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Sports Briefs: Blumenherst has strong start at Amateur
By The Associated Press
Tuesday, August 05, 2008 | No comments posted.
EUGENE — NCAA player of the year Amanda Blumenherst shot a 6-under 66 Monday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Eugene Country Club.
Alison Walshe, of Westford, Mass., shot a 4-under 68. Australian Stephanie Na and Canadian Stephanie Sherlock are three shots back entering today’s final round of stroke play.
The field of 156 will be cut to 64 for five rounds of match play beginning Wednesday.
Blumenherst, the three-time reigning NCAA player of the year from Duke, was the runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur last year, falling 1-up to Maria Jose Uribe of Colombia. Uribe played in the Women’s British Open last week and is not defending her amateur title.
Starting her round on No. 10, Blumenherst had her only bogey on the par-4 No. 15. She then played her last nine holes at 5 under, sinking back-to-back birdie putts to conclude her round.
TRACK AND FIELD
IAAFratifies Bolt’s record
MONTE CARLO, Monaco — Usain Bolt’s 100-meter record was ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
The Jamaican sprinter ran the 100 in 9.72 seconds on May 31 in New York, breaking Asafa Powell’s previous mark of 9.74.
Bolt intends to compete in both the 100 and 200 at the Beijing Olympics, which open Friday. Powell also will be running in the 100, along with world champion Tyson Gay.
FOOTBALL
Smith apologizes to teammates
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — A subdued Steve Smith apologized to his Carolina Panthers’ teammates, coaches and fans, three days after he punched teammate Ken Lucas at practice, leaving the starting cornerback with a broken nose that will require surgery.
Smith, who was suspended without pay for the first two regular-season games, spoke to reporters for about four minutes after his first practice with the team since the incident. He did not answer questions.
Lucas also returned to the team with a black left eye and swelling around his nose. While he said he accepted Smith’s apology, Lucas said he’ll probably be sidelined two to three weeks.
COURTS
Co-defendant enters guilty plea in Simpson robbery case
LAS VEGAS — A fourth co-defendant pleaded guilty in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery and kidnapping case.
Charles Ehrlich entered his plea to reduced charges of attempted accessory to robbery and attempted burglary, and agreed to testify against Simpson at the Hall of Fame football player’s upcoming trial.
Ehrlich is one of six men who accompanied Simpson during a confrontation last September with two sports memorabilia dealers at a casino hotel room.
He’s now the fourth to take a plea deal, leaving one co-defendant, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, facing trial with Simpson beginning Sept. 8.
Simpson and Stewart have pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon that could put them in prison for life if convicted.
BASKETBALL
Arroyo latest NBAplayer to head overseas for big contract
ORLANDO, Fla. — Point guard Carlos Arroyo, who spent the last two seasons with the Orlando Magic, has become the latest NBA player to bolt overseas, signing with an Israeli team.
The 29-year-old Arroyo signed a one-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Arroyo has averaged 7 points and 3.3 assists per game during his seven-year career that included previous stops in Toronto, Denver, Utah and Detroit. He averaged 6.9 points and 3.5 assists last season, primarily off the bench.
HAINING, China — Penny Taylor won’t return to the Phoenix Mercury when the Olympics end.
Taylor took off the first half of the season to train with Australia and prepare for the Beijing Games. Now, she has decided not to go back to the WNBA.
“I did make it clear to the team that I wouldn’t be coming back this season after the Olympics,” Taylor told The Associated Press while practicing at the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament. “I want them to be able to get a team together and didn’t want to leave any doors open.”
Instead she will head home to Australia to spend time with her family and rest.
The defending champion Mercury sit three games behind third place Los Angeles and Sacramento in the Western Conference. Taylor was a huge part of their championship run last season, averaging 17.8 points and 6.3 rebounds for Phoenix last season. She scored 30 points in the deciding fifth game of the WNBA finals last year.
Alison Walshe, of Westford, Mass., shot a 4-under 68. Australian Stephanie Na and Canadian Stephanie Sherlock are three shots back entering today’s final round of stroke play.
The field of 156 will be cut to 64 for five rounds of match play beginning Wednesday.
Blumenherst, the three-time reigning NCAA player of the year from Duke, was the runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur last year, falling 1-up to Maria Jose Uribe of Colombia. Uribe played in the Women’s British Open last week and is not defending her amateur title.
Starting her round on No. 10, Blumenherst had her only bogey on the par-4 No. 15. She then played her last nine holes at 5 under, sinking back-to-back birdie putts to conclude her round.
TRACK AND FIELD
IAAFratifies Bolt’s record
MONTE CARLO, Monaco — Usain Bolt’s 100-meter record was ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
The Jamaican sprinter ran the 100 in 9.72 seconds on May 31 in New York, breaking Asafa Powell’s previous mark of 9.74.
Bolt intends to compete in both the 100 and 200 at the Beijing Olympics, which open Friday. Powell also will be running in the 100, along with world champion Tyson Gay.
FOOTBALL
Smith apologizes to teammates
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — A subdued Steve Smith apologized to his Carolina Panthers’ teammates, coaches and fans, three days after he punched teammate Ken Lucas at practice, leaving the starting cornerback with a broken nose that will require surgery.
Smith, who was suspended without pay for the first two regular-season games, spoke to reporters for about four minutes after his first practice with the team since the incident. He did not answer questions.
Lucas also returned to the team with a black left eye and swelling around his nose. While he said he accepted Smith’s apology, Lucas said he’ll probably be sidelined two to three weeks.
COURTS
Co-defendant enters guilty plea in Simpson robbery case
LAS VEGAS — A fourth co-defendant pleaded guilty in the O.J. Simpson armed robbery and kidnapping case.
Charles Ehrlich entered his plea to reduced charges of attempted accessory to robbery and attempted burglary, and agreed to testify against Simpson at the Hall of Fame football player’s upcoming trial.
Ehrlich is one of six men who accompanied Simpson during a confrontation last September with two sports memorabilia dealers at a casino hotel room.
He’s now the fourth to take a plea deal, leaving one co-defendant, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, facing trial with Simpson beginning Sept. 8.
Simpson and Stewart have pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon that could put them in prison for life if convicted.
BASKETBALL
Arroyo latest NBAplayer to head overseas for big contract
ORLANDO, Fla. — Point guard Carlos Arroyo, who spent the last two seasons with the Orlando Magic, has become the latest NBA player to bolt overseas, signing with an Israeli team.
The 29-year-old Arroyo signed a one-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Arroyo has averaged 7 points and 3.3 assists per game during his seven-year career that included previous stops in Toronto, Denver, Utah and Detroit. He averaged 6.9 points and 3.5 assists last season, primarily off the bench.
HAINING, China — Penny Taylor won’t return to the Phoenix Mercury when the Olympics end.
Taylor took off the first half of the season to train with Australia and prepare for the Beijing Games. Now, she has decided not to go back to the WNBA.
“I did make it clear to the team that I wouldn’t be coming back this season after the Olympics,” Taylor told The Associated Press while practicing at the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament. “I want them to be able to get a team together and didn’t want to leave any doors open.”
Instead she will head home to Australia to spend time with her family and rest.
The defending champion Mercury sit three games behind third place Los Angeles and Sacramento in the Western Conference. Taylor was a huge part of their championship run last season, averaging 17.8 points and 6.3 rebounds for Phoenix last season. She scored 30 points in the deciding fifth game of the WNBA finals last year.
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