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Sports Briefs: Cuttino Mobley retires after 11 years due to heart condition
By The Associated Press
Friday, December 12, 2008 | No comments posted.
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — New York Knicks guard Cuttino Mobley retired from the NBA because of heart disease that he said has gotten worse.
Mobley said doctors told him he faced significant risks if he kept playing. The 11-year veteran said by walking away now, he could live a long life.
Mobley announced his decision at a press conference at the Knicks’ training center, where he confirmed he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The condition causes the heart muscle to thicken, making it harder to pump blood, and the 33-year-old said he had no choice but to end his career.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people under 30 years old and was linked to the deaths of former Boston Celtics forward Reggie Lewis and Loyola Marymount star Hank Gathers.
Howard out to early lead in All-Star voting
NEW YORK — Orlando center Dwight Howard leads early balloting for the NBA All-Star game with 775,933 votes and is followed by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star, has 719,252 votes and Cleveland’s James has 643,786, according to early returns released by the league on Thursday.
Boston’s Kevin Garnett trails James among Eastern Conference forwards. Miami’s Dwyane Wade leads the guards (623,311) and is followed by Detroit’s Allen Iverson.
In the Western Conference, Houston’s Yao Ming leads centers with 529,290 votes. Phoenix’s Shaquille O’Neal is next with 227,273.
San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (442,203) tops Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire among forwards, while New Orleans’ Chris Paul trails Bryant among the guards.
Voting runs through Jan. 19. The game will be Feb. 15 in Phoenix.
BASEBALL
Indians awaiting Kerry Wood’s physical
CLEVELAND — Kerry Wood took a physical and the Cleveland Indians are awaiting the test results before completing a contract with the free-agent right-hander, who has a long history of arm and elbow problems.
The Indians reached a preliminary agreement on a two-year deal worth a reported $20 million with Wood during the winter meetings in Las Vegas. The contract includes a third-year option.
Wood saved 34 games in 2008, his first season closing for the Chicago Cubs. Wood’s deal is contingent on him passing the medical examination and it may be a few days before the Indians announce Wood’s signing.
Wood went 5-4 with a 3.26 ERA last season with the Cubs, who converted him from a starter to a reliever in 2007. He has been healthy since moving to the bullpen after several seasons that included trips to the disabled list and the operating room.
FOOTBALL
Cassel practicing with Patriots once again
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Matt Cassel returned to practice with the New England Patriots after missing Wednesday’s workouts following his father’s death.
Cassel took part in stretching and throwing drills during the portion of practice open to reporters at San Jose State, where the Patriots are training between road games in Seattle and Oakland. He briefly left the club after his father, Greg, died Monday night in the Los Angeles area.
Although the Patriots made no announcement, Cassel seems likely to start on Sunday against the Raiders. New England (8-5) is in a three-way tie with Miami and the New York Jets atop the AFC East.
Holmgren confirms Jones had surgery
SEATTLE — Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren says tackle Walter Jones had knee surgery Thursday and will miss the three remaining games.
Holmgren told KIRO Radio Friday that Jones should recover in time for training camp.
Holmgren also says quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and linebacker Leroy Hill will miss Sunday’s game at St. Louis.
Hasselbeck has been unable to practice because of a bulging disk in his back. He’s already missed six games this season. Quarterback Seneca Wallace will start against the rams.
Hill will miss the game with a pinched nerve in his neck.
Judge clears five NFL players to play
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota judge extended his injunction against the suspension of five players for violating the NFL’s anti-doping policy on Thursday, clearing the way for them to play at least the next two weeks.
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson suggested the league and the players try to work out the dispute themselves. Barring that, Magnuson said he would hold an evidentiary hearing and asked both parties to propose a schedule by Dec. 22 to file pleadings.
Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints were suspended last week for four games each. They tested positive for a banned diuretic in the dietary supplement StarCaps.
Magnuson issued his initial injunction Dec. 5 after hearing arguments from the league and the NFL Players Association. That move came two days after a Minnesota state court judge had issued a restraining order in a lawsuit brought by the Vikings players.
Mobley said doctors told him he faced significant risks if he kept playing. The 11-year veteran said by walking away now, he could live a long life.
Mobley announced his decision at a press conference at the Knicks’ training center, where he confirmed he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The condition causes the heart muscle to thicken, making it harder to pump blood, and the 33-year-old said he had no choice but to end his career.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people under 30 years old and was linked to the deaths of former Boston Celtics forward Reggie Lewis and Loyola Marymount star Hank Gathers.
Howard out to early lead in All-Star voting
NEW YORK — Orlando center Dwight Howard leads early balloting for the NBA All-Star game with 775,933 votes and is followed by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star, has 719,252 votes and Cleveland’s James has 643,786, according to early returns released by the league on Thursday.
Boston’s Kevin Garnett trails James among Eastern Conference forwards. Miami’s Dwyane Wade leads the guards (623,311) and is followed by Detroit’s Allen Iverson.
In the Western Conference, Houston’s Yao Ming leads centers with 529,290 votes. Phoenix’s Shaquille O’Neal is next with 227,273.
San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (442,203) tops Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire among forwards, while New Orleans’ Chris Paul trails Bryant among the guards.
Voting runs through Jan. 19. The game will be Feb. 15 in Phoenix.
BASEBALL
Indians awaiting Kerry Wood’s physical
CLEVELAND — Kerry Wood took a physical and the Cleveland Indians are awaiting the test results before completing a contract with the free-agent right-hander, who has a long history of arm and elbow problems.
The Indians reached a preliminary agreement on a two-year deal worth a reported $20 million with Wood during the winter meetings in Las Vegas. The contract includes a third-year option.
Wood saved 34 games in 2008, his first season closing for the Chicago Cubs. Wood’s deal is contingent on him passing the medical examination and it may be a few days before the Indians announce Wood’s signing.
Wood went 5-4 with a 3.26 ERA last season with the Cubs, who converted him from a starter to a reliever in 2007. He has been healthy since moving to the bullpen after several seasons that included trips to the disabled list and the operating room.
FOOTBALL
Cassel practicing with Patriots once again
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Matt Cassel returned to practice with the New England Patriots after missing Wednesday’s workouts following his father’s death.
Cassel took part in stretching and throwing drills during the portion of practice open to reporters at San Jose State, where the Patriots are training between road games in Seattle and Oakland. He briefly left the club after his father, Greg, died Monday night in the Los Angeles area.
Although the Patriots made no announcement, Cassel seems likely to start on Sunday against the Raiders. New England (8-5) is in a three-way tie with Miami and the New York Jets atop the AFC East.
Holmgren confirms Jones had surgery
SEATTLE — Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren says tackle Walter Jones had knee surgery Thursday and will miss the three remaining games.
Holmgren told KIRO Radio Friday that Jones should recover in time for training camp.
Holmgren also says quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and linebacker Leroy Hill will miss Sunday’s game at St. Louis.
Hasselbeck has been unable to practice because of a bulging disk in his back. He’s already missed six games this season. Quarterback Seneca Wallace will start against the rams.
Hill will miss the game with a pinched nerve in his neck.
Judge clears five NFL players to play
MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota judge extended his injunction against the suspension of five players for violating the NFL’s anti-doping policy on Thursday, clearing the way for them to play at least the next two weeks.
U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson suggested the league and the players try to work out the dispute themselves. Barring that, Magnuson said he would hold an evidentiary hearing and asked both parties to propose a schedule by Dec. 22 to file pleadings.
Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Minnesota Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints were suspended last week for four games each. They tested positive for a banned diuretic in the dietary supplement StarCaps.
Magnuson issued his initial injunction Dec. 5 after hearing arguments from the league and the NFL Players Association. That move came two days after a Minnesota state court judge had issued a restraining order in a lawsuit brought by the Vikings players.
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