to his teammates before the game.
''The reception I got from the fans in both the pregame and during the game was humbling,'' Hasselbeck said.
Hasselbeck threw a quick out for Washington on the first play from scrimmage. But Hasselbeck's throw was poor — low and too far behind Washington. The receiver tried to pull in the pass, but instead knocked it into the arm, off the arm of safety Earl Thomas and into Browner's arms. The 23-yard interception return gave Seattle a 7-0 lead just nine seconds into the preseason.a/p

 

Miami Dolphins WR Chad Johnson Arrested

 Miami Dolphins Chad Johnson was arrested and charged with domestic violence Saturday night, which was first reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Associated Press confirms that Johnson, 34, is accused of head-butting his newlywed wife, Evelyn Lozada, during an argument while the couple was inside a vehicle in front of their home in Davie, Fla.

Davie police Capt. Dale Engle says Johnson and his wife were at dinner Saturday night and she confronted him about a receipt she had found for a box of condoms. Lozada is on the reality show, ''Basketball Wives,'' and the couple married in July.
Engle says when they arrived at their driveway, Lozada says Johnson head-butted her. She was treated at a hospital for a forehead cut. Engle says Johnson is in the Broward County Jail where he will remain until he can appear before a judge, which Engle says might not be until Monday. He is charged with simple battery, domestic violence, which is a misdemeanor.
Team officials were ''aware of the situation and are in the process of gathering of relevant information,'' Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene said.
Johnson's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined to comment.
That means a weekend that would have been a speed bump for the team — starting quarterback David Garrard surprisingly announced Friday he'll need knee surgery and will be out two to four weeks — now becomes a hurdle.

Johnson, has been a study of contrasts so far. He was his usual entertaining self in his only press conference of training camp on Aug. 1. But he dropped so many “F-bombs” that first-year coach Joe Philbin told Johnson to control his speech. The scene was captured on the inaugural episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”by chris perkins

Redsox owner backs Bobby Valentine

Red Sox owner John Henry is backing Bobby Valentine in his first season as manager while Boston hovers around the .500 mark.

Henry said on Monday that management is not making a managerial change, and he cited numerous injuries as one reason for the team's struggles.
In an email to reporters, Henry said that it is ''simply wrong'' to blame Valentine for the team's troubles, and ''we all'' share responsibility. He also said there has been no lack of effort by players.
The Red Sox have spent most of the season in last place in the AL East and have never been in first or second. A total of 23 players have spent 27 stints on the disabled list, both the highest on the team since 1971. Boston's 23 players on the disabled list are the most in baseball this year. San Diego and Washington are tied for second with 19.
''A lot has been written about injuries to key players this year,'' Henry wrote. ''The impact of that on the Sox this year should not be discounted.''
First-year general manager Ben Cherington also voiced support for Valentine

Seattle Seahawks Sign Terrell Owens

Terrell Owens and the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, sources have told FOXSports.com. The deal, which has not been signed, comes of the heels of the veteran receiver's impressive workout with the club earlier Monday.
The Associated Press later reported Monday that the Seahawks confirmed the agreement, though it did not divulge the length of the deal.
Owens, a 15-year veteran, is one of the most productive receivers in NFL history. He sits second all-time in receiving yards (15,934) and touchdowns (153), and sixth in receptions (1,078). His nine seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving and 13 years with at least 50 catches rank third. His total receptions are sixth on the NFL career list.
Owens had surgery on his left knee. The veteran wideout didn't receive any offers to play last season.jay glazer

Andys Reids Son Found Dead

Garrett Reid, the oldest son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, was found dead Sunday morning in his room at the club's training camp at Lehigh University. He was 29.

The police chief at Lehigh, Edward Shupp, said a 911 call was made at 7:20 a.m., and that Garrett Reid was dead when a policeman arrived at the campus dormitory. A cause of death has not been determined.
''There were no suspicious activities,'' Shupp said.
The 29-year-old Reid struggled with drug abuse for years and was imprisoned for a 2007 high-speed car crash in which another driver was injured. Police found heroin, which Reid admitted to using, and more than 200 pills in his car. When he surrendered to begin serving his sentence in that case, prison guards found Reid had tried to smuggle prescription pills into jail.
Reid seemed to have rebounded from his problems in recent times and was assisting the Eagles' strength coaches at camp in an unofficial capacity, a not-uncommon sort of role for NFL coaches' sons. Many of the coaches and staff stay in the Lehigh dorms.
In the midst of his legal troubles in his early 20s, Reid said he ''got a thrill'' out of being a drug dealer in a lower-income neighborhood just a few miles from his parents' suburban Villanova mansion.
''I liked being the rich kid in that area and having my own high-status life,'' Reid told a probation officer, according to court testimony in November 2007. ''I could go anywhere in the 'hood. They all knew who I was. I enjoyed it. I liked being a drug dealer.''
At his sentencing hearing, Reid told the judge: ''I don't want to die doing drugs. I don't want to be that kid who was the son of the head coach of the Eagles, who was spoiled and on drugs and OD'd and just faded into oblivion.''
His younger brother, Britt, also had problems with drug use and was arrested on the same day as Garrett in 2007 for a road-rage encounter. Police discovered weapons and drugs in Britt Reid's vehicle.

LSU Ranked Number 1 In One Poll

LSU sits atop the USA Today Top 25 coaches poll released on Thursday, with Alabama second and Southern California third.
LSU received 18 first-place votes, slightly fewer that the 20 first-place votes for the Crimson Tide and 19 first-place votes for the Trojans. Still, the Tigers narrowly had the most overall points in the poll, which awards 25 points for a No. 1 vote down to one point for 25th.
Oklahoma and Oregon round out the top five, followed by Georgia, Florida State, Michigan, South Carolina and Arkansas

USA WOMEN BASKETBALL,BEAT TURKEY

While some teams may be able to hang with the American starters, the US is able to bring a fresh wave of All-Stars off the bench to wear their opponents down.
''What we lack in preparation time we make up for in the quality of our depth,'' Auriemma said. ''We have to use it to the best of our advantage. That second group led by Lindsay (Whalen) and Angel (McCoughtry) was the difference in the game.

''From the minute (McCoughtry) stepped on the floor to when the game ended she was the dominant player. That's something that I think we have that very few if any teams in this tournament have so I'm fortunate to have that option.''
Angel McCoughtry scored 18 points and Tina Charles added 16 to help the Americans beat the Turkey 89-58 Wednesday night.

Coming off the bench is a new role for McCoughtry, who has started for almost her entire career since high school. It's a role she has thrived in.
''Honestly not starting has been the best thing for my career,'' she said. ''I've gained discipline and I think before I didn't have the discipline. This took my game to another level.''
Turkey entered the game undefeated and was expected to give the Americans their toughest test in the Olympics so far. The Turks had looked impressive in their first Olympic appearance and said they weren't intimidated by the top-ranked team in the world despite the US winning its first two games by an average of 38.5 points.A/P

United States women's 8 golden again

The United States held off Canada to win a second straight Olympic gold in the women's eight Thursday, maintaining its six-year dominance of the high-profile event.

The U.S. won in a time of 6 minutes, 10.59 seconds. Canada finished a half-length behind in second and the Netherlands took the bronze to close the second day of finals at Dorney Lake.
The U.S. hasn't lost a competitive race in the eight since winning the world title here in 2006, but Canada had closed the gap in the past 12 months, even qualifying for the final in a faster time in the heats.
The Americans successfully defended the title they won in the Beijing Games in 2008. The country's only previous Olympic gold in the discipline came at Los Angeles in 1984.A/P

US WOMEN WIN GOLD IN GYMNASTICS

The Americans lived up to the hype,winning their first Olympic gold medal in women's gymnastics since 1996.

Their score of 183.596 Tuesday night was a whopping five points ahead of Russia. Romania won the bronze medal.
The Americans had come into the last two Olympics as world champions, only to leave without a gold. But this team is the strongest, top to bottom, the Americans have ever had, and the rest of the world never stood a chance. The U.S. opened with a barrage of booming vaults, held its own on uneven bars and pulled away on balance beam.
By the the time they got to floor exercise, the Russians were in tears on the sidelines, and the Americans turned the final event into a victory party.A/P

Vikings Peterson rushed to hospital after Seafood reaction

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was taken to the hospital Monday afternoon after an allergic reaction to seafood he ate for lunch.

Peterson was taken to the hospital by ambulance after experiencing shortness of breath and swelling in the face that caused Vikings personnel to call 911. He was back with the team resting in the dorms by the time the Vikings concluded their afternoon practice shortly after 5 p.m. Central, according to head coach Leslie Frazier, who was called it a “scary moment.”

Frazier said Peterson told him he had an allergic reaction to something else when he was younger, but Frazier wasn’t sure if Peterson knew of his seafood allergy.

“I don’t know if anyone of you has had anyone experience that, but, yeah, it was scary,” Frazier said. “But he’s fine now. Everything’s fine.”

Peterson has been on the physically-unable-to-perform list since the Vikings started training camp on Friday as he works his way back from surgery on Dec. 30 to his left knee to repair to the torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee.

“We’re anticipating him being back in rehab tomorrow, whether he’s doing things in the pool or back out on the field. He’s cleared to get going tomorrow,” Frazier said.tim yotter vikings.com

China Wins Gold in men's gymnastics; US Comes In Fifth

The Chinese won their second straight Olympic title in men's gymnastics and third and in four games in a rout Monday, making fools of everyone who wrote them off after a dismal performance in qualifying.
''We don't have any faults. That's our secret to beat the Japanese and to beat everyone,'' Zhang Chenglong said. ''In preliminaries, we had a little bit of faults. But tonight was completely perfect.''
Well, almost.
It took five minutes and a video review to sort out the silver and bronze medalists after Japan questioned the score of three-time world champion Kohei Uchimura on pommel horse, the last routine. Japan jumped from fourth to second after judges revised Uchimura's score, bumping Britain down to bronze and Ukraine off the medals podium.
It was the British men's first team medal in a century, and it set off  celebrations at the O2 Arena. Even Princes William and Harry joined in.
''To win a medal in your home games, I'll take that any day,'' Kristian Thomas said. ''We never actually had the silver in our hands, so there's no real disappointment.A/P

Brazilian Felipe Kitadai Breaks Medal In Shower

A Brazilian judoka  broke his Olympic bronze medal when he brought it into the shower. Now he's fighting to have it replaced.

Felipe Kitadai said he was carrying the medal everywhere. He took it with him to the shower as a joke, then dropped it while trying to keep it from getting wet.
Kitadai told Brazil's GloboEsporte.com that the part holding the medal's string broke, and now he can't wear it around his neck. He said there's also a small dent on it.

Kitadai won the bronze in the men's 60-kilogram division Saturday.
The Brazilian Olympic Committee says it will request a new medal even though it knows the International Olympic Committee has no obligation to give Kitadai another one.A/P

Michael Phelps 5th fastest in 200 fly heats

Michael Phelps fifth-fastest qualifying time in the preliminaries Monday in the200-meter butterfly.
Phelps has yet to have the quickest time in the morning heats at the London Games four years after he won a record eight gold medals in Beijing.
He finished third in his heat at 1 minute, 55.53 seconds, trailing Dinko Jukic of Austria and U.S. teammate Tyler Clary to the wall.

Phelps has won the 200 fly at the last two Olympics and set the world record at the 2009 world championships.
He was back in the water hours after swimming a solid second leg on the 4x100 freestyle relay that took silver after Ryan Lochte was overhauled by the French on the closing lap.
''Just getting last night sort of out of the way was something that I needed,'' Phelps said. ''I guess I got to bed pretty late. We're all falling asleep pretty late. We're all excited.''
Phelps' mother, Debbie, nodded her head slightly when she saw her son had safely advanced. He was the slowest qualifier for the 400 individual medley final on Saturday, and his surprising fourth-place finish kept him off the medals podium.
''I have no idea what it was, but I don't think it had anything to do with confidence,'' he said. ''I felt I was ready to swim faster than that. It just didn't happen.''
Jukic had the top time of 1:54.79, while Clary was second-best at 1:54.96 in advancing to the evening semifinals.
''I felt fantastic. The time was faster than it was at trials,'' Clary said. ''I hurt a heck of a lot more at the end of the race in trials. So I had actually said to myself coming into the third wall that I was amazed at how well I felt. Just wanted to see what I could bring it home in.''A/P

Americans Fall Short in 4X100M Relay

This time, it was France chasing down the United States — and Lochte, no less — to win another riveting relay at the Olympics.
''We got our revenge,'' French swimmer Clement Lefert said.
With Phelps looking much stronger than he did the night before, the Americans built a commanding lead over the first three legs of the 4x100-meter freestyle relay Sunday and never really had to worry about the defending world champions from Australia.
When Lochte dove into the water on the anchor leg, he was a half-body length ahead of the field and looking to add another gold to his dominating victory Saturday in the 400 individual medley.

