Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Cardinals 4, Diamondbacks 2
ST. LOUIS — Jaime Garcia won for the sixth time at home and David Freese homered for the first time since April 12, helping the Cardinals earn a four-game series split. "I'm not trying to prove I can do this or do that," Freese said. "Just put an 'A' swing on it and let things happen." Albert Pujols had two hits and Matt Holliday had an RBI single for the Cardinals, tied for the NL Central lead.
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Dodgers 4, Padres 1
LOS ANGELES — Andre Ethier homered twice and the Dodgers earned their season-high fourth straight win. Ted Lilly allowed a run and four hits over five innings, helping send the Padres to their fifth straight loss. The 35-year-old left-hander struck out seven and walked two en route to his first victory since June 11.
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Marlins 5, Astros 4
MIAMI — Mike Cameron hit a tying two-run homer for his first hit since joining the Marlins, who completed a four-game sweep. After Cameron tied it at 3, Omar Infante hit a sacrifice fly with two aboard and Gaby Sanchez followed with a two-out RBI double.
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Nationals 2, Rockies 0
WASHINGTON — Jordan Zimmermann took a shutout into the seventh, Roger Bernadina had an RBI single and Rick Ankiel homered as Washington goes to the All-Star break with a .500 record for the first time since 2005. "My slider was probably the best it's ever been," said Zimmermann, who didn't allow a run for the third time in his past six starts. "I felt like I could throw it whenever and where I wanted to."
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Phillies 14, Braves 1
PHILADELPHIA — Raul Ibanez homered and drove in six runs for the Phillies to back eight strong innings by Cole Hamels, who allowed just one hit after the second inning and retired his final 13 batters. Philadelphia, which had a season-high 20 hits, increased its NL East lead to 3½ games over Atlanta. "Sometimes you have to say you got your butt beat," losing pitcher Derek Lowe said.
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Pirates 9, Cubs 1
PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen homered and drove in five runs as the Pirates entered the All-Star break with their best record (47-43) in 19 years. Pittsburgh is a game behind St. Louis and Milwaukee in the NL Central. "If we keep winning series, other stuff will take care of itself," pitcher Paul Maholm said.
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Rangers 2, Athletics 0
ARLINGTON, Texas — Matt Harrison pitched six-hit ball into the eighth inning, Adrian Beltre homered in his third consecutive game and the Rangers extended their winning streak to a season-best seven games. "I think we finally got the type of baseball moving in the direction we're capable of playing," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. Harrison struck out seven in 7⅔ innings to prevail in a duel over Trevor Cahill. After Josh Hamilton drew a two-out walk in the sixth, Beltre hit his 19th homer.
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Twins 6, White Sox 3
CHICAGO — Anthony Swarzak dominated over six innings as the Twins head into the All-Star break with nine victories in their past 12 games. Swarzak allowed one run and four hits as Minnesota beat Chicago for the 29th time in 36 games. "We played very lousy," said manager Ozzie Guillen, whose team lost for the fifth time in six games. "We finished the first half of the season the way we started. Very ugly game."
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Blue Jays 7, Indians 1
CLEVELAND — Jose Bautista hit a two-run double to back six strong innings from Brett Cecil as the Blue Jays took the last three games of the series. They lost the opener when they couldn't hold a four-run lead and allowed Travis Hafner's walkoff grand slam. "We have the ability to put behind us what the previous day was, whether it was positive or negative," Jays manager John Farrell said.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As temperatures neared 100 and Justin Verlander's pitch count mounted, Jim Leyland thought about replacing his All-Star. But with whom?
"No matter where I looked — my bullpen, their bullpen, in the stands — I couldn't find anybody any better," Leyland quipped. "So he's going to be out there."
Verlander threw 119 pitches in 7⅔ innings and beat Kansas City 2-1 Sunday, vaulting Detroit into first place in the AL Central and making him the first Tigers pitcher in 24 years with 12 wins before the All-Star break.
"I knew it would be a grind out there, as hot as it was," said Verlander on a day when the heat index on the stadium concourse hit 113. "I took my time between pitches and just tried to slow things down a little bit. I felt like that helped."
The right-hander improved to 12-2 in 18 starts against the Royals. The first Tiger since Jack Morris in 1987 with 12 wins before the break, he struck out and nine to raise his league-leading total to 147 as Detroit moved a half-game up on Cleveland.
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Red Sox 8, Orioles 6
BOSTON — Marco Scutaro, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis homered in the second as the Red Sox won their sixth in a row, a turnaround from starting the year with six losses. "I think we are where we deserve to be," said manager Terry Francona, a game up on New York in the AL East.
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Giants 4, Mets 2
SAN FRANCISCO — Pablo Sandoval celebrated his All-Star game selection by hitting an RBI double to extend his hitting streak to 21 games and Matt Cain pitched six scoreless innings for the Giants. Nate Schierholtz added four hits and an RBI after being moved up to the cleanup spot.
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Hee Kyung Seo sat in first at the U.S. Women's Open on Sunday. But the South Korean had not won her first major yet as play was suspended because of darkness.
Because of weather delays, players went 36 holes at the Broadmoor. (A delay Sunday lasted 2 hours, 37 minutes.)
Seo shot two 3-under 68s and was at 3-under 281. Of the 28 still on the course, only three have a realistic chance to catch her today (10 a.m., ESPN2):
• So Yeon Ryu was one back with three holes left.
• Cristie Kerr was two back with two holes to play.
• Angela Stanford was three back with four holes left.
Seo's final round included four straight birdies on the front nine.
"I just trusted myself and just let it go," she said.
But she scrambled through the back nine. She saved par with a tricky 5-foot putt at No. 11; from an awkward stance above a greenside bunker at No. 13 and after a drive into the deep rough at No. 15. In addition, she missed a 3-foot par putt at No. 17 but said she would sleep fine.
"I can sleep very well," she said. "So I don't worry about that."
Ryu, who shot a third-round 69, said she's confident of being able to catch Seo.
"Right now, it's kind of breezy out there," she said. "(Today), it might be good weather and the greens might be soft. So it's good for me."
Kerr, a two-time major winner, also isn't conceding anything. She was getting ready to do an interview when she saw Seo hugging friends and family.
"The tournament is not decided yet," said Kerr, who shot a third-round 69. "I think she's over there celebrating. We all have a chance. I'm going to go out and swing for the fences and hopefully tie it up."
Stanford shot a third-round 70. Mika Miyazato, who led entering the day, was 3 over after 13 holes.
Stricker wins again
SILVIS, Ill. — Steve Stricker made a 25-foot putt from off the 18th green to win the PGA's John Deere Classic. Stricker, the third-round leader, is the 17th player to win an event three straight years.
He led by five at the turn, fell behind Kyle Stanley with bogeys at Nos. 15 and 16 then birdied Nos. 17 and 18 to shoot 2-under 69 and 22-under 262. Stanley, a rookie, led by one after a par at No. 17 despite sending his tee shot into a grove of trees. But he missed a 9-footer for par at No. 18 to shoot 66 and open the door for Stricker.
Stricker credited his caddie, Jimmy Johnson.
"Jimmy was right there telling me the whole time, 'You know, it's not over yet. Just keep plugging. You never know what's going to happen,' " he said.
"And sure enough, he was right. Just play it all the way out and see what happens."
Stanley, 23, however, did earn a spot in the British Open by being the top finisher among those not already qualified.
Champions: Jeff Sluman shot 2-under 70 and overcame bogeys at Nos. 10 and 15 to win the First Tee Open in Pebble Beach, Calif. Sluman had five birdies and closed with three pars to finish at 10-under 206. It was his first win since winning this tournament in 2009. Jay Haas entered the final round with a two-stroke lead but shot 75 to finish tied for second, two back, with David Eger (72) and Brad Bryant (73).
No Monty at British: Colin Montgomerie will not compete at the British Open, which starts Thursday, for the first time since 1989. Because he was not among the top 50 in the world rankings on May 30 and doesn't qualify for other exemptions, Montgomerie had to finish among the top five at this weekend's Scottish Open. He shared the lead Sunday after birdie at No. 6. But three bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine left him tied for 31st.
Times wires
Sunday, July 10, 2011
NEW YORK — Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez will have surgery today in Miami to repair the torn meniscus in his right knee, and he is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, the team said.
Rodriguez likely will be back in time for the final month or so of the regular season.
Before Saturday's game, manager Joe Girardi revealed the injury to the leg Rodriguez uses to push off while swinging. Rodriguez, who turns 36 later this month, has already pulled out of Tuesday's All-Star Game. He tweaked his knee at Wrigley Field on June 19, and the tear in his meniscus has slowed him on the bases. He is batting .359 with 10 RBIs in his past 16 games, but he has looked much more like a singles hitter.
After 3,000: Yankees SS Derek Jeter said he celebrated with family and friends after reaching 3,000 hits Saturday "but not too much because I don't recover like I used to."
All-Star outage: Despite the exodus of 16 players from All-Star rosters over the past few days (chart, 4C), union chief Michael Weiner said the mass withdrawals are more about "circumstance" than an indication that players don't care about the game, ESPN.com reported. "By and large, I think players are excited to participate in the game," Weiner said.
AL starter? Angels ace Jered Weaver said he was told by his manager, Mike Scioscia, that he will start for the AL in Tuesday's All-Star Game. "It's very exciting," said Weaver (11-4, 1.86 ERA), who said Scioscia received a call from AL manager Ron Washington of the Rangers.
Snag Gold: A few of the balls used in tonight's Home Run Derby are made with one panel that's infused with 24-carat gold leather and will be used once a batter is down to his final out in each round. The balls have a retail value of $149.99.
Garvey fired? The Dodgers fired Tampa native Steve Garvey for his attempts to buy the team that he helped to the 1981 World Series title, according to multiple media outlets. Garvey, 62, worked in community relations. He had discussed forming a group with former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser that has the goal of buying a professional sports franchise.
Three-ball gaff: Angels DH Bobby Abreu was allowed to take first on a three-ball count in the Angels' 4-2 win over the Mariners. The same thing happened to Seattle on July 2 against San Diego. Plate umpire Gerry Davis apparently lost track of Felix Hernandez's count on Abreu, and the Seattle dugout didn't protest when Abreu trotted to first on a 3-and-1 count. Last weekend, San Diego's Cameron Maybin took first on a 2-and-2 pitch and eventually scored the only run in the Mariners' 1-0 loss.
Sox-Orioles ejections: Orioles reliever Michael Gonzalez and manager Buck Showalter were ejected in the sixth against the Red Sox after Gonzalez threw a pitch behind Boston's David Ortiz, who did not charge the mound the way he did Friday, a move that touched off a benches-clearing brawl. Sox starter Kyle Weiland and manager Terry Francona were ejected in the fifth after Weiland, making his majors debut, said something after hitting Vladimir Guerrero.
Rays' Beckham has hand in Futures win
PHOENIX — The Rays' Tim Beckham doubled in the tying run, then the Yankees' Austin Romine singled home the go-ahead run in a three-run eighth, leading the United States over the World team 6-4 in the All-Star Futures Game featuring top minor-league prospects. Oakland's Grant Green was selected MVP after starting the rally in the eighth with his second double.
By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Monday, July 11, 2011
The flurry of daily reports updating progress (or lack thereof) on the labor front can become exhausting to keep up with. But there's one this morning we highly suggest you read if you've been trying keeping up.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter report the NFL is aiming to have a new collective bargaining agreement ratified by its July 21 owners meeting in Atlanta, allowing the league to keep the preseason and regular season intact.
If this holds true, it has big ramifications for the Bucs. When it was announced that the Bears and Bucs would meet in London on October 23 as part of the NFL's International Series, there was one caveat: The NFL lockout had to end by August 1.
This timeline, if adhered to, would beat that deadline and keep the Bucs overseas for that key "home" game. That probably won't thrill season-ticket holders who were probably looking forward to what was an attractive home date for Tampa Bay, but it would at least bring some clarity to the situation for the Bucs.
The logistics involved in traveling to London are complicated for an NFL team, evidenced by the lengths the Bucs went to in 2009 to consider all options in an effort to minimize jet lag. The Bucs finally settled on a late-Friday night arrival ahead of their Sunday evening kickoff, but that might not be the case this time around. Look for the Bucs to consider heading over a little earlier to give them time to adjust to the dramatic five-hour time difference.
In any case, this is something to keep an eye as we (we think) get closer to a resolution of this ongoing work stoppage.
By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, July 11, 2011
Considering the Lightning won the 2004 Stanley Cup with a dramatic 2-1 Game 7 victory over the Flames at the St. Pete Times Forum, Tim Taylor recognizes that it might seem odd the team's greatest goal happened in Game 6.
But as the former Tampa Bay center recently said of Marty St. Louis' tally 33 seconds into double overtime, which gave the Lightning a 3-2 win in Calgary: "For this franchise to win the Stanley Cup, that goal had to happen."
"To be honest, that was the Stanley Cup," Taylor added of the win, which tied the series at three games apeice and sent it back to Tampa. "On the road in Game 6 with all of Canada watching and praying the Flames would win. By far, that was the biggest goal."
"It was amazing," former Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk said. "If you go into my office, I bought (a picture) of that goal on eBay that Marty signed That's how huge I believe that goal was for myself and for everybody."
That St. Louis scored against the team that cut him loose after the 1999-2000 season just added to the drama.
It was a nothing play, really. Taylor's shot from the point barely tipped Brad Richards' stick. A right-leg save by goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff. But then St. Louis, as if out of nowhere, smacked the rebound through the slightest of openings under Kiprusoff's right arm.
"After scoring that goal you just realize we go back home and get a chance of winning the Cup," St. Louis said. "So for me there will never be a bigger goal. ... Unless it's Game 7 and in overtime of the Stanley Cup final."
End point
Andreychuk, who won his first Cup with the Lightning and now is the team's vice president for fan and business development, remembers watching from the bench.
"All I remember is (the Flames) shooting it around the boards and Tim keeps it in (the Calgary zone)," he said. "The next thing, Marty has it on his stick and it ends up in the back of the net. It wasn't a fluke goal. Yes, he gets the puck in front of the net, but he still makes a pretty good shot."
It was St. Louis' only shot of the game.
"That's how tight checking that game was," the right wing said. "I just tried to get the puck on net. I was just hoping to beat him back to the post, but he was quick and it just somehow went under his arm."
But the goal might not have happened without ...
Two small moments
The first was Lightning defenseman Jassen Cullimore pinching into the offensive zone along the boards and falling after getting tangled with a Flames player. The stumble proved a blessing in disguise as Calgary's Jordan Leopold, moving to challenge Taylor at the point, tripped and fell over Cullimore's legs.
"That was huge," Taylor said. "If he would have come at me quicker, I might have had to fire the puck away. But I had that extra second to get my head up and see it was wide open."
What Taylor saw was a shooting lane to the net with only St. Louis and Richards in the vicinity.
"All their guys had overloaded on the left side," Taylor said of the Flames. "When I saw (St. Louis and Richards) open I knew my shot had to be along the ice, and it had to be something that wasn't going to be real hard so they could either tip it or stop it so they could have a two-on-oh in front. I shot it along the ice."
And that brings us to the second small moment.
Just a touch
It is barely noticeable on replays but Taylor's shot glanced off Richards' stick.
"When I touched it I thought I messed the play up," said Richards, who had two goals and three points in the game. "I was in between on what to do. It had no pace so I tried to let it go. It worked out because the goalie thought I would do more with it."
"It screwed up Kiprusoff and his rebound control," St. Louis said. "He wasn't able to put it where he wanted it. It just came on my stick. I tried to shoot it quick up to the top of the net. It looks like it goes top shelf but it actually goes under his arm first. It was so tight, a quick reaction."
"It's funny," Taylor said, "how you can make 20,000 people sound like a pin drop."
"It was awesome," Andreychuk said. "I've been in double overtime and triple overtime, but for us to go into that building and win, to hang in there when the Cup was in the building, to play the way we played. I remember saying in the room after, I had the best seat in the house for the greatest hockey game I'd ever seen."
And the Lightning's greatest goal.
Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.
By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Monday, July 11, 2011
BRANDON — Tyler Johnson carries some pretty impressive statistics.
His 53 goals last season for Spokane led the junior Western league. His 115 points were second by one in the WHL, and second among all junior players in Canada.
"As good a player as there was in junior hockey last year," said Al Murray, the Lightning's director of amateur scouting.
So why wasn't he drafted?
"Five-foot-8, 5-9, whatever it is," Murray said.
But that did not stop Tampa Bay in March from signing Johnson, 20, to a free agent contract.
The expectation is the center, listed at 5-9, 175 pounds, will play next season for AHL Norfolk. For now, he's one of the more intriguing players at the Lightning's development camp at the Ice Sports Forum.
"You've got to recognize his strengths and see if it fits a role for your team," Murray said. "For us he fits. (GM Steve Yzerman) wants quick, competitive people who have skill. This is him."
Johnson, part of the United States' 2010 gold-medal junior national team, has more to his game than superior skating and soft hands. Positionally sound and good defensively, he can play any situation, Murray said. And his ability to win faceoffs made him invaluable on Spokane's power play and penalty kill.
Johnson was not always a points producer. He had 13 goals and 35 points in 2007-08, his first season with Spokane. But his goals and points totals went up in his next three seasons.
"My first year in Spokane I was strictly a defensive guy in a shut-down role," Johnson said. "As time went on I was relied on more for offense, so it's something I just acquired. I'm trying to be a two-way forward and play at both ends of the rink."
"He's a good skater and very competitive," Murray said. "Not like, 'I'm going to knock you over and run through you,' but, 'I'm going to beat you to pucks, chip pucks off your stick, beat you on the transition.' He doesn't have to battle. He just beats you."
3-ON-3: Three-man teams played half-ice games with four-minute periods that were "just fun" for players but also provided clues, Yzerman said.
"In three-on-three you're touching the puck a lot. It's a lot of skill," he said. "We see them handle the puck, shoot the puck, make little plays in tight."
It also was quite a workout.
"After a minute of that you are out of gas," Yzerman said. "That's why we do it half-ice."
SEARCHING: D Teigan Zahn became a free agent July 1 because the Lightning did not make the 2010 draftee a bona fide offer. Zahn is at camp anyway. He also might skate at the Islanders camp, though that still is up in the air.
Zahn, 21, said it would be "different" skating for two teams, but added, "I just want to prove myself to someone and get that foot in the door."
SARDINES: What happened Sunday, when 12 players wedged themselves into an elevator at the team hotel?
The elevator got stuck between the first and second floors.
"Some guys were getting a little worried, but some guys were laughing," C Alex Killorn said.
The problem resolved itself after several minutes, Killorn said. But that was plenty of time for embarrassment as people in the lobby watched the players through the elevator's glass wall.
"Everybody was laughing at us," Killorn said.
ODDS AND ENDS: Vladislav Namestnikov, Tampa Bay's 2011 first-round pick, 27th overall, beat G Jaroslav Janus on a penalty shot with a forehand after a slick deke from his backhand. "I do that a lot," Namestnikov said. ... As far as he knows, C Matthew Peca said, he is not related to former NHL star Mike Peca. ... The camp wraps up today with the second day of three-on-three games, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.
By Tyson Wallerstein, Times Correspondent
Monday, July 11, 2011
What's hot: Despite the hot temperatures, anglers have a couple of options for doing battle with some really big fish. Tarpon and sharks don't seem to mind the heat and can often be found in the same areas this time of year.
Where to look: Many areas will attract sharks and tarpon; deeper water around bridges are good places to check, as well as the many deep harbors. The Intracoastal Waterway will also attract late-season tarpon.
Tactics: Glass-calm mornings will allow you to spot rolling tarpon. Where you see them rolling is where you want to set up. Dead mullet or shad on the bottom will allow you to hook into sharks and tarpon. If you're feeling a bit sportier, try casting slow-sinking plugs or swim baits.
What else: Despite slower conditions for working the shallows for redfish in North Pinellas, there are still good options. Targeting deep grass patches near the passes will bring mixed-bag action for trout, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and small sharks. Live chumming with small pilchards will get the fish into a frenzy. Use a quarter-inch mesh cast net and size your hook to a No. 1 or 2 long shank.
Tyson Wallerstein runs Inshore Fishing Charters in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg area and can be reached at (727) 692-5868 or capt.tyson@hotmail.com.
Times wires
Monday, July 11, 2011
LEZAC, France — Alexandr Kolobnev of Russia became the first cyclist at this year's Tour de France to fail a doping test, the International Cycling Union said Monday.
Kolobnev was in 69th place heading into today's 10th stage, but his Katusha team issued a statement saying he is out of the Tour after deciding to "suspend himself according to (International Cycling Union) rules."
The sport's governing body said a urine sample collected from Kolobnev on Wednesday tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic that can also be used as a masking agent to hide the presence of other drugs. The test came on the Tour's fifth stage, a flat sprint from Carhaix to Cap Frehel.
Tour organizers were not available for comment.
Kolobnev, 30, has four days to request an analysis of his "B" sample.
Crash investigation: French police are investigating the crash in which a Tour TV car sideswiped a group of riders during Sunday's ninth stage, sending two of them flying off the road. Police began interviewing witnesses and the driver whose car swerved into Juan Antonio Flecha and Johnny Hoogerland. Flecha was hit as the car tried to pass him on a narrow road, knocking him into Hoogerland. Neither was seriously hurt.
Times wires
Monday, July 11, 2011
NEW YORK — Lawyers for each side in the league's labor dispute met Monday to clarify language from previous discussions, with the owners and players association scheduled to resume negotiations today.
Several issues are close to being resolved, the most significant being the split of total revenue between owners and players. Others are not, including a rookie wage scale, free agency rules and benefits for retired players.
Though the league's negotiators hope they can present a new collective bargaining agreement to all the owners at their July 21 meeting in Atlanta, not striking a deal before then figures to cause the postponement of the start of training camps and probably cancellation of the Hall of Fame game Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio.
The NFL would need about a week to get the new deal ratified and in place, meaning teams couldn't start signing free agents or draftees, make trades or begin workouts until the end of July.
T.o. pays up: Terrell Owens has paid the child support he owes, so the mother of the child is dropping her attempt to hold him in contempt of court, her lawyer said. Melanie Paige Smith filed court papers June 20 in Atlanta saying the free agent wide receiver had refused to pay the full $5,000 a month he owes.
Bengals: Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones might face as long as a year in jail in Nevada for violating a probation stay-out-of-trouble order with his weekend arrest in Cincinnati, Clark County (Nev.) District Attorney David Roger said. Roger said he'll review police accounts of Jones' arrest on resisting arrest and disorderly conduct charges at a bar. Jones was sentenced to one year of probation in February for his role in a 2007 Las Vegas strip club melee that resulted in three people being shot.
Chiefs: Former All-Pro linebacker Mike Vrabel announced his retirement after 14 seasons and said he will be Ohio State's linebackers coach. He'll take the spot vacated by his former Ohio State roommate and teammate, Luke Fickell, who became head coach after Jim Tressel was forced out May 30. Vrabel, 35, was at Ohio State from 1993 to 1996 and was a two-time Big Ten defensive player of the year.
Steelers: Wide receiver Hines Ward had glassy, bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol, fumbled a repetition of the alphabet and couldn't maintain his balance during a traffic stop in Atlanta that got him charged with drunken driving, a police report says. Ward, the Super Bowl XL MVP and reigning Dancing With the Stars champ, was given a portable breath test and recorded a blood-alcohol content of 0.128 percent, the report says. The legal limit at which a person is considered too impaired to drive in Georgia is 0.08. Ward, 35, refused to take further alcohol breath tests and was booked into the DeKalb County jail. He was released on bond. Ward was pulled over just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday after he left his lane and at one point hit a curb in his gray Aston Martin, the report says. Ward told a police officer he had had two bottles of beer three hours earlier; he said later he lost control of the car because he dropped his cell phone. Ward's lawyer, Andrew Ree, said he stands by his earlier statement Ward was not impaired and cooperated with police.
hall of fame presenters: Shannon Sharpe chose his older brother, former Broncos star receiver Sterling Sharpe, as his presenter when he is enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month. Richard Dent picked Joe Gilliam, his defensive coordinator at Tennessee State. Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders selected their agents, Rocky Arceneaux and Eugene Parker, respectively. Former Redskins linebacker Chris Hanburger and NFL Films founder Ed Sabol chose their sons. Steve Sabol succeeded his father as president of NFL Films. Jon Richter will represent his father, Los Angeles Rams linebacker Les Richter, who is being enshrined posthumously.
