Nashville's Predators Ryan Suter Will Be Testing Free Agency

Ryan Suter's agent says the Nashville Predators defenseman will be hitting the NHL's free agent market.

The NHL handed out its 2012 awards Wednesday night in Las Vegas. Take a look at all the winners.

Neil Sheehy told The Associated Press on Saturday that he doesn't know where Suter will sign, but added the player will keep the Predators ''in the mix.''
Free agency opens at noon Sunday with Suter heading a short list of marquee players expected to be available. Also potentially on that list is New Jersey Devils captain Zach Parise.
Detroit, Tampa Bay, Anaheim and Edmonton are among the teams expected to have interest in the 27year-old Suter.
The seven-year NHL veteran with the hard-hitting style had a career-best 46 points  last season.A/P

Kevin Garnett Says He Will Return

Kevin Garnett has told the Celtics he will return for at least two more seasons, the Boston Herald reports.
The power forward, who has played in the NBA for 17 seasons, including five with Boston, could be back for a third year, depending on the deal.
"The decision came down to whether KG wanted to keep playing," the Herald reports a source saying. "And once he decided that he did, it was going to be Boston.
"He wasn't going to leave Doc [Rivers] and those guys and play anywhere else

Garnett, who has averaged 19.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game over his career, has seen decreased production while in Boston -- both to help the team balance its attack and because Garnett was fighting through various injuries.
This past season, however, he was as effective as ever, leading the Celtics to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals before Boston fell to the eventual NBA champion Miami Heat.
His return is key for how the Celtics plan to reload for future years.

Djokovic Rallies Into 4th Round of Wimledon

Novak Djokovic
Playing the day's first Centre Court match Friday under the retractable roof, defending champion Djokovic rallied past Radek Stepanek 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
When a drizzle delayed the start of the third round, tournament officials decided Djokovic's match should be played inside. An odd spectacle ensued: The roof closed as the sun came out and outside court covers came off.

''I was a little bit surprised, when I saw sunshine, that the roof is closed,'' Djokovic said. ''Obviously they're relying on a forecast that I don't think is very reliable here. But OK.''
The No. 1-ranked Djokovic missed opportunities to seize an early lead, failing to convert his first five break-point chances before he lost serve at love to drop the opening set. But he dominated from there, breaking in the first game in each of the final three sets.

Also advancing to the second week was top-ranked Maria Sharapova. She rallied from a break down in the second set to beat Hsieh Su-wei 6-1, 6-4.
Kim Clijsters led 6-3, 4-3 when No. 12 Vera Zvonareva retired struggling with a cough. The unseeded Clijsters, who plans to retire after the U.S. Open, is a four-time Grand Slam seeking her first berth in a Wimbledon final.
''It's a pleasure to be a part of the second week of a Grand Slam, especially at Wimbledon,'' she said.
No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Britain's Heather Watson under the roof, 6-0, 6-2.
Djokovic has the weekend off and said he might squeeze in a round of golf. His fourth-round opponent will be 34th-ranked Viktor Troicki in an all-Serbian match. Troicki beat No. 15-seeded Juan Monaco 7-5, 7-5, 6-3.
Fans were still buzzing about Rafael Nadal's second-round defeat, which ended under the roof Thursday night, when Djokovic stepped onto the same court. His slow start briefly stirred speculation about another upset.

''I was a set down but managed to make the crucial break in the opening game of the second set,'' Djokovic said. ''And then I thought I played really well.''
Stepanek, at 33 the oldest man left in the tournament, repeatedly played serve and volley and had Djokovic on his heels in the early going. Djokovic hit an improbable winner that skipped off the top of the net post and still lost the first set .

Then the match quickly swung his way, and the 28th-seeded Stepanek couldn't compete with Djokovic's mistake-free play. The Serb committed just 13 unforced errors in 221 points.
The match remained entertaining even as it became lopsided. One game in the final set lasted 26 points and had Djokovic smiling at Stepanek's unconventional style, which included a belly flop in pursuit of a shot.
''The fourth set from Novak's side was very impressive,'' Stepanek said. ''I was battling until the end, but the fourth set I felt like no matter what I do on the court, he always answers.''
The victory made it two in row under the roof for Djokovic.
''I thought I played great,'' he said. ''But, look, this is an outdoor tournament, so I think everybody wants to play when the roof is open.''
Perhaps not Sharapova - she was outdoors struggling with her serve on windy Court 1 and sent one shot over the net on the bounce for a double-fault.
Has she done that before?
''I'm sure I have,'' she said. ''A lot in practice.''
The misfire came on break point and put her behind 2-3 in the second set. She rallied by sweeping the final four games.
Sharapova finished with five double-faults but committed only seven unforced errors on her groundstrokes.

''Considering the conditions, I'm pretty happy with theDJO way I played,'' she said.
Sharapova won the French Open this month to complete a career Grand Slam title. She won Wimbledon at age 17 in 2004 and has reached the final at three of the past four majors.
The half of the men's draw opposite Djokovic opened up when two-time champion Nadal lost to No. 100-ranked Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic, 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Nadal had reached the past five Grand Slam finals and won his seventh French Open title this month. He also had reached the final in his past five Wimbledons, winning the title in 2008 and 2010.A/P

Georgia Bulldogs RB Crowell Arrested on Felony Charges

Crowell, who was arrested on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a weapon in a school zone and carrying an altered ID mark , was considered by most to be the starting running back for the Bulldogs heading into the 2012 season.
"Things happen," Crowell told Dawg Post upon his release. "I don't really have a comment right now."

The police report written by arresting officer Kathryn Thornton noted that she had been working a road block on East Campus Road and Green Street near the Ramsey Center on campus.
The report says that Crowell had four other teammates in the car with him: True freshman Blake Tibbs, Josh Harvey-Clemons, Sheldon Dawson and sophomore Quintavious Harrow.
After approaching the road block the officer reported that Crowell didn't have his seatbelt on, and that Thornton said she smelled marijuana from the car
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Crowell said he'd been at the club "Aftermath" and that was likely where the smell was coming from. Thornton asked if marijuana had been smoked in the car. Crowell said no, but that the smell was likely from the club.
Crowell then agreed to a search of his person.
"I didn't locate any contraband on his person," Thornton said in the report.
Other officers asked why Crowell was so nervous. Officers searched Harrow, Clemons, Dawson and Tibbs, but none had contraband on them, the report said.
Thornton checked under the driver's seat, and located a Luger 9mm pistol at which time she placed Crowell, who had claimed the car as his, under arrest, the report said.
Police said the altered ID mark charge resulted from a tampered serial number on the weapon.
Crowell said other people drive his car and that he does not have a handgun permit. The officer also indicated in her report that Crowell does not have a criminal history.
Georgia law indicates that persons convicted of statues 16-11-127.1 and 16-9-70. face a minimum of three years imprisonment.

The arrest could spell the end of Crowell's career, and another offseason hit for the Bulldogs. As first reported by Dawg Post earlier this year, starting linebacker Alec Ogletree and All-American safety Bacarri Rambo are both facing suspensions for at least the first two games, and possibly the first four games, of the season.by dawgpost.com

Denny Hamlin Dog Sleding In Alaska

FedEx sent him to Alaska to learn how to drive a dog sled with the reigning Iditarod champion.
''I get to do a lot of things I wouldn't normally get to do if I was not with FedEx,'' Hamlin said. ''For me, it's good to have a sponsor that shows you in such a great light. I get so much credit for doing all these things, but they are the ones who are helping out the communities everywhere I go.''
That relationship is one of the reasons Hamlin is currently negotiating a contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing, more than a year before his current deal even expires. He looks around the garage and can't find many rides he believes are as competitive as his No. 11 Toyota. He understands he's got a very good thing going and how fortunate he is with FedEx backing him and JGR.

There are only four sponsors in NASCAR - Lowe's, Menards, Miller and NAPA - that pay for the primary sponsorship of a full 38-race schedule. 5-Hour Energy does 37 races, and FedEx is right behind at 36 with a visually uncluttered paint scheme that suits Hamlin's personality


The company has been with him since his 2005 debut in a tryout role with Gibbs, and Hamlin has no reason to believe FedEx doesn't want to continue its sponsorship role.
''When I first got into this, I didn't realize the importance of sponsors and the value of building a strong relationship with a brand or a company,'' Hamlin said. ''I sure see it now. You look around and see the struggles teams and drivers have in finding sponsors, or building long-term partnerships, and it makes you realize how fortunate you are to have someone who wants you and wants to have a strong relationship with you.''

DuPont has been with four-time champion Jeff Gordon since his 1993 debut, and although the company has taken a lesser role the past two seasons, it's the longest driver-sponsor relationship in NASCAR. That ranks Hamlin and FedEx third, behind five-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who has been with Lowe's since his 2001 debut with Hendrick Motorsports.

Hamlin's latest excursion with his sponsor took him to Anchorage on Monday, where he visited the main shipping hub and its employees. The event was open to FedEx employees all over Alaska, and Hamlin realized the importance of being sent to visit with the associates - many of whom took the day off and traveled across the state to meet their driver

''Living in Alaska, they don't get to see a whole lot of racing, nor do they get to see their driver too often,'' Hamlin said. ''So it was a very exciting time for them. It was a great experience. I had never been to Alaska before, but got a chance to visit the Anchorage hub and there's 1,300 FedEx employees at that hub and greeted all of them with smiles and they just had a great time.''
When his appearance was over, he met 2012 Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey, who gave him a lesson in driving a dog sled. Then Seavey brought out his dogs, set up the sleds, and raced through the parking lot against Hamlin.

Hamlin, was wowed by Seavey's tales from the Iditarod.
''It was amazing to hear the conditions they go through, being anywhere from 40 above zero to 50, 60 below zero during the Iditarod run, a 1,000-mile run,'' he said. ''Pretty neat thing to do and learn about, and I FedEx knew I would. They wouldn't send me to Alaska and have me do something I wouldn't like doing
.

''They do such a good job of implementing things that I like into sponsor obligations. To me, these are the fun things that I like to do.''A/P

Robert Kraft Want An NFL Team In England?

 Robert Kraft insisted that he would like to see the United Kingdom have its own NFL team within the next 10 years
Speaking of London ahead of his team's NFL International Series meeting with the St. Louis Rams at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 28, the influential Kraft stressed the importance of growing football overseas.

"I personally think we should have a franchise in London and that is something I am going to push for," Kraft said. "I think I said that the last time we were over here in 2009 and before this next decade is out, I hope we have a team here. I think that would be right for the NFL and this fan base has proven they deserve it."

Kraft continued, "I think we're starting to tap out in the United States. If you look at the last Super Bowl we were in this past season, we had over 180 million people watching  that's almost two thirds of America. So for us to grow the game, we have to expand globally. Having seen the kind of support we have received here in London, it is the intention of the NFL owners to get two games here, starting next year."

He added, "The only bad part of putting a franchise in London is that I can assure you it won't be the Patriots who are moving here."
Although that was officially a Tampa Bay Buccaneers home game, it was New England who received the most vocal support from the 85,000-strong crowd as Tom Brady led the Patriots to a comfortable 35-7 victory.

Kraft explained, "We lobbied hard to come back after having such a good experience in 2009. We would love to be the permanent visiting team. It was good for team bonding and everyone really enjoyed our last trip to London."

He added, "I'm really proud that we're the number one-supported team in the UK and have been for close to a decade. In the last few years that support has been enhanced. We have a thriving Patriots UK Fan Club and they come across the pond every year and attend a game. We love our brothers and sisters over here in the UK."A/P

RGE Its Tough Out There

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The overriding messages: Control your destiny. Don't make our mistakes.
Adam ''Pacman'' Jones warned about the trappings of fame. Michael Vick spoke candidly about his dog-fighting conviction, 23 months locked in a federal prison and a second chance. Ex-NBA player Chris Herren detailed his descent into heroin's horror.

Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has taken it all in during the rookie symposium, processing every word as if he was learning a new play - this one being the X's and O's of life.
''It would be easy to walk into those meetings and not listen and say, `I'm not that guy,''' Griffin said, ''because a lot of guys on that stage said the same thing when they heard another guy in the past come in and talk to them and say, `I'm not that guy, it will never happen to me.'

''You take what they say, apply it to your own life and if you think `I'm not that guy' at least you listened to them. You can only learn from your mistakes and others mistakes.''
Griffin is making the most of the NFL's four-day orientation program - now in its 15th year - for the league's newest players, some of whom may think they know what's ahead but in truth have little idea about what they'll face as professional athletes.
Griffin's learning quickly.

On Monday, a former Baylor basketball player was arraigned in Waco, Texas, on federal extortion charges for allegedly threatening to release ''derogatory information'' about Griffin unless the Heisman Trophy winner paid him a ''substantial sum'' of money.
According to court documents, Richard Khamir Hurd, 25, contacted a representative from a St. Louis agency, threatening to publicize derogatory information about a client unless he was paid. The representative is identified in documents only by the initials B.D. Griffin's agent is St. Louis-based Ben Dogra.

Hurd met at a Waco business Friday with someone who agreed to handle the transaction. After signing a non-disclosure agreement, handing over the information and receiving a check, Hurd was arrested by an undercover FBI agent.
During a youth skills clinic and barbeque on Tuesday at the Cleveland Browns' facility, Griffin declined to comment on specifics of the case, but said his situation is a prime example of what young players have to guard against.

''You've got to be careful who you trust,'' Griffin said. ''There's vultures out there, people who are looking to climb on top of all your money.''
Griffin said the candid speeches given by Jones and Vick resonated with him. They were speaking from experience and truth, not simply mouthing words from a manual or because they sounded good.
''When you hear those guys talk about stuff and being careful and keep your circle real small - all those things come back to you when you hear about stuff like this,'' he said.
The extortion case appears be a small bump for Griffin, who has already been named Washington's starter and radiates with superstar-in-the-making potential. Although there were 123 NFC rookies on the field for the league-sponsored Play 60 event, only one commanded an interview session for media members.

Griffin answered every question with the finesse of a seasoned veteran. He came across sincere and politely addressed a variety of subjects including expectations, the inevitable comparisons to Vick and how close he came to playing for the Browns.
His blazing speed and high-powered arm have spawned Griffin's similarities to Vick. He doesn't mind the link.
''As long as you are getting compared to people like Michael Vick, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, it doesn't really matter,'' he said. ''You take it, you accept it and you play the way you play.''
He wound up playing in Washington, but Griffin was nearly Cleveland bound.
The Browns, who had the No. 4 selection, tried to trade up in the draft in order to select Griffin. But the St. Louis Rams accepted a package from the Redskins that included three first-round picks over consecutive years and a second-round pick.
''It didn't turn out that way and I have no idea why it didn't,'' he said.
Griffin looked like the biggest kid on the field as he played with some of the 150 school children - from Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown - who got a chance to run routes, throw passes and learn blocking techniques from some of the NFL's newest players.
Griffin lined up at wide receiver before dropping behind center. He lofted a pass for one eager 10-year-old, but the ball was flattened by the wind and fell off the youngster's fingertips.
''That usually works,'' Griffin said, flashing a smile that never faded during two hours.
Although Griffin never attended any football camps - ''my mom didn't want me to play football'' - he did go to Michael Jordan's camp in New Orleans. To this day, Griffin regrets not getting the chance to play with one of his heroes or even get his autograph.
''I'm not sour about that or anything,'' he said a bit facetiously.
In between passes and touchdown celebrations, Griffin tried to impart knowledge and advice on kids who will look up to him as a role model.
He didn't want to sound scripted, so after telling them to do their homework, Griffin reminded the kids that the most important people in their lives are parents and teachers.
''They matter,'' he said. ''Those are the people that can get you into good situations and they can also get you out of bad situations. So no matter what anybody says about you, they'll stick up for you because they truly believe in you. Everybody matters, that's the words of wisdom.''A/P

New York Yankees place CC Sabathia on DL

CC Sabathia is expected to miss his next two starts after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because he strained his groin on Sunday night.

General manager Brian Cashman says the left-hander felt a twinge in the muscle on the inside of his left leg in the fourth inning of a win over the New York Mets. He didn't tell anyone about it until he could still feel discomfort after throwing in the bullpen on Tuesday.
Manager Joe Girardi says the Yankees expect to have Sabathia, who is 9-3 with a 3.45 ERA, back shortly after the All-Star break. Longtime starter Freddy Garcia is expected to return to the Yankees rotation in place of the Cy Young-winner.
Garcia has been working out of the bullpen following an ineffective start to the season.
''Our belief is that it's only going to be two starts,'' Girardi said.
The Yankees have had lousy luck with pitching health this season. All-Star newcomer Michael Pineda is out for the season after having shoulder surgery — before he even pitched in a big league game with New York following an offseason trade from Seattle. And closer Mariano Rivera tore his ACL and damaged his meniscus when his foot caught near the outfield wall while he was catching fly balls during batting practice before a game in Kansas City.

''We have a pretty experienced club,'' Girardi said. ''We lost the greatest closer of all time, we were able to respond.''

Sabathia has been an anchor for the Yankees, though. His 105 strikeouts lead the team and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings are best among starters — and better than all but relievers Boone Logan and Cory Wade. This is his first trip to the disabled list with the Yankees.
The big-bodied Sabathia has been incredibly durable throughout his 12 major league seasons. This is his third trip to the DL, following two with Cleveland. The most recent one was six years ago, when he missed the first month of the season because of a right oblique strain. He won the AL Cy Young the following year and the Indians came one win away from taking the AL pennant  then traded Sabathia the following season.
Sabathia wanted to avoid going on the DL this time, too. Cashman received a report last night that Sabathia was hoping to maybe just miss a start. And had it been September or October, that's what would have happened. But in June, with the Yankees in first place, there's no need to risk him missing 7 or 8 starts in an attempt to have him avoid missing two.
''It was a one-way conversation,'' Cashman said. ''I did all the talking. I know what he wants to do, but this is what we're going to do.''
The Yankees didn't make a corresponding move to fill Sabathia's spot because they couldn't get any players to New York in time. Right-hander Adam Warren is a candidate to be called up from Triple-A
A/P

Celtics Receive pick in Green trade dispute

The NBA has awarded the Boston Celtics a 2013 second-round pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a trade disclosure dispute ruling involving Jeff Green, who sat out this season after heart surgery.

Commissioner David Stern determined Tuesday there was no evidence of bad faith or intent to withhold information on the Thunders part, but that their cardiologists had knowledge about Green that was not shared with their own team management and should have been disclosed to the Celtics.
Boston acquired Green at the 2011 trade deadline in a deal that sent Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City.

NBA teams are required to disclose to each other in connection with trades a player's past history that could affect his ability to play in the future.A/P

Detriot Lions Berry arrested on suspicion of DUI

Berry was arrested Saturday morning in his hometown of Harrisburg, Pa., for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol plus two counts of causing accidental damage to an unattended vehicle or property and two counts of failure to stop and give information to law enforcement, according to Detroit television station WXYZ.

The other players arrested this offseason include running back Mikel Leshoure,defensive tackle Nick Fairley and offensive tackle Johnny Culbreath.

Berry, 24, is entering his third year in the league while Leshoure, Fairley and Culbreath were all 2011 draft picks.

WXYZ-TV reported that the car Berry was driving struck other parked vehicles and that Berry walked away from the scene. A witness, however, followed him and called police.

Berry then refused a breathalyzer test and was not cooperative when asked for his personal information during the booking process, a source told the television station.

Drew Brees Hopeful Deal Can Get Done

Drew Brees says he's confident he'll get a long-term deal done with the Saints.
Brees acknowledged Tuesday that the offseason distractions has slowed down negotiations. On the subject of those off-field issues, he says the NFL has produced no proof the Saints' defense engaged in a bounty system.
With training camp nearing, Brees says progress has been made on his contract in recent weeks ''but there's still a ways to go.''

He says ''I'm hopeful that it will happen sooner than later.''A/P

Larry Bird Steeping Down From Pacers

The New York Daily News reported Monday former team president Donnie Walsh would return to the Pacers in some capacity, and various reports indicate former Portland Trail Blazers Kevin Pritchard will take over — or already has — for Pacers GM David Morway.

Nothing will become official until Bird meets with owner Herb Simon on Tuesday, the Star reported.

Bird has not addressed the media since a press conference May 30. At the time, he sounded upbeat and energized about the team and his role in rebuilding the Pacers into a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.

In Bird's fourth season atop the front office, the Pacers earned the third seed in the East and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, where they lost to eventual champion Miami in six games.

"I love this team; there's no question about it," Bird said then. "This is one of the best locker rooms we've had. The attitude has changed in the last few years. It's been a breath of fresh air."

The only man in league history to earn MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year, Bird spent 13 seasons with the Pacers, the final 10 in the front office. After a successful run as head coach from 1997-2000, he rejoined  When Walsh left in 2008 to take charge of the New York Knicks, Bird stepped into team president's role and set about rebuilding a franchise with major salary cap and chemistry issues.

His two signature moves came last summer, when he signed free-agent power forward David West and traded for point guard George Hill, moves that took the team to another level.

"I love my job," he said. "This is one of the best; there's just 30 of them. Obviously, we went through some tough times and now we're reaping the benefits of what we saw three or four years ago."by conrad brunner

Tony Parker Could Miss Olympics

NBA star Tony Parker may miss the London Olympics after almost losing his eye in a fight involving singer Chris Brown and members of hip-hop star Drake's entourage.

Parker's cornea was scratched in the fight, and the San Antonio Spurs guard revealed he had to have an operation to remove a shard that had ''penetrated 99 percent'' of his left eye.
''I almost lost my eye,'' Parker said in an interview posted on his website Sunday.
He did not join the rest of France's team Wednesday and will see a specialist in New York when he is cleared to take long-haul flights after July 5.

''I'm seeing a specialist in New York with the hope of being given the all clear to play in the Olympic Games,'' Parker said. ''Spurs are very worried.
''Anything can happen, including me being out of the Olympics. The decision doesn't belong to me anymore. It's in the hands of the doctor and San Antonio.''
Parker said he has been having hallucinations and been unable to leave his hotel room for eight days because of the risk of infection. He also has to apply five different products into his eye every two hours.

''Fear sets in,'' Parker said of being told he would have to undergo surgery. ''An eye is so fragile. ... I couldn't believe it. But that's life. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
''I didn't have luck, but I came out well from my misfortune. It could have been worse. The rest of my career is not in question. I just have to wait for the injury to heal itself.''
Despite being unable to play, Parker will spend the rest of his time in France with the French squad in Pau.
France's first game at the Olympics is against the United States on July 29.
Chris Brown, his girlfriend and his bodyguard were among eight injured during the fight inside the W.i.P club in SoHo on June 15. Police say members of Drake's entourage stopped Brown as he was leaving. The fight escalated and bottles were thrown.

Parker is suing the New York City club for $20 million.A/P press

Slugger Matt Kemp Out For ALL-STAR Game?

The Los Angeles Dodgers have all but ruled out injured Matt Kemp for next month's All-Star game in Kansas City.

General manager Ned Colletti calls it a ''long shot'' for Kemp to play, with the outfielder still recovering from a strained left hamstring that landed him on the disabled list for a second time this season May 31. The 2011 NL MVP runner-up first missed time from May 14 to 29. Manager Don Mattingly is supportive if Kemp wants to participate in the Home Run Derby, as Los Angeles' medical staff has given him the go-ahead to do so.
Kemp said last week in Oakland he had discussed the Midsummer Classic with Mattingly and wants to make sure he is fully healthy for the second half with NL West-leading Los Angeles.

Fernando Alonso wins European Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso of Ferrari won the European Grand Prix on Sunday to become the first driver to win two races this season, while Michael Schumacher earned his first podium since returning to Formula One by coming in third

Alonso jousted his way up from 11th on the starting grid on Valencia's 3.3-mile street circuit notoriously tough for overtaking. Pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull stalled on the track midway through the race.

Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus finished second, while Schumacher reached the podium after Lewis Hamilton and Pastor Maldonado collided on the penultimate lap as they fought for third place.

Two-time champion Alonso moved into first place in the points standings with this 29th career win.A/P

74 Year Old Bobby Charlton carries Olympic flame

MANCHESTER, England (AP)

Former England soccer star Bobby Charlton carried the Olympic flame as it passed Manchester United's Old Trafford  on Sunday.

The 74-year-old Charlton, who won the 1966 World Cup with England, was among 151 people to carry the torch from Manchester to Leeds in northern England.

Old Trafford is a football venue for the London Olympics and Charlton passed the statue at the stadium which depicts himself and fellow former United players George Best and Denis Law.
Charlton says ''this is a great place and the fans have been great.''

The Olympic flame arrived in Britain from Greece on May 18. A total of 8,000 people will carry the flame during its 8,000-mile, 70-day journey to the opening ceremony on July 27.

Flyers Deal James van Riemsdyk For Luke Schenn

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

The Philadelphia Flyers acquired defenseman Luke Schenn from the Toronto Maple Leafs for forward James van Riemsdyk on Saturday.

The 22-year-old Schenn should help replace the void created by the loss of captain Chris Pronger, who is unlikely to return because of post-concussion symptoms. Schenn has 14 goals and 61 assists for 75 points in four seasons. He's the older brother of Flyers forward Brayden Schenn. Luke Schenn was the fifth overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft.

Van Riemsdyk, also 22, has 47 goals and 52 assists for 99 points in three seasons. He was the second overall pick in the 2007 draft.

Tyson Gay Wins His 100-Meter Qualifying Heat

EUGENE, Ore. (AP)

Tyson Gay won his first 100-meter qualifying heat in the U.S. Olympic trials Saturday, winning in 10 seconds flat.

Gay, mending from a hip injury that kept him out of action for most of the past year, matched the time he ran in his return in New York earlier this month. That race was into a headwind. This time, on a rainy day in Eugene, he had a slight tailwind.
Justin Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion, won his heat in 9.90 seconds, keeping alive his bid to return to the Olympics after missing 2008 because of a doping ban.

In the decathlon, Ashton Eaton was on pace through nine events to break Dan O'Brien's  American record and still had a chance at the world record, as well.

Miami Heat party at Club LIV After Championship

A year ago the Dallas Mavericks partied at Club LIV at the Fontainebleu Hotel in Miami Beach after beating the Heat in the NBA Finals. This time around, the Heat got to celebrate a championship on their home turf.

Several Heat players strolled into the club around 5:00 am ET to a big party and celebration. A Heat logo was displayed in the background on the stage, and the players toasted their drinks.

There were some whispers that the club was charging $1,000 for admission, and the team reportedly didn’t take long to rack up a bigger bill than the $110,000 Mark Cuban spent celebrating at the club last year.

Here’s a close-up of LeBron James at the club:by larry brown







Note the lens-less glasses and particularly self-indulgent T-shirt.

And here’s Dwyane Wade enjoying a victory cigar:










And it looks like LMFAO

Extra Club Get Golder Disqualified

PULHEIM, Germany (AP)

Jose Manuel Lara was disqualified from the BMW International Open after the Spaniard's caddie attempted to hide having an extra club in his bag for the first round.

Realizing on the second hole that Lara was using 15 clubs for Thursday's round at the Gut Larcenhof course in Pulheim, Argentine caddie Mathias Vinson tried to hide the extra club in some thick bushes.
Lara thought the bagman had taken a diversion for a ''call of nature'' but his playing partners, Damien McGrane and Peter Hedblom, became suspicious. Vinson then admitted to Lara that there had been 15 clubs in the bag.
John Paramor, chief referee of the European Tour, told Lara he was disqualified from the $2.5 million tournament

because a player is responsible for his caddie's actions. Vinson was banned from caddying ''indefinitely,'' the tour said in a statement released Friday.
''The penalty of disqualification was imposed . . . with Paramor and tournament director David Williams believing a serious attempt to circumvent the rules was made by the caddie,'' the statement said.
''Following an interview with Jose Manuel Lara, it was established that he had NO prior knowledge of the 15th club in his bag, or the attempt to dispose of the 15th club.''
Lara shot a 3-under 69 but was given a two-stroke penalty for each of the holes he played with 15 clubs, making his revised score a 73.

Paramor said McGrane and Hedblom had approached Vinson after he returned from the bushes.
''He was seen entering the bush with the bag of clubs by his playing partners, who thought it was a little bit suspicious,'' Paramor said. ''They went and asked the chap, 'What are you doing?' and he sort of fumbled out an answer saying, 'I've got this wrong - I've done something bad. I wish it hadn't happened, etc, etc.'
''It was clear the club was out of the bag and in the bush at the time. He admitted it straightaway and regretted his action.''
Vinson had been caught in a traffic jam on his way to the course in west Germany, jogging the final three kilometers of the journey to ensure he made it in time before Lara teed off. In his haste, he failed to notice Lara having 15 clubs in his bag.
Lara had arrived at the course from his Duesseldorf hotel with only around an hour before his tee-off.
''Hopefully we won't have too many more of those,'' said Paramor, who was the tour referee at the time of a similar incident involving former Masters champion Ian Woosnam at the 2001 British Open.
On that occasion, the Welsh player was tied for the lead on the second hole of his fourth round at Royal Lytham when he was informed by his caddie, Miles Byrne, that a spare driver had been left in the bag.
Woosnam was given a two-shot penalty, costing him the chance of a first British Open title, a first prize of $350,000 and a potential place in Europe's Ryder Cup team.
Meanwhile, Martin Kaymer of Germany found himself in a quandary ahead of his second round at Gut Lacenhof after discovering his golf shoes had been stolen from a storage area.
''It's not the shoes I am concerned about, but the specially made inserts I had in the shoes,'' the former No. 1, who shot a first-round 71, said Friday.
''I've managed to get another pair of shoes but will have to wait to get home tonight to fit another pair of inserts.''

Fan makes sweet bare-handed catch of Kyle Seager home run

Young fan makes sweet bare-handed catch of Kyle Seager home run

Home runs were flying off the bats of Arizona Diamondbacks players on Wednesday at Chase Field — six in all total, including one of the inside-the-park variety by Ryan Roberts in the team’s 14-10 win over the Seattle Mariners. But of all the balls that left the park, a home run hit by Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager resulted in perhaps the highlight of the day.
Sitting in the right field stands, 11-year-old fan Dylan Fowler reached high and made a spectacular bare-handed catch of the home run ball. Dylan was visited by Diamondbacks mascot Baxter the Bobcat afterward and according to the broadcasters, received four free tickets to an upcoming game and a discount at the pro shop as a reward for his impressive catch. Dylan was also interviewed by a member of the FOX Sports television team. All in all, not a bad way to spend a day at the ballpark
by weed against speed

Miami Heat Are Champs!!!

James had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists, leading the Heat in a 121-106 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night to win the NBA Finals in five games.
All that was left was a celebration nine years in the making - and two years after his acrimonious parting from the Cavaliers.
''It means everything,'' James said moments before being named the playoffs MVP to go along with his regular-season award. ''I made a difficult decision to leave Cleveland but I understood what my future was about ... I knew we had a bright future in Miami. This is a dream come true for me. This is definitely when it pays off

James left the game along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for good with 3:01 remaining for a round of hugs and the start for a party he's been waiting for since arriving in the NBA out of high school as the No. 1 pick of the 2003 draft. James hopped up and down in the final minutes, shared a long hug with opponent Kevin Durant, and then smiled as he watched the confetti rain down from the rafters.

''It's about damn time. It's about damn time,'' James said.
He was a choker last year, the guy who came up small in the fourth quarter, mocked for ''shrinking'' in the moment while playing with what he called ''hatred'' in trying to prove his critics wrong.
He came to Miami seeking an easier road to the finals but found it tougher than hoped, the Heat coming up empty last year and nearly getting knocked out in the Eastern Conference finals this time by Boston. Facing elimination there, James poured in 45 points on the road to force a Game 7 and the Heat won it at home.
''It was the hardest thing I've ever done as a basketball player,'' James said. ''You just put a lot of hard work into it and you hope that one day it will pay off for you.''

with a chance to clinch, the Heat took control in the second quarter, briefly lost it and blew the game open again in the third behind their role players, James content to pass to wide-open 3-point shooters while the Thunder focused all their attention on him.
The disappointment of losing to Dallas in six games a year ago vanished in a blowout of the demoralized Thunder, who got 32 points and 11 rebounds from Durant.
Bosh and Wade, the other members of the Big Three who sat alongside James as he promised titles at his Miami welcoming party, both had strong games. Bosh, who wept as the Heat left their own court after losing Game 6 last year, finished with 24 points and Wade scored 20. The Heat also got a huge boost from Mike Miller, who made seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points.
That all made it easier for James, the most heavily scrutinized player in the league since his departure from Cleveland, when he announced he was ''taking his talents to South Beach'' on a TV special called ''The Decision'' that was criticized everywhere from water coolers to the commissioner's office. James has said he wishes he handled things differently, but few who watched the Cavs fail to assemble championship talent around him could have argued with his desire to depart.

He found in Miami a team where he never had to do it alone, though he reminded everyone during this sensational postseason run that he still could when necessary. He got support whenever he needed it in this series, from Shane Battier's 17 points in Game 2 to Mario Chalmers' 25 in Game 4.

In the clincher it was Miller, banged up from so many injuries that he limped from the bench to scorer's table when he checked in. He made his fourth 3-pointer of the half right before James' fast-break basket capped a 15-2 run that extended Miami's lead to 53-36 with 4:42 remaining in the first half.
The Thunder were making a  early trip to the finals just three years after starting 3-29, beating the Mavericks, Lakers and Spurs along the way. With Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and James Harden all 23 or younger, the Thunder have the pieces in place for a lengthy stay atop the Western Conference.
But their inexperience showed in this series, a few questionable decisions, possessions and outright mistakes costing them in their franchise's first finals appearance since Seattle lost to Chicago in 1996. Westbrook scored 19 but made only four of his 20 shots, unable to come up with anything close to his 43-point outing in Game 4, and Harden finished a miserable series with 19.
''It hurts, man,'' Durant said. ''We're all brothers on this team and it just hurts to go out like this. We made it to the finals, which was cool for us, but we didn't want to just make it there. Unfortunately we lost, so it's tough.

Nothing they did could have stopped James, anyway.
Appearing fully over the leg cramps that forced him to sit out the end of Game 4, he was dominant again, a combination of strength and speed that is practically unmatched in the game and rarely seen in its history.
Wade skipped to each side of the court before the opening tip with arms up to pump up the fans, then James showed them nothing wrong with his legs, throwing down an emphatic fast-break dunk to open the scoring. He made consecutive baskets while being fouled, showing no expression after the second, as if he'd hardly even known he was hit. Drawing so much attention from the Thunder, he started finding his wide-open shooters, and the Heat built a nine-point lead before going to the second up 31-26.
Oklahoma City got back within five early in the third before consecutive 3-pointers by Chalmers and Battier triggered a 27-7 burst that made it 88-63 on another 3-pointer by Miller. James didn't even score in the run until it was almost over, hitting a pair of free throws after he was flagrantly fouled by Derek Fisher while powering toward the basket.

Gone was the tentative player who was mocked for shrinking on the big stage last year, too willing to defer to others who didn't possess half his talents. This time, he was at peace off the court and on attack on it, vowing to have no regrets and playing in such a way they wouldn't be necessary.
James promised multiple titles at his welcoming party, and the Heat have three pieces to build around. Pat Riley will have to fill some holes on the roster, but will likely find some players eager to come to Miami for the good weather and great chance to win.

Miller was one of them last year, and though injuries have ruined his effectiveness, his shooting turned this into the only blowout of the series after Miami had outscored Oklahoma City by just 389-384 over the first four games. A/P press

Neiman,Famous Artist of sports world, Dies

NEW YORK (AP)

Painter and sketch artist LeRoy Neiman, best known for evoking the kinetic energy of the world's biggest sporting and leisure events with bright quick strokes, died Wednesday at age 91.

Neiman was the official painter of five Olympiads and was a contributing artist at Playboy magazine for many years. His longtime publicist, Gail Parenteau, confirmed his death at a Manhattan hospital on Wednesday but didn't disclose the cause.

Neiman was a media-savvy artist who knew how to enthrall audiences with his instant renditions of what he observed. In 1972, he sketched the world chess tournament between Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer in Reykjavik, Iceland, for a live television audience. He also produced live drawings of the Olympics for TV and was the official computer artist of the Super Bowl for CBS.
Neiman's "reportage of history and the passing scene ... revived an almost lost and time-honored art form," according to a 1972 exhibit catalog of his Olympics sketches at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
"It's been fun. I've had a lucky life," Neiman said in a June 2008 interview with The Associated Press. "I've zeroed in on what you would call action and excellence. ... Everybody who does anything to try to succeed has to give the best of themselves, and art has made me pull the best out of myself."
Neiman's paintings, many executed in household enamel paints that allowed him his fast-moving strokes, are an explosion in reds, blues, pinks, greens and yellows of pure kinetic energy.
He has been described as an American impressionist, but the St. Paul, Minn., native preferred to think of himself simply as an American artist.
"I don't know if I'm an impressionist or an expressionist," he told the AP. "You can call me an American first. ... (but) I've been labeled doing neimanism, so that's what it is, I guess."
He worked in many media, producing thousands of etchings, lithographs and silkscreen prints known as serigraphy.

But Neiman's critics said his forays into the commercial world minimized him as a serious artist. At Playboy, for example, he created Femlin, the well-endowed nude that has graced the magazine's Party Jokes page since 1957.
Neiman shrugged off such criticism.
"I can easily ignore my detractors and feel the people who respond favorably," he said.
Neiman was fascinated with large game animals and said he twice traveled to Kenya to paint lions and elephants "in the bush" in his trademark vibrant palette.
But it was the essence of a basketball or football game, swim meet or cycling event that captured his imagination most.
"For an artist, watching a (Joe) Namath throw a football or a Willie Mays hit a baseball is an experience far more overpowering than painting a beautiful woman or leading political figure," Neiman said in 1972.
With his sketchbook and pencil, trademark handlebar mustache and slicked back hair, Neiman was instantly recognizable.
At a New York Jets game at Shea Stadium in 1975, fans yelled, "Put LeRoy in," when the play wasn't going their way.
Neiman's decades-long association with Playboy began in 1953 following a chance meeting with Hugh Hefner. It was the start of what he called "the good life" and inspiration for much of his future work.

He regularly contributed to the magazine's "Man at His Leisure" feature, which took him to such places as the Grand National Steeplechase and Ascot in England, the Cannes Film Festival in France and the Grand Prix auto race in Monaco.
Neiman was a World War II veteran who participated in the invasion of Normandy and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a self-described workaholic who seldom took vacations and had no hobbies. He worked daily in his home studio at the Hotel des Artistes near Central Park, which he shared with his wife.
"What else am I good for?" he said in 2008. "I don't think about anything else."
One of his projects, a 160-foot-long sports mural, hung in the Sports Museum of America in Manhattan.
Neiman also was a portraitist who captured some of the world's most iconic figures, Frank Sinatra and Babe Ruth among them, in a style that conveyed their public image.
"I am less concerned with how people look when they wake," he said. "A person's public presence reflects his own efforts at image development."
One face he recorded over and over again was that of Muhammad Ali. Those paintings and sketches, representing 15 years of the prizefighter's professional life, permanently reside at the LeRoy Neiman Gallery at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky.
Over the years, Neiman endowed a number of institutions, donating $6 million in 1995 for the creation of the LeRoy Neiman Center for Print Studies at Columbia University and $3 million to his alma mater, the Art Institute of Chicago, where he taught for a decade.
He also donated $1 million to create a permanent home for Arts Horizons, a community art center in Harlem.
Neiman earned numerous accolades. He was inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Other awards included a 2002 Friars Club Tribute and a 2004 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

His works are in many private and public museums. The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., was selected by Neiman to house his archives.
"I just love what I do," Neiman told the AP. "I love the passion you go through while you're creating" and the public's "very thoughtful and careful studied and emotional reaction of what you're doing."
He added: "It's a wonderful feeling."
Neiman is survived by his wife of 55 years, Janet Byrne Neiman.

Thunder's Harden has bruised hand Will Play

MIAMI (AP)

Oklahoma City reserve James Harden has a bruised left hand but is expected to play Thursday in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Harden was hurt during the Thunder's 104-98 loss to the Miami Heat on Tuesday. A Thunder spokesman says Harden took part in some of Wednesday's practice, but also iced his hand and sat out a portion.

The Sixth Man of the Year's struggles have helped the Heat build a 3-1 lead. Harden has shot 2 of 10 in both games in Miami, falling to 13 for 37 (35 percent) in the series. He is averaging 10.8 points, six points below his regular-season average.

Rack Is Back For Game 6 Of Stanley Cup

By far the most visited page on RideThePine.com over the past week has been our discovery of porn star Taylor Stevens who has been sitting right behind the visiting New Jersey Devils bench in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Los Angeles Kings.

We noticed Stevens amazing, eh, assets in Game 4. And guess what? She is back in Game 6 with another blonde-haired friend, who isn’t doing as good of a job entertaining us. I bet she’s got a great personality though.

Olympic Australian star's sex photos stolen

Intimate photographs of a Australian Olympian having sex with his wife were stolen by staff at an inner-Sydney computer shop after the star brought his machine in for repair.

Shockingly, the practice is not illegal, with information technology experts revealing Australian laws offer no protection from the unauthorized copying of photographs and data from any computer.
The Sunday Telegraph said it had seen the stolen images, which clearly depict the household-name star and his wife in numerous sexual acts, but chose not to name the Olympian or publish the photos for privacy reasons.
Other celebrities, as well as members of the general public, were also caught in the scam, which involves employees at the computer store targeting potential victims who bring their computers in for repair.

With the encouragement of the store's owner, staff scan machines for intimate material and upload photos and videos to a shared drive, according to a source who provided the Telegraph with evidence of the practice.
The store's owner, when confronted this week, demanded to know how the newspaper had uncovered the allegations. He denied targeting sexual images.
"If people choose to put photos and personal information on their computers that's their decision," he said.
According to Section 308H of the Crimes Act 1900, it is not a criminal offense to "access data which is not protected or restricted by an access control system," or password.
IT experts said many security systems provided no protection from theft by repairers or technicians.
AusCERT, an emergency computer response team that provides computer incident prevention, said computer owners should sit with any computer technician who is working on a machine.
Users are advised to copy sensitive material to a disc or back-up drive, and then delete it from the computer with specific deletion software.
A Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy spokesman urged computer owners to erase their hard drive before parting with old computers and laptops.

Devils Stay Alive With 2-1 Win

While the Kings are still a victory away from the first Cup in the club's 45-year history, the Devils are only two wins short of pulling off a feat in the finals that no team has managed for 70 years, coming back from an 0-3 deficit.

The Devils moved halfway to matching the greatest Cup finals comeback as Bryce Salvador scored on a deflection off a defenseman to give New Jersey a 2-1 victory over the Kings in Game 5, derailing Los Angeles' Cup coronation for a second time.
It was simple hard work by New Jersey.
The first goal came on a smart play by Zach Parise, the second on a deflection and the club got yet another clutch performance by Martin Brodeur.
Parise ended a five-game goal drought on a  mistake by goalie Jonathan Quick, and Brodeur stopped 25 shots to help the Devils end the Kings' 10-game postseason winning streak on the road and 12-game run over the past two years, both NHL records.
''We survived out there,'' Brodeur said. ''I don't think we played our greatest game, but we found a way to win. These are important games to win, especially at home knowing these guys play really well on the road.
Parise said the 40-year-old Brodeur was the difference.
''That's how a goalie wins the game for you,'' Parise said about Brodeur.
Justin Williams scored for the Kings, whose once seemingly insurmountable 3-0 series lead has been cut to 3-2. Game 6 is Monday night in Los Angeles.
More importantly, the Devils have the Kings wondering what's going on for the first time in the postseason.
This marks the first time they have lost consecutive games this postseason, and the Devils are halfway up a mountain that only one other NHL team has climbed in the finals after losing the first three games

Only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs came back in a best-of-seven finals and won. Three years later, the Detroit Red Wings rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the series, but they lost Game 7 to Toronto. Those were the only other two teams to come back from 0-3 to force a Game 6 until the Devils.
''It's a difficult thing to get yourself ready for games like that,'' Brodeur said. ''Now it's been two (must-win) in a row. It takes a lot out of you but it is worth it. I think that's what the guys have been concentrating on all day, leaving nothing out there

''... Now we are going to LA again to try to ruin the party again,'' the 40-year-old three-time Cup winner said. ''They are so close to winning the Stanley Cup that I am sure it is getting to them a little bit, having all these chances and not being able to capitalize a little bit. We're looking just to stay alive.''
The Kings haven't played terribly in losing the last two games, but the Devils have made the plays when it counted or gotten the breaks when they needed them.
Take Salvador's winner, his first goal in seven games. His shot from the left point was deflected right in front of Quick, hit off the chest of Kings defenseman Slava Voynov and rebounded into the net at 9:05 of the second period. It was the second time in this series that a point shot by a Devils defenseman hit off Voynov and caromed past his goaltender.
This one turned out to be a winner because Brodeur stood tall the rest of the way and had one shot hit off the goalpost and had a goal by Jarret Stoll on a second-period power play waved off because he hit the rebound with his stick too high.
Brodeur's biggest save might have been with 7.6 seconds to go in regulation when he stopped a slap shot by Mike Richards from the right circle.
The Kings, overtime winners in the first two games in the series in New Jersey, never got another shot and Brodeur took a patented victory swig of the Gatorade bottle on top of his net, as he has done for 18 years.

However, there was no overwhelming celebration from the home team. Slaps on the pads, a few head nods, then it was off to the locker room.
The Kings meanwhile, heads down, made a bee line for their locker room.
Quick said the losing streak hasn't changed the way the team feels. It's the same as it was after winning three in a row.
''It's the time of the year, you're going to lose games, you're going to win games,'' Quick said. ''It's the same as after we swept St. Louis, same as after we beat them three in a row. You stay right here, you don't get here, you don't get there.''
As the crowd filed out, again to the 1984 Bruce Springsteen hit, ''Glory Days,'' the chants of ''Mar-tee! Mar-tee! were loud and long.
The Kings seemingly had the territorial advantage in the opening period but they also made the biggest mistake.
And it came from a guy who has been almost flawless in the postseason - Quick.
With Willie Mitchell serving the final 20 seconds of a penalty for interference, Quick played a puck in front of his net and tried to send it around the net into the corner. The puck slid off his stick, went around the net and barely made it to the right edge of the crease.
Parise, who had not scored in five games, darted to the edge of the net and stuffed it home a split second before Quick could cover the corner of the net.
''I didn't put the puck where I wanted to,'' Quick said. ''Parise got it and put it in the net.''
Earlier in the penalty, Quick made a stop on a point-blank blast by Travis Zajac. The puck momentarily got through his pads and lay in the crease, but Drew Doughty quickly cleared it.

While Quick made the bad play that led to the goal, he also made a big stop on a point-blank shot by Zajac in the opening seconds of the power play that kept the Devils off the scoreboard.
The Kings were unlucky not to have the lead in the opening minutes. Williams picked up a loose puck in the Devils' zone and hit the right goalpost dead on with a blast that could be heard throughout the sold-out Prudential Center.
Williams tied it early in the second period, with a great individual effort. He avoided a check skating into the Devils' zone, cut to the center of the ice and ripped a 30-foot shot into the upper corner of the net past a screened Brodeur.
Minutes later, Brodeur stopped Stoll with a sliding save on a breakaway.

Quick, who was outstanding making 17 saves, stopped Zajac on a backhander in close before Salvador gave the Devils the lead with his fluky goal.a/p press

I'll Have Another Scratched At Belmont

I'll Have Another's bid for a Triple Crown ended with  shocking news that the colt was out of the Belmont Stakes because of a swollen left front tendon.

According to Dennis O'Neill, brother of trainer Doug O'Neill, the horse galloped Friday morning, and after a veterinary scan, the tendon seemed ''kind of tender.''
O'Neill told The Associated Press that, ''the horse is sound and happy, but it's not worth it.''
No one could immediately recall another instance when a Triple Crown contender pulled out the Belmont Stakes the day before the big race.

''It's not tragic, but it's a huge disappointment,'' Doug O'Neill said on ''The Dan Patrick Show.''
Asked if I'll Have Another has raced his last race, O'Neill said: ''If I had to wager, I would say yes.''
''It's devastating. I thought this was going to be one of the greatest races in history, and I wanted the opportunity to be part of it,'' said Dale Romans, trainer of second favorite Dullahan. ''But this is bigger than that. This is terrible news.''

Last September, I'll Have Another came out of a losing effort in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga with shin problems and took the rest of the year off.
He returned to racing in February, and won the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, putting the colt firmly on the Triple Crown trail.

Doug O'Neill and owner J. Paul Reddam immediately gave I'll Have Another two months off leading up to the Santa Anita Derby, which he won by a nose on April 12.

He followed with victories in the Kentucky Derby on May 5 and the Preakness two weeks later to set up a highly anticipated bid to become racing's first Triple Crown winner in 34 years.

Charlie Sheen goes off at Kings game

Former "Two and a Half Men" star Charlie Sheen launched into an F-bomb-laced tirade Wednesday night after a security guard wouldn't let him return to a Stanley Cup Final game in Los Angeles after he'd left.

Sheen went outside for a cigarette during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, apparently unaware of Staples Center rules against re-entry.
The "Anger Management" actor first tried to reason and plead to a pretty, pony-tailed guard in a red blazer, asking, "What does common sense direct?"
A moment later, he lost it.

His sexually explicit tirade was captured in a video posted on TMZ.
Sheen's pals tried keeping him away from paparazzi, but the actor wanted to make a point.
Sheen, 46, composed himself and looked directly into a camera, asking, "Is common sense and common courtesy, like, gone in society? That was what I was trying to impress upon her."

"Let a guy back in the door he just walked out of, I mean come on," Sheen added. "Common sense, that's all."
The guard told cameras she gave Sheen a piece of her mind.
"Did you not hear me tell him to f*** off?" she said. "I don't care who he is."

The Devils beat the Kings 3-1 for their first win in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is in Newark, N.J., on Saturday.

Patriots release WR Chad Ochocinco

The New England Patriots released receiver Chad Ochocinco on Thursday, cutting loose the six-time Pro Bowl selection after one season in which he was more active on Twitter than on the field.

''Thoroughly enjoyed the oppurtunity to play for the 'Patriot' organization... fans were ... wicked awesome, I wish all of you the best,'' he tweeted at about the same time the team was announcing he had been released.

''I'm healthy n living life, I'll be fine,'' he wrote on Twitter, where he had changed his job description to ''UNEMPLOYED BLACK GUY'' and posed a photo of himself sitting on a suitcase at the airport, hitchhiking.
Ochocinco, 34, played in 15 games in his only season with the Patriots, starting three and catching 15 passes for 276 yards. He caught one pass in the Super Bowl as New England lost 21-17 to the New York Giants.

His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he is ''in the process of gauging interest from potential teams.''
During the playoffs, Patriots coach Bill Belichick described Ochocinco as a hard worker who ''made a very good effort to do everything we've asked him to do on and off the field.''
Ochocinco said the shift from star receiver to barely contributing role player was a struggle. But it paid off with his first trip to the Super Bowl — as a player, not as a gadfly asking questions on media day to those actually participating in the game.

''I'm happy, but the competitive side of me is (angry). Does that make sense?'' he said before the team left for Indianapolis. ''I handled myself with the utmost professionalism. I busted my (butt), didn't pout. That's what I do: 'Give me the rock!' But I didn't do what people thought I would do. Even I thought I was going to do it.''
Drafted in the second round by Cincinnati from Oregon State, Ochocinco spent 10 seasons with the Bengals and reached the Pro Bowl five straight years from 2003-07 and again in '09. He was the first player in NFL history to lead the conference in receiving four consecutive years.
But Ochocinco — who changed his name from Chad Johnson as a nod to his uniform number, 85 — was perhaps better known for his antics that sometimes annoyed his teammates, coaches and even commissioner Roger Goodell, whom he called ''Dad.'' He predicted victories, sent gifts to opposing locker rooms and invited fans to help him think up new end zone antics.

His touchdown celebrations using a pylon as a golf club, performing CPR on the football, doing a jig, donning a Hall of Fame jacket led to repeated fines and an NFL crackdown. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis grew so frustrated that he once called him ''Ocho Psycho.''
Ochocinco also appeared as a contestant on ''Dancing With the Stars'' and hosted a cable dating show. Under the guise of the online Ochocinco News Network, he attended the Super Bowl as a reporter for two years, asking questions of the teams during media sessions and even grilling Goodell last year on the prospects of avoiding a lockout.

Last month, he posted online an open letter to Goodell to support the commissioner in the wake of Junior Seau's suicide, writing ''no one is showing any support, I figured I would be the first.''

In his career, Ochocinco has caught 766 passes for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns.

NFL punishes Seahawks

The NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association made a joint announcement Tuesday afternoon.
According to the NFL and the players' union, the Seahawks' punishment includes the cancellation of their previously scheduled organized team

The players are not allowed to report to team headquarters on those three days. However, they will be paid for those workout sessions.
The Seahawks are not allowed to reschedule the workouts at a later date.
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, offseason workouts have been curtailed.

Live contact drills during the offseason were already forbidden under the previous labor agreement and are traditionally regarded as a no-no for minicamps and organized team activities with live hitting not commencing.byaaronwilson

NFL wins Arbitration ruling

An arbitrator on Monday that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has the authority to discipline New Orleans Saints players for their role in a bounty system.

The NFL Players Association challenged Goodell's power to impose penalties for what the league says was a three-year bounty program that targeted specific players. Stephen Burbank, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, took only five days to determine that Goodell has the power to punish the players under the collective bargaining agreement reached last August to end the lockout.
Goodell suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the entire 2012 season and teammate Will Smith for four games. Former Saints defensive end Anthony Hargrove, now with Green Bay, was suspended for eight games, while linebacker Scott Fujita, now with Cleveland, was docked three games.

Those players have appealed the suspensions. And the players' union later Monday said it will appeal Burbank's decision because it believes salary cap violations are involved in the payment. That would give Burbank the authority to rule on penalizing any players involved.
Burbank did, however, retain temporary jurisdiction on Hargrove's role and asked Goodell for more information on Hargrove's ''alleged participation.''
Burbank ''invited the commissioner to clarify the precise basis for his discipline of Mr. Hargrove who, among other things, was found to have lied to the league's investigators and obstructed their investigation,'' the NFL said in a statement.
The union said in a statement it ''believes that the players are entitled to neutral arbitration of these issues under the CBA and will continue to fight for that principle and to protect the fair due process rights of all players.'' The NFLPA noted Burbank wrote that ''nothing in this opinion is intended to convey a view about the underlying facts or the appropriateness of the discipline imposed.''
The union filed another grievance with a different arbitrator, Shyam Das, contending the new CBA prohibits Goodell from punishing players for any conduct before the CBA was signed. The league's investigation showed the bounty program ran from 2009-11.
Das has yet to rule on that grievance, which also seeks to have player appeals heard by Art Shell and Ted Cottrell, who are jointly appointed by the league and union to review discipline handed out for on-field conduct.
The league and union have spent plenty of time before arbitrators and judges this offseason, with two other major cases pending.
Vilma has sued Goodell for defamation in a U.S. District Court in New Orleans and Goodell has been given until July 5 to respond to the action.
The players also have sued the league in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, saying the owners colluded in the uncapped 2010 season to have a secret salary cap. NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has said such collusion could have cost players $1 billion in wages.
That lawsuit stems, in part, from the NFL stripping the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys of salary cap room in 2012 and `13. The Redskins had their cap reduced $36 million over the two years and the Cowboys lost $10 million in cap space.

Packers SB ring seized

By the Chicago Tribune, six members of a drug trafficking organization with ties to Mexico has resulted in the seizure of heroin, weapons and jewelry -- including a 2010 Green Bay Packers Super Bowl ring.

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigation lasted for several months, using extensive electronic surveillance. Police departments from Chicago, Cook County, South Holland, Waukegan, Will County, and Willow Springs were involved in the probe.

Agents also seized 20 kilograms of heroin, about $1.4 million in cash and 18 weapons.

It was unknown how the drug traffickers wound up with the Super Bowl ring, which was reported stolen from a team executive.

a Packers die-hard fan, Dennis Brucks, recently bought a 2012 Green Bay Super Bowl Ring at a Wisconsin pawn shop that been priced at $9,999 plus tax.

According to the report, all six of the defendants in the drug investigation -- Pedro Salas, 21, of Belvidere, Jesus Fuentes, 37, of Gary, Ind., Sergio Baltazar-Lujano, 27, of Chicago, Gerardo Baltazar-Lujano, 25, of Chicago, Ester Carrera 59, of Gary, Ind., and Anthony Santiago, 38, of Des Plaines -- were arrested two weeks ago and remain in federal custody.

Justin Blackmon DUI charge

Jacksonville Jaguars draft pick receiver Justin Blackmon was being held on $1,000 bail Sunday after he was arrested on an aggravated DUI charge, authorities said.
The former Oklahoma State star was booked Sunday morning after Stillwater police arrested him, Payne County Sheriff Sgt. Brandon Ingham said.

The Jaguars drafted Blackmon, 22, with the fifth pick in this year's NFL draft in the hopes that he can upgrade the league's worst offense.
''We are aware of the report and are gathering information,'' Jaguars spokesman Dan Edwards said. ''We don't have any comment at this time.''
Stillwater police didn't return a phone message seeking comment. A report about the incident wasn't immediately available.
Ingham said there wasn't an attorney listed for Blackmon in jail records. His agent, Todd France, didn't immediately respond to an email or phone message seeking comment.

Blackmon was previously arrested on a DUI charge in Texas in 2010 after officers caught him speeding on a suburban Dallas highway.
He told reporters after the arrest that he made a mistake and took full responsibility for it.
''I'm embarrassed to be in this position,'' Blackmon said. ''I'm truly sorry to my family, to my friends and to Oklahoma State all together. I look forward to redeeming myself and proving to everybody that this isn't who I am. I'm not this guy. I'm humbled by this experience and I will grow from it.''
The Jaguars traded up to select Blackmon in April.
The 6-foot-1, 207-pounder caught 122 passes for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He had 111 receptions for 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns the year before.

''He's got an edge to him,'' new coach Mike Mularkey said earlier this year. ''He's one of these guys who doesn't think he can be covered. That's pretty important at that position with that kind of confidence, that you can line up and dare somebody to try to stop you and believe that you can't be. I like that edge.''by fox news

Miami Heat's Bosh won't play in Game 4

BOSTON (AP)

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra says Chris Bosh will not play for the Heat in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics

Bosh will miss his ninth straight game Sunday with a lower abdominal strain. Spoelstra says that Bosh's status is ''still indefinite.''

The Heat lost their All-Star forward in Game 1 of the second-round series against Indiana. Without him, the Celtics have been double-teaming Dwyane Wade and won Game 3 to cut the Heat's lead to 2-1.

Johan Santana fires Mets' no-hitter

 The New York Mets chased that elusive no-hitter. Johan Santana finally finished the job.
Santana pitched the first no-hitter in team history, helped by an umpire's missed call and an outstanding catch in left field in an 8-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night

After a string of close calls over the last five decades, Santana went all the way in the Mets' 8,020th game.
''Finally, the first one,'' he said. ''That is the greatest feeling ever.''
He needed a couple of key assists to pull it off.
Carlos Beltran, back at Citi Field for the first time since the Mets traded him last July, hit a line drive over third base in the sixth inning that hit the foul line and should have been called fair. But third base umpire Adrian Johnson ruled it foul and the no-hitter was intact - even though a replay clearly showed a mark where the ball landed on the chalk line.
''I saw the ball hitting outside the line, just foul,'' Johnson told a pool reporter.
The umpire acknowledged that he saw the replay afterward but declined to comment.

''It was in front of his face, and he called it foul. I thought it was a fair ball,'' Beltran said. ''At the end of the day, one hit wasn't going to make a difference in the ballgame. We needed to score more runs and we didn't do that.''
Hometown kid Mike Baxter then made a tremendous catch in left field to rob Yadier Molina of extra bases in the seventh. Baxter crashed into the wall, injured his shoulder and left the game.
Making his 11th start since missing last season following shoulder surgery, Santana (3-2) threw a career-high 134 pitches in his second consecutive shutout. Relying on a sneaky fastball and the baffling changeup that's always been his signature, he struck out eight and walked five.
''Amazing,'' Santana said after tossing the majors' third no-hitter this year. ''Coming into this season I was just hoping to come back and stay healthy and help this team, and now I am in this situation in the greatest city for baseball.''
Before the game, Mets manager Terry Collins said he planned to limit Santana to 110-115 pitches all season.
''I just couldn't take him out,'' a choked-up Collins said afterward.
Born in 1962, the Mets have been built on pitching when they've fielded their best teams. But neither Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver nor Dwight Gooden could throw a no-hitter for the Mets - though all three are among the seven pitchers who tossed one after leaving the team.

Philip Humber is another one. He pitched a perfect game for the Chicago White Sox at Seattle on April 21, and Jered Weaver of the Los Angeles Angels no-hit Minnesota on May 2.
Following the game, Santana addressed his teammates in the clubhouse. He thanked them and said: ''Yeah, baby! Believe it!''

Santana got a warm ovation as he headed out to the mound for the ninth inning, and the two-time Cy Young Award winner quickly retired Matt Holliday and Allen Craig on shallow fly balls.
With the crowd of 27,069 on its feet in a frenzy, World Series MVP David Freese went to a 3-2 count before his foul tip was caught by Josh Thole, just activated from the disabled list earlier in the day.
Santana pumped his left fist and slammed it into his glove as Thole showed the ball to plate umpire Gary Cederstrom and then went running out toward the mound.
''I don't think anybody expected that tonight. Everything came out perfect for him,'' Beltran said. ''It should mean a lot for him after battling last year with the injuries. ... I'm not happy about it, but at the same time he's a good man and I'm happy for him.''

The Mets rushed out of the dugout and mobbed Santana in a raucous dogpile as security tackled a fan who ran onto the field near home plate. Moments later, the pitcher raised his right arm and saluted the crowd, which was chanted his name from the eighth inning on. The big scoreboard in center flashed Santana's picture and read ''No-Han.''

''It was a crazy night - my fastball moving all over the place,'' Santana said. ''I don't think I've ever thrown a no-hitter in video games.''
The Cardinals should have had a hit in the sixth.
Beltran, traded by the Mets to San Francisco last July after 6 1/2 rocky seasons in New York, led off with a low liner over third. Television replays showed the ball nicked the foul line just behind the bag on the dirt, taking a small chunk of chalk with it. But Johnson called it foul immediately and Beltran eventually grounded out.

''It was tough because it happened so quick. I wasn't able to see anything,'' Santana said.
''The umpire made his call and that was the end of it,'' he said.
But with the next batter at the plate, Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo twice got in Johnson's face for heated arguments - the two even appeared to bump each other. Rookie manager Mike Matheny also came out to protest, but nobody was ejected.


Almost exactly two years ago - on June 2, 2010 - Armando Galarraga lost a perfect game when first base umpire Jim Joyce admittedly blew a call that should've resulted in the final out. The miss in Detroit instead gave Cleveland's Jason Donald a single with two outs in the ninth.

Major League Baseball had considered expanding replay for this season to review fair-or-foul calls and trapped balls. The change required the approval of MLB and the unions representing the umpires and the players - when there was no agreement, extra replay was postponed until at least 2013.
Santana cruised from there into the seventh, when Molina hit a one-out drive to deep left. Baxter, who grew up rooting for the Mets only 10 minutes from where Citi Field stands, raced back and made a terrific catch before crashing full force into the fence.
Baxter stayed down on the warning track as Mets trainers, players and coaches rushed out to him. Santana crouched in the infield with a couple of teammates and then made a few warmup tosses to stay loose.
Baxter walked off the field under his own power Ray Ramirez holding the outfielder's left arm. The Mets said Baxter has a bruised left shoulder and was having more tests.
''When I saw him running back onto the warning track and he made that play, it was amazing. An outstanding play and he saved the game,'' said Santana, traded to the Mets by Minnesota before the 2008 season. ''All these guys, I want to thank them for what we accomplished.''A/P