Yannick Agnel, playing the chaser role that Jason Lezak did for the Americans four years ago in this same event, sliced through the water and was right on Lochte's shoulder as they made the flip at the far end of the pool. With about 25 meters to go, they were stroke for stroke. But Lochte, who had already competed in 1,200 meters of racing over the first two days, simply didn't have enough left to hold off the towering, 20-year-old Frenchman, one of the sport's real rising stars.
''I gave everything in the last 50 until he cracked,'' Agnel said. ''In the last 10 meters, I saw that he was really cracking.''
Agnel touched in 3 minutes, 9.93 seconds, having gone exactly 1 second faster than Lochte over the last two laps. Lochte and the Americans dropped to silver in 3:10.38, while Australia, the favorite, didn't even get a medal. Russia took the bronze in 3:11.41, edging the team from Down Under by 0.22.
Phelps settled for his 17th career medal and completed his collection of Olympic colors, adding a silver to his 14 golds and two bronzes. He also moved a step closer to becoming the most decorated Olympian ever, just one away from tying the mark for most career medals held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, and has five events to go.
''At least I'm in a medal today,'' Phelps said ruefully, referring to a fourth-place finish in his first race of the London Games.
But silver was a bitter disappointment for the Americans, who know how the French felt four years ago.
France had the lead in Beijing and its best sprinter, Alain Bernard, going out on the final leg. But Lezak swam the fastest relay leg in history, drafting Bernard along the lane rope and beating him by a scant 0.08 seconds to keep Phelps on track for his record eight gold medals.
That was one of the greatest races in Olympic history.A/P

Tebow Heckled During Practice

The wild scene as Jets fans descended on this central New York college town for the team's first public practice was tamed by the elements Saturday. Except for scattered cheers and a handful of hecklers shouting comments about the popular backup quarterback's penchant for holding the ball too long before throwing, it was a relatively uneventful session.

Although the sight of a thoroughly soaked Tim Tebow jogging bare-chested through the deluge after practice might have excited more than a few folks. It even left coach Rex Ryan somewhat speechless.
''Don't know if I'm there yet,'' Ryan said of casting off his shirt, too, even if he has lost 100 pounds.
The wet conditions seemed to cut down not only on the fans' enthusiasm, but on the number of banners on display. One man wore a green and white shirt with ''Mark 6:15 Thou Shalt Have Only One Quarterback'' printed on the front.
Real scripture? Not quite.
Mark would be Sanchez, the incumbent QB and the guy who wears the No. 6 jersey to Tebow's 15. The fan in the shirt, Todd Harmon of Buffalo — a tough place to be a Jets fan, he admitted — made the three-hour drive to support Sanchez, but also to observe Tebow.

''I think having him here will help Mark push through and will motivate Mark,'' Harmon said. ''He's never had someone pushing him.''
True enough. And from what everyone has seen from the fourth-year pro early in camp, he is responding. Sanchez has looked sharp, throwing darting spirals and hitting his targets in stride.
Even in a downpour.
''Mark can spin it in any conditions,'' Ryan said.
As for Tebow, well, as one impatient observer shouted from the grandstand as the rain pelted down: ''Throw it, Tebow!'' And when he connected with a receiver, the same fan added: ''Wow, you completed one!''
After a wobbly toss, another fan shouted: ''That's a Tebow ball!''A/P

NY Yankees win in Ichiro's home debut

In Suzuki's first game wearing Yankees pinstripes, Phil Hughes (10-8) gave up three solo homers but little else in seven innings to help the Yankees beat Boston for the sixth time in seven games this year — New York's best start to a season against the Red Sox since opening 6-0 in 1994.
The rivals were meeting in the Bronx for the first time this year, the latest in a non-strike season the team's have met at Yankee Stadium. New York was returning from a rough 2-5 trip in which the Yankees lost Alex Rodriguez to a broken hand. The Red Sox had won just once in six games coming in. The loss dropped them to 49-51.
With the Red Sox foundering in last place in the AL East and David Ortiz and Rodriguez on the disabled list, it felt as if the rivalry had lost some of its luster. Suzuki's presence helped give the game some buzz.
The 10-time All-Star was dealt to New York during its visit to Seattle on Monday. He started in right field and batted eighth Friday. Suzuki was met with a sustained ovation followed by chants of ''Iiiichiro,'' when he came up for the first time in the second inning. He hit a fly to center field.
In his second at-bat, he singled and scored on Martin's two-run homer to left field off Aaron Cook (2-4). Suzuki finished 1-for-4 and scored twice, including his first run with the Yankees.

Almost as if they were toying with Boston in Bobby Valentine's first trip to New York as a manager since he was fired by the Mets in 2002, the Yankees scored in the bottom half of each of the three innings the Red Sox homered.A/P

Greek Dimitris Chondrokoukis Fails Doping Test

A Greek athlete has failed a doping test, according to an IAAF official, and the father and coach of world indoor high jump champion Dimitris Chondrokoukis says his son has tested positive and withdrawn from the Olympics.

The IAAF official spoke on condition of  because the case has not yet been made public.
Greek media published a letter attributed to Kyriakos Chondrokoukis saying his son had tested positive for the steroid stanozolol. He said his son has not taken any banned substance and has asked for the backup ''B'' sample to be tested.
''Despite the fact that we consider this news to be surreal, we do not wish to dispute the result of this test,'' the letter said, adding that Chondrokoukis and his father might also seek to have both samples later tested at a separate accredited laboratory.

''The paradox of the use of such an easily detectible banned substance by a recent world champion who is under the microscope of doping control authorities, and on the eve of the Olympic Games, is blatantly obvious,'' Kyriakos Chondrokoukis wrote in the letter. ''Against this paradox I will fight, we will fight, to answer and determine what exactly happened.''
The 24-year-old Chondrokoukis was expected to be a strong medal contender at the London Games after winning the world indoor title in Istanbul in March.
Chondrokoukis finished fifth at the 2011 world championships in Daegu, South Korea, and matched his personal best jump of 2.32 meters at the Doha Diamond League meet in May

Dennis Rodman finally meets his father

Dennis Rodman has finally met his estranged father after 42 years of separation, following an exhibition game in the Philippines.

Philander Rodman Jr., who has acknowledged fathering 29 children by 16 mothers, says he was happy and surprised that his son agreed to meet him late Wednesday. He tried to meet the basketball Hall of Famer during another game in Manila in 2006.
Philander, who has been living in the Philippines for nearly 50 years, said Thursday he wanted to explain to his son that he didn't abandon his family in the United States, but they only had time for greetings and handshakes.A/P

Athletes prep for sex in the village Olympics?

Tales of shenanigans at the living quarters for 10,000 super-fit young men and women have always abounded, and London doesn't look as if it will be any different.

US women's soccer star Hope Solo recently dished about serious partying at the Beijing Games, and some newly arrived athletes say they can hardly wait for the fun to begin.
''The Olympics is the height of your career, so you might do some things you don't usually do,'' British beach volleyball player Shauna Mullin said with a giggle Wednesday.

Most, like Mullin, will restrain from going too far, aware they're in the international spotlight.
Still, there's no need to be prudish, according to the man overseeing the health of the Brazilian team.
''(Sex) is common at the Olympics. It's necessary. It's natural,'' Dr. Joao Olyntho Machado Neto said. ''If you are going to be healthy people, why not make sex? ... Brazil is very tolerant with sex as a country. We don't have Victorian minds and we're not religious.A/P

Drew Doughty Cleared Of Sexual Assault Charges

Los Angeles County prosecutors declined to file sexual assault charges Wednesday against LA Kings player Drew Doughty, who was investigated by Hermosa Beach police in connection with a sexual assault allegation.

The allegations date to March 1, when a 25-year-old woman met Doughty at a bar near the Hermosa Beach Pier. She turned down a proposition from Doughty in front of several teammates, police said.

They took a cab to her home, where she accused Doughty of raping her. The woman reported the incident to police the same day. According the filing declination, the woman told police the two had consensual sex a few months prior to the incident.

She said that during the second incident, Doughty never threatened her, but that he had "intercourse with her against her will."

Detectives told The Times that they asked the woman to call the hockey player while they listened, but she refused. He said the woman has been “less than cooperative” and that the district attorney’s office and police have “found credibility problems.”by andrew blankstein

Joey Votto To Miss 3-4 Weeks

"Joey Votto will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery tomorrow to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.
He is expected to miss three to four weeks.
A roster move will be made tomorrow.
Votto originally injured the knee in San Francisco, sliding into third base June 29. He left the game the next day and missed two more games with what was described at the time as inflammation.
Votto struggled at the plate since returning. He was 1-for-13 before going 2-for-3 Sunday night. He was 8-for-31 (.258) overall since returning from the two games out of the lineup."cincinnati enquirer

Shane Doan reportedly considering offer from Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made an offer to  free agent forward Shane Doan, his agent, Terry Bross confirmed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Details of the offer are not known, according to the report.

Bross wrote Monday that Doan “has interest” in the Penguins, but has no timetable for making a decision.
Doan has drawn interest from clubs around the league with the Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings among his suitors.
The Red Wings are planning to be in a holding pattern regarding another move for a forward until Doan makes a decision, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.
Over the weekend, John Gambadoro of Sports 620 KTAR Phoenix, reported that Doan had a four-year, $30 million-plus offer from an unidentified Eastern Conference team.
Doan, the Coyotes’ captain, could also return to Phoenix. Uncertainty over the team’s ownership situation has caused him to take his time in picking where he wants to spend the next season or more.by sporting news

Zach Johnson Hols Off Matterson In Playoff

Johnson won the Deere on Sunday with a birdie on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. His 193-yard 6-iron approach from the bunker left of the 18th fairway ran up to less than a foot from the cup for an easy birdie, enabling him to knock off Troy Matteson, whose approach landed 43 feet from the pin.
''I saw it bounce on the green and hoped it would kick left,'' Johnson said. ''I couldn't see the golf ball.''
Johnson couldn't miss hearing the gallery, many of them friends, as the ball crept within a foot of the hole.
''I liked that crescendo from the crowd,'' said Johnson, who is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, about an hour from the Quad Cities.
The kick-in birdie had seemed unlikely minutes earlier after Johnson followed Matteson into the water from the same bunker on the first playoff hole. Each settled for double-bogey 6, then went back to the 18th tee for another try.

Johnson's bunkered his tee shot again, but this time, he played one of the better shots of a career that includes a 2007 Masters victory and eight other PGA Tour titles.
''It's one of the best results,'' Johnson said.
When Matteson was unable to sink his long birdie putt, Johnson tapped in to secure his second victory of the year, adding to the title he won at Colonial Country Club.
While Johnson tried to downplay what winning would mean to him during the tournament's first three days, with the trophy in his grasp he admitted that it meant a great deal.
''It just feels awesome,'' Johnson said. ''This tournament has meant so much to me and my family, from when they gave me exemptions to being a part of its board.
''I don't really like making things a bigger deal than what they should be. It means a great deal now that I've done it.''
The duo had tied at 20-under 264 after Johnson closed with a 6-under 65 and Matteson had a 69. A/P

Jason Kidd Crashes SUV Arrested

New York Knicks  Jason Kidd was arrested on a drunken-driving charge after police said he crashed his SUV into a telephone pole in the Hamptons on Sunday, days after signing with the Knicks.

Was treated at a hospital for minor injuries after the crash, Kidd was arraigned on a misdemeanor driving-while-intoxicated charge and released without bail, Southampton Town police said.
Kidd's agent didn't immediately respond to phone or email messages. The Knicks, who signed the 10-time All-Star in free agency this week, had no immediate comment.
Kidd, 39, was alone in the 2010 Cadillac Escalade when it hit a pole and veered into the woods around 2 a.m. in Water Mill, police said. Water Mill is a serene, mainly residential community east of Southampton Village.
Kidd's next court date wasn't immediate available. The DWI charge carries the potential for up to a year in jail.
The Knicks signed Kidd away from the Dallas Mavericks this week in a deal that will pay him about $3 million a year. Kidd had played in New Jersey, leading the Nets to two NBA Finals appearances, before being traded to Dallas and remains fond of the New York City area, where his children continued to live.A/P

Miami Dolphins New Logo?

According to Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post, the Miami Dolphins have spoken with the NFL office about changing their logo for the 2013 season.
Dolphins CEO Mike Dee stated that “it’s not 100 percent that we’re going to make a change.” After gaining some feedback from their fans they’re looking to “freshen up” their logo.
Back in 1997 the Dolphins made some tweaks to their to their logo that added some new colors and effects to it. They’ll have until November to submit a new logo for the 2013 season.
“We’re not talking about changing colors or taking the sun off the helmet. It’s not going to be like when Tampa Bay changed from orange to pewter gray,” Dee said. “It’s definitely keeping one eye on what’s traditional in the logo intact, while keeping one eye on a 21st century version of that.”
Volin believes that some of the logos that are being tossed around look similar to the old Dolphin Stadium logo that is posted at the top.

NHL might be heading toward another lockout?

The NHL might be heading toward another lengthy lockout

The owners are seeking  cuts into the players’ percentage of the league’s gross income, according to a New York Post report. The owners are demanding that the players accept 46 percent of the revenue, down from the current 57 percent.
The league also wants to reduce teams' salary cap number from $8 million over the midpoint to $4 million and is calling for a five-year limit on all player contracts and the removal of all signing bonuses.
The report also states that unrestricted free agency would be limited to players with 10 seasons in the league. Players currently need to have seven seasons in the NHL to become unrestricted free agents.

Breaking News Drew Brees Agrees To 5 Year $100 Million Deal

Drew Brees has agreed to a five-year, $100 million contract with the New Orleans Saints, with $60 million guaranteed, said a person familiar with the deal.

Brees and the team Friday reached the agreement, which will pay the quarterback $40 million in the first year, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been publically announced.
The Saints announced they had reached a five-year deal with Brees but did not release financial details of the contract.
Brees posted  on his Twitter page reading, ''Deal is Done! Love you, Who Dat Nation. See you soon!''
Brees had been tagged as the Saints' exclusive franchise player and could not negotiate with other teams.
Had a deal not been reached, the tender for a quarterback was worth $16.3 million. Brees would have had to play for that amount or hold out for a better one-year deal, which would have left his long-term future in New Orleans uncertain.
Brees skipped the Saints' offseason practices while holding out for his new long-term contract, which now gives him the highest average annual pay ($20 million) in NFL history. Buffalo defensive end Mario Williams also has a $100 million contract, but for six years.
Now Brees is set to report for the opening of Saints training camp on July 24, a needed does of good news for a club whose offseason has been plagued by the bounty scandal that resulted in the season long suspensions of head coach Sean Payton and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, among other sanctions.A/P

2012 USA Olympic basketball team couldn't beat the 1992 Dream Team.

Michael Jordan says there's no way Kobe Bryant and this year's USA Olympic basketball team could've beaten the 1992 Dream Team.

Jordan told The Associated Press Thursday that he laughed, ''I absolutely laughed'' when hearing Bryant's comments that the squad training in Las Vegas could take Jordan and company.
Jordan says there was ''no comparison'' which team was better, adding that Byrant comparing the two teams ''is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done.''
Jordan spoke prior to a celebrity golf tournament in Charlotte.
He says the 1992 team, which included 11 future Hall of Famers and won its six games by an average of more than 43 points en route to capturing the gold medal, may not have been as athletic but was definitely smarter.A/P

Joe Paterno's ''61 years of excellent service to the university is now marred''

 Penn State's board of trustees says the panel believes Joe Paterno's ''61 years of excellent service to the university is now marred'' by the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal

Karen Peetz  says the board ''accepts full responsibility for the failures that occurred.''
A board-sanctioned investigation into the scandal concluded that the Hall of Fame coach and other senior school officials ''concealed critical facts relating to Sandusky's child abuse'' because they were worried about bad publicity. The 267-page report is the result of an eight-month inquiry by former FBI director Louis Freeh.
Trustee Kenneth Frazier says ''we have to take some time ... before we start thinking about how we think about Joe Paterno's entire life and entire body of work.''
Sandusky is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of 45 criminal counts.A/P

Brees and Saints Still Far Apart On Money

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints still must close a large gap in guaranteed money if they are to agree on a five-year contract worth about $100 million by Monday's looming deadline for a long-term deal, said a person familiar with the negotiations.

The sides were more than $10 million apart in the guaranteed part of the contract on Wednesday, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because talks are ongoing.
The stakes are high for both sides and the negotiations have lasted for months, including long gaps in communication between the two camps.
Brees, who is 33 and entering his 12th season, has never before had the chance to negotiate a contract on par with the elite quarterbacks of the game.
The Saints, meanwhile, risk alienating the best quarterback in franchise history, not to mention their fan base, by failing to make an offer to his satisfaction by Monday — the deadline for players with the franchise tag to sign long-term deals.
 Brees first raised the possibility that he would not report to the opening of training camp if all that was on the table at that time was the one-year franchise tag of about $16.3 million. People familiar with the quarterback's plans say that remains the case.
Brees has said he does not want to play under a one-year contract with no long-term security in the coming seasons. He did it once before, with costly consequences, when he played under the franchise tag for San Diego in 2005 and wound up with a career-threatening injury to his throwing shoulder.
That injury led him to accept a six-year, $60 million deal with New Orleans in 2006, which left him playing for well below market value during the past few seasons, even as he was setting club and league records.
Brees had hoped that an extension would be done before 2011, but when it was not, he decided against holding out and played without the security of a long-term contract. He remained healthy the entire season and passed for an NFL single-season record 5,476 yards. Brees considered that an act of faith in the Saints, and now he is expecting that faith be returned in the form of a contract that not only would give him the highest average annual salary in the game, but also guarantee a significant portion of his salary.A/P

Rockets trade Camby to NY Knicks

The Houston Rockets traded center Marcus Camby to the New York Knicks for guard Toney Douglas, centers Josh Harrelson and Jerome Jordan and future second-round picks.

when the NBA's moratorium on trades ended, Houston dealt point guard Kyle Lowry to Toronto for a future first-round lottery pick and forward Gary Forbes.
The Rockets have been collecting draft picks for a potential package to entice Orlando to send All-Star center Dwight Howard their way. The Lowry deal was in place several days ago, and the Camby deal was agreed to on Monday.
The 38-year-old Camby will return to New York, where he played from 1998-2002. Yahoo Sports reported that Camby's deal was for three years and $13.2 million.
The 6-foot-11 Camby was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1996 draft and became a fan favorite in New York before the Knicks dealt him to Denver in 2002. He should become a valuable backup at center to Tyson Chandler, last season's NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
The Rockets obtained Camby from Portland at last season's trading deadline. He averaged 7.1 points and 9.3 rebounds in 19 games.
Houston is also expected to sign Bulls center Omer Asik and Knicks guard Jeremy Lin to offer sheets. Chicago and New York will have three days to match the Rockets' offers.A/P

Lack of Interest in Alexander Semin?

Alexander Semin? He remains all but ignored on the free agent scrap heap 10 days into July.
Actually, being ignored would be an improvement for Semin, who has been savaged by critics this summer. The TSN panel for the Canadian sports network's free agency coverage on July 1  with Marc Crawford labeling Semin as a player with "no character" and "a complete loser." And he was the good cop. Pierre McGuire really laid  the hammer as the bad cop.

"This is not a great teammate, I'm telling ya right now," McGuire told viewers. "Not a good guy to have around your group unless you got unbelievably strong leadership. He's the ultimate coach killer, that's what he is."

Mark Gandler, Semin's agent, called the exchange "the worst I've ever heard an analyst say about any player" and threatened "to check with my attorney" over the perceived defamation.

Other than those possible chats with his lawyer, Gandler's phone lines haven't been burning up with calls as teams have largely steered clear of the enigmatic Russian star.

The closest Semin has come to a nibble was this candid admission by Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford after the Hurricanes lost out in the Parise sweepstakes and were rebuffed in efforts to trade for Columbus forward Rick Nash.

"We would look at Semin on a short-term basis," Rutherford told the Raleigh News and Observer. "We wouldn't want to get locked in to anything, because we've all heard the stories about him. We do like his skill level. It could be that we could bring him in for a year, get to know him and go from there in terms of considering something longer term."

And that was from a team that, according to captain Eric Staal, was just one elite forward away from being a contender.

"We've got some very good pieces in place, and if we can add, like they're saying, another elite forward, it will definitely put us in the mix among the top teams in the Eastern Conference," Staal told the News and Observer. "It's exciting. I hope they'll continue to push -- and not just grab anybody, but the right person for our group."

It doesn't seem like Semin, for all his skill, is viewed as the "right person" by anyone in the NHL, or at least not the right person to commit to with a multiyear deal. That's nothing new for Semin. After signing a two-year, $9.2 million deal with Washington in 2008, he's had to settle for one-year deals the past two seasons, albeit with raises to $6 million and $6.7 million, respectively.by douglas flynn