Times wires
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Labor talks
Barkley, dilfer say owners will prevail in nba, nfl negotiations
RENO, Nev. — Charles Barkley and Trent Dilfer don't have many encouraging words for players in contract negotiations with the NBA and NFL.
The basketball Hall of Famer and the former Bucs quarterback told reporters Thursday while promoting Lake Tahoe's celebrity golf tourney that they expect the owners to prevail in labor talks in both sports. They say the players unions won big victories over the owners during their era and now the current crop of multimillionaires will have to pay the price.
Barkley expects an NBA lockout, which he said will be devastating. He said owners are "going for the jugular this time."
Dilfer said the closer the NFL players get to the regular season, the worse deal they will get.
MORE NFL: Titans receiver Kenny Britt was arrested again in New Jersey, a day after appearing in court for a previous arrest on traffic charges. Police said he was charged with resisting arrest after two plainclothes officers suspected he was carrying a marijuana cigar and attempted to handcuff him at a Hoboken car wash Wednesday evening. … Joe Perry and John Henry Johnson, part of the 49ers' "Million Dollar Backfield" who died this year, are having their brains examined by researchers studying head injuries in sports.
Storm
Thin at QB, Storm looks at Grothe
TAMPA — The Storm will carry only two quarterbacks for Saturday's home game against Pittsburgh, with former starter Grant Gregory released Thursday to make room for cornerback Marcus Jefferson.
Gregory, a former USF backup, had the starting job until he injured his foot five games ago, giving way to current starter Brian Zbydniewski.
The Storm brought in Matt Grothe, another USF alum, for a tryout but isn't expected to make a decision about signing him until next week. "I'm looking forward to it and hopefully can get on the field," said Grothe, who is fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his USF career during the 2009 season. "They told me they'd talk to everyone else and try to make room for me."
Soccer
Positive tests cost Mexico five players
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Five players for Mexico, including goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and defender Francisco Rodriguez, tested positive for a banned substance and are out of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Decio de Maria, secretary general of the Mexican soccer federation, said the two starters in last year's World Cup tested positive for clenbuterol, along with role players Edgar Duenas, Christian Bermudez and Antonio Naelson "Sinha." De Maria said he believes the positive results come from contaminated beef. Mexico, which played Cuba on Thursday, is a CONCACAF favorite.
Gold Cup: Randall Brenes scored in the closing seconds of stoppage time to give Costa Rica a 1-1 draw with El Salvador in Charlotte, N.C.
Et cetera
Surfing: Three-time world champion Andy Irons had several drugs in his system when he died of a heart attack at age 32 in a Dallas-area hotel room seven months ago, though the main cause was sudden cardiac arrest due to severe blockage of a main artery. The autopsy report said Xanax, methadone, cocaine and a trace amount of methamphetamine were found in his system.
Running: Usain Bolt ran the fastest time in the world this season, 19.86 seconds, in a victory in the 200 meters at a Diamond League meet in Oslo, Norway.
Tennis: Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray reached the quarters at Queen's Club in London.
Iditarod: Alaska Troopers called off the search for a former Iditarod musher missing more than a week. Melanie Gould, 34, was last seen May 31 buying gas near her home in Talkeetna.
Greg Auman, Times staff writer; Times wires