NFL-RICE-INVESTIGATION
Former FBI director to conduct probe
NEW YORK (AP) β The NFL says former FBI director Robert Mueller (MUH’-lur) will conduct a probe into how the NFL handled evidence as it investigated domestic violence claims against former Ravens running back Ray Rice.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello (eye-EHL’-oh) says the investigation will be overseen by NFL owners John Mara of the New York Giants and Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’) says Mueller will have access to all NFL records.
The NFL’s announcement came after a law enforcement official told the AP on condition of anonymity that he sent a tape of Rice striking his then-fiancee to an NFL executive in April. Goodell has maintained that no one at the league had seen the tape prior to Monday, when it went viral online.
NFL-RICE-GOODELL
Goodell under fire
UNDATED (AP) β The National Organization for Women has called for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’) to resign in the wake of the Ray Rice domestic violence incident, saying the league has “a violence-against-women” problem.
Politicians are also getting in on the act. Twelve Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have sent a letter to Goodell questioning his handling of the Rice incident.
On the Senate side, at least one Democrat says NFL Commissioner should resign. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said, “If these reports are true, Commissioner Goodell must go for the good of the NFL and its fans.” He says “the current leadership of the NFL cannot be trusted to fairly, genuinely implement policies that address domestic violence.”
Goodell has sent a memo to the 32 NFL teams reiterating that the league sought, but did not see, the video of Rice punching his then fiancee until Monday.
Goodell was supposed to attend an award ceremony for Panthers owner Jerry Richardson in Charlotte Wednesday night. But Goodell did not attend the event and instead changed his plans and headed back to New York.
NFL-RICE-49ERS ANNOUNCER
Niners, Pac-12 suspend broadcaster
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) β The San Francisco 49ers have suspended veteran broadcaster Ted Robinson for two games following comments this week to a San Francisco radio station about the Ray Rice domestic violence case that were deemed insensitive.
The Pac-12 Networks also announced it had suspended Robinson for the next two weeks and that he would undergo sensitivity training.
The 57-year-old Robinson spoke to KNBR radio Monday and said Rice’s now-wife, Janay, was partly to blame for not speaking up. Robinson issued apologies through the 49ers and Pac-12 Networks.
NBA-HAWKS-SALE
Hawks cancel meeting with civil rights leaders
ATLANTA (AP) β The Atlanta Hawks canceled a scheduled meeting between their CEO and city civil rights leaders, prompting one of the group’s leaders to say his community was greatly offended.
The Rev. Markel Hutchins says the meeting with CEO Steve Koonin was called off “at the last minute.” He later said he received a call from Hawks spokesman Garin Narain on Tuesday night asking the appointment be postponed.
The group asked for the meeting to discuss racially charged comments by Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson and general manager Danny Ferry.
NFL-INJURIES
Newton practices with Panthers
UNDATED (AP) β Cam Newton returned to Panthers practice Wednesday, throwing the football with good velocity. The Carolina quarterback threw wearing a thick flak jacket to protect his injured ribs. Coach Ron Rivera said Monday he expected Newton to start against the Detroit Lions on Sunday after missing the season opener at Tampa Bay.
Elsewhere around the NFL;
β St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long will undergo surgery and is out indefinitely with a left leg injury sustained in the opening loss to the Vikings. Coach Jeff Fisher says will be placed on the injured reserve-designated to return list, which would sideline him at least six weeks.
β Browns starting running back Ben Tate will miss Sunday’s game against New Orleans with a sprained knee. He suffered the injury in the season-opening loss to Pittsburgh. Rookie Terrance West is expected to start in Tate’s place.
β The Bengals have placed tight end Tyler Eifert on the short-term injured reserve list with a chance to return at midseason from an elbow injury. Eifert hurt his right elbow during Sunday’s win at Baltimore. He’ll miss practice for six weeks while the elbow heals.
β San Diego has lost veteran center Nick Hardwick for the season with a recurring neck stinger. Hardwick left Monday night’s loss at Arizona with a sprained ankle. There was no word at that time about a neck injury. He’s been the Chargers starter since his rookie year in 2004.
β Outside linebacker Jonathan Abraham has left the Arizona Cardinals and is considering retiring after 16 seasons in the NFL. The 36-year-old Abraham sustained a concussion in Monday night’s victory over San Diego. Abraham ranks ninth on the NFL’s career sacks list with 133Β½.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Royals regain lead…Simon beats Cards with bat and arm
UNDATED (AP) β With two and a-half weeks to go in the Major League Baseball regular season, the Kansas City Royals are back on top in the American League Central by one game over the Detroit Tigers.
James Shields pitched the Royals past the Tigers 3-0. He allowed two hits over seven innings in another terrific performance in winning his 14th game. He’s 14-7.
Shields gave up a single to Ian Kinsler leading off the first. Then he picked off Kinsler β and retired every other batter he faced until another Detroit single in the seventh. The Tigers put two on that inning, but Shields worked out of the jam.
Kelvin Herrera pitched the eighth and Wade Davis finished for his third save.
In other baseball:
β Atlanta salvaged the finale of a three-game set in Washington by beating the Nationals 6-2. Justin Upton drove in three, while brother B.J. homered. Aaron Harang went seven strong innings, striking out nine, and allowing one unearned run. The Nats still lead the Braves by eight games in the NL East.
β Cincinnati doubled up NL Central leader St. Louis 4-2. Alfredo Simon (SY’-muhn) shook off a rough start but lasted seven innings and drove in the go-ahead run with the second of his two doubles. He’s 14-10.
β The Cardinals’ lead in the NL Central is down to three and a-half games over Pittsburgh. That’s because the Pirates doubled up Philadelphia 6-3. Andrew McCutchen hit the first inside-the-park home run of his career. The Pirates also hold the second wild card spot, a game and a-half up on Atlanta. The Pirates have won six of seven.
β Dan Haren won his 13th game with seven sharp innings to give the Dodgers four pitchers with 13 wins for the first time in 19 years, and Los Angeles beat the San Diego Padres 4-0.
β San Francisco remained two and a-half games back of the NL West-leading Dodgers by blanking Arizona 5-0. Ryan Vogelsong and three relievers combined on the two-hit shutout.
β Houston beat Seattle 5-2. Jose Altuve (al-TOO’-vay) raised his AL-leading batting average to .336 by going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
β Rafael Montero earned his first major league win, Eric Young Jr. went 3 for 3 with an RBI triple and the suddenly surging New York Mets beat the Colorado Rockies 2-0 for their fourth consecutive victory.
β Wei-Yin Chen took a perfect game into the sixth inning on way to Baltimore’s 10-6 win over Boston. Chen retired the first 16 hitters he faced to improve to 15-4. He went seven innings giving up a run on three hits. Caleb Joseph homered and drove in three runs for the AL East-leading Orioles, who’ve won 11 of 14.
β Avisail Garcia drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning, and the Chicago White Sox beat the struggling Oakland Athletics 2-1. The Athletics have lost 10 of 13 and are now nine games back of the AL West-leading L.A. Angels.
β The Angels trounced Texas 8-1. Kole Calhoun cracked his 16th home run. Albert Pujols (POO’-hohlz) opened the scoring with his first triple in more than four years.
β Mark Teixeira (teh-SHEHR’-uh) made up for a botched foul pop in the Rays’ four-run first inning with a go-ahead triple in the fifth, and the New York Yankees came back to beat Tampa Bay 8-5. Brian McCann homered and drove in three runs.
β Milwaukee rookie Matt Clark hit his first career home run, Wily Peralta (WIH’-lee peh-RAHL’-tah) won his 16th game, and the Brewers beat the Miami Marlins 4-1. The Brewers are a game and a-half back of Pittsburgh for the final NL wild card spot. Francisco Rodriguez got the last three outs to reach 40 saves for the fifth time in his career.
β Toronto clobbered the Chicago Cubs 11-1 to complete a three-game sweep. Drew Hutchison matched his career-high with 10 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Dioner Navarro had two hits and two RBIs.
β The Twins-Indians game in Cleveland was postponed because of rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Thursday.
BASKETBALL-WORLD CUP
France stuns Spain
MADRID (AP) β France shocked previously unbeaten Spain 65-52 in the quarterfinals of basketball’s World Cup. Boris Diaw (DEE’-ow) paced France with 15 points, while Pau Gasol (POW guh’-SAWL’) led Spain with 17. Spain appeared to be a major threat to beat the United States in a possible final.
France will take on Serbia in the semifinals on Thursday.
The United States meets Lithuania in the other semifinal.
NHL-NEWS
Ducks extend coach… Ex-Habs captain Koivu retires
UNDATED (AP) β Coach Bruce Boudreau and the Anaheim Ducks have agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2016-17 season. Boudreau is 111-55-22 in nearly three seasons with the Ducks, transforming an underachieving club into a championship contender. Anaheim won the Pacific Division title in each of the past two seasons.
In other hockey news:
β Longtime Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu (SA’-koo KOY’-voo) has retired after 18 seasons, all but five of which were spent in Montