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Sports Briefs: Brian Urlacher reports to Bears’ training camp
By The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 | No comments posted.
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Brian Urlacher checked into the Chicago Bears’ training camp with a new contract, declaring he is healthy and ready to play.
The six-time Pro Bowl linebacker signed a one-year extension earlier in the day for a reported $18 million. It includes a $6 million signing bonus, a $1 million raise in base salary from 2008 through 2011 and then $8 million in the final and new year of the deal in 2012.
“It feels good because I did have four years left on my contract, we all know that. They didn’t have to do anything, that was obviously a nice deal they offered me,” Urlacher said. “We ended up getting it worked out.”
Urlacher had signed a nine-year, $56.65 million deal in 2003.
Urlacher underwent minor neck surgery in the offseason and also has been bothered by a sore back.
In 121 games, including 119 as a starter, Urlacher has 1,299 tackles, 371⁄2 sacks, 15 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. He has led the team in tackles seven times.
McNabb not hindered by shoulder injury
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Donovan McNabb zipped passes to rookies and undrafted no-names, clearly not bothered by a shoulder injury that forced him to miss a few offseason practices.
The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback joined rookies and selected veterans as the Philadelphia Eagles kicked off training camp at Lehigh University. Though McNabb was expected to participate all along, many watched closely to see if the shoulder affected him.
After limiting McNabb’s throws in minicamp, the Eagles shut him down during a passing camp in June because of an injury they termed tendinitis. McNabb called it tightness. In any case, he rested his shoulder, rehabbed and resumed throwing during workouts with teammates at his home in Arizona.
Eagles coach Andy Reid plans to hold McNabb to a pitch count in camp. That doesn’t mean McNabb will get yanked from games in the fourth quarter if he reaches a certain number of passes the way a starting pitcher is pulled after making 100-plus pitches in a baseball game.
But McNabb probably will get more rest in practice, giving way to backups Kevin Kolb and A.J. Feeley.
UCLA’s Ramirez falls short of eligibility
LOS ANGELES — UCLA tailback Christian Ramirez won’t play for the Bruins this season because he didn’t meet NCAA eligibility requirements.
The junior will have two seasons of eligibility remaining and can count 2008 as a redshirt season.
“This is unfortunate for Christian and for our team,” first-year coach Rick Neuheisel said Tuesday. “I’m sure Christian will work hard to ensure this situation does not occur again.”
Strong safety Bret Lockett has been suspended for the season opener Sept. 1 against Tennessee for violating an unspecified team policy involving academics.
The senior will be able to practice when training camp opens Aug. 5.
“Bret understands that he made a mistake,” Neuheisel said.
BASKETBALL
Two players tossed in WNBA matchup
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Candace Parker scored 21 points and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 19 before both were ejected because of a scuffle in the final minute as the Los Angeles Sparks held on to beat the Detroit Shock 84-81.
The game turned ugly in the final seconds as a collision between Parker and Detroit’s Plenette Pierson turned into a shoving match that saw players and coaches from both teams leave the bench.
Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn, who was involved in the Pistons-Pacers brawl on Nov. 19, 2004, as a Detroit broadcaster trying to break up the fight, appeared to shove Lisa Leslie to the floor at one point.
Parker, Milton-Jones, Pierson and Mahorn were all ejected, while Detroit’s Cheryl Ford left the floor on a wheelchair after getting injured while trying to restrain Pierson.
BASEBALL
Astros tap Brian Wolf
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros, believing their season can still be saved, acquired pitcher Randy Wolf from San Diego on Tuesday in exchange for minor leaguer Chad Reineke.
Wolf, an NL All-Star in 2003, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season. The 31-year-old is in his 10th season and will play for his fourth team. He previously played for Philadelphia (1999-2006) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2007) before joining the Padres this season.
The left-handed Wolf will start for the Astros in Milwaukee on Sunday, general manager Ed Wade said.
CYCLING
Drug company helped catch Ricco for doping
CANBERRA, Australia — Riccardo Ricco’s blood doping case on the Tour de France was uncovered because of a molecule planted in the banned substance by the drug manufacturer, World Anti-Doping Agency chief John Fahey said.
Ricco won two stages before he was expelled from the Tour last week when his positive test for the blood-booster EPO was announced by the French anti-doping agency.
Fahey said Roche Pharmaceuticals placed a molecule in its product CERA — Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator — when developing the drug to help anti-doping authorities detect illegal use.
“I can’t tell you the details of how he was detected,” Fahey told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. “I can indicate the particular substance is called CERA ... which is a perfectly legitimate substance to deal with anemia.”
Fahey said cooperation between sports authorities and drug manufacturers was a step forward in the fight against doping.
TENNIS
Serena Williams sits out classic due to knee
CARSON, Calif. — Serena Williams’ injured left knee has knocked her out of another tournament less than three weeks before the Beijing Olympics.
After practicing, Williams said she knew she couldn’t play in the East West Bank Classic. She was scheduled to open today against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.
“I’ve been getting intensive therapy and doing everything in my power to get my knee in shape for this week, waiting until the last possible moment to see if I could play,” Williams said in a statement.
“Unfortunately after hitting this morning, I knew that I wasn’t going to be ready for this week. In the meantime, I’m working hard to be ready for the Olympics and U.S. Open.”
Williams withdrew from Saturday’s semifinals at Stanford after injuring her knee. She said Monday that an MRI exam revealed an inflamed joint, but that she was planning to play Carson against the advice of a doctor and her father.
The six-time Pro Bowl linebacker signed a one-year extension earlier in the day for a reported $18 million. It includes a $6 million signing bonus, a $1 million raise in base salary from 2008 through 2011 and then $8 million in the final and new year of the deal in 2012.
“It feels good because I did have four years left on my contract, we all know that. They didn’t have to do anything, that was obviously a nice deal they offered me,” Urlacher said. “We ended up getting it worked out.”
Urlacher had signed a nine-year, $56.65 million deal in 2003.
Urlacher underwent minor neck surgery in the offseason and also has been bothered by a sore back.
In 121 games, including 119 as a starter, Urlacher has 1,299 tackles, 371⁄2 sacks, 15 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries. He has led the team in tackles seven times.
McNabb not hindered by shoulder injury
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Donovan McNabb zipped passes to rookies and undrafted no-names, clearly not bothered by a shoulder injury that forced him to miss a few offseason practices.
The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback joined rookies and selected veterans as the Philadelphia Eagles kicked off training camp at Lehigh University. Though McNabb was expected to participate all along, many watched closely to see if the shoulder affected him.
After limiting McNabb’s throws in minicamp, the Eagles shut him down during a passing camp in June because of an injury they termed tendinitis. McNabb called it tightness. In any case, he rested his shoulder, rehabbed and resumed throwing during workouts with teammates at his home in Arizona.
Eagles coach Andy Reid plans to hold McNabb to a pitch count in camp. That doesn’t mean McNabb will get yanked from games in the fourth quarter if he reaches a certain number of passes the way a starting pitcher is pulled after making 100-plus pitches in a baseball game.
But McNabb probably will get more rest in practice, giving way to backups Kevin Kolb and A.J. Feeley.
UCLA’s Ramirez falls short of eligibility
LOS ANGELES — UCLA tailback Christian Ramirez won’t play for the Bruins this season because he didn’t meet NCAA eligibility requirements.
The junior will have two seasons of eligibility remaining and can count 2008 as a redshirt season.
“This is unfortunate for Christian and for our team,” first-year coach Rick Neuheisel said Tuesday. “I’m sure Christian will work hard to ensure this situation does not occur again.”
Strong safety Bret Lockett has been suspended for the season opener Sept. 1 against Tennessee for violating an unspecified team policy involving academics.
The senior will be able to practice when training camp opens Aug. 5.
“Bret understands that he made a mistake,” Neuheisel said.
BASKETBALL
Two players tossed in WNBA matchup
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Candace Parker scored 21 points and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 19 before both were ejected because of a scuffle in the final minute as the Los Angeles Sparks held on to beat the Detroit Shock 84-81.
The game turned ugly in the final seconds as a collision between Parker and Detroit’s Plenette Pierson turned into a shoving match that saw players and coaches from both teams leave the bench.
Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn, who was involved in the Pistons-Pacers brawl on Nov. 19, 2004, as a Detroit broadcaster trying to break up the fight, appeared to shove Lisa Leslie to the floor at one point.
Parker, Milton-Jones, Pierson and Mahorn were all ejected, while Detroit’s Cheryl Ford left the floor on a wheelchair after getting injured while trying to restrain Pierson.
BASEBALL
Astros tap Brian Wolf
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros, believing their season can still be saved, acquired pitcher Randy Wolf from San Diego on Tuesday in exchange for minor leaguer Chad Reineke.
Wolf, an NL All-Star in 2003, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season. The 31-year-old is in his 10th season and will play for his fourth team. He previously played for Philadelphia (1999-2006) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2007) before joining the Padres this season.
The left-handed Wolf will start for the Astros in Milwaukee on Sunday, general manager Ed Wade said.
CYCLING
Drug company helped catch Ricco for doping
CANBERRA, Australia — Riccardo Ricco’s blood doping case on the Tour de France was uncovered because of a molecule planted in the banned substance by the drug manufacturer, World Anti-Doping Agency chief John Fahey said.
Ricco won two stages before he was expelled from the Tour last week when his positive test for the blood-booster EPO was announced by the French anti-doping agency.
Fahey said Roche Pharmaceuticals placed a molecule in its product CERA — Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator — when developing the drug to help anti-doping authorities detect illegal use.
“I can’t tell you the details of how he was detected,” Fahey told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. “I can indicate the particular substance is called CERA ... which is a perfectly legitimate substance to deal with anemia.”
Fahey said cooperation between sports authorities and drug manufacturers was a step forward in the fight against doping.
TENNIS
Serena Williams sits out classic due to knee
CARSON, Calif. — Serena Williams’ injured left knee has knocked her out of another tournament less than three weeks before the Beijing Olympics.
After practicing, Williams said she knew she couldn’t play in the East West Bank Classic. She was scheduled to open today against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.
“I’ve been getting intensive therapy and doing everything in my power to get my knee in shape for this week, waiting until the last possible moment to see if I could play,” Williams said in a statement.
“Unfortunately after hitting this morning, I knew that I wasn’t going to be ready for this week. In the meantime, I’m working hard to be ready for the Olympics and U.S. Open.”
Williams withdrew from Saturday’s semifinals at Stanford after injuring her knee. She said Monday that an MRI exam revealed an inflamed joint, but that she was planning to play Carson against the advice of a doctor and her father.
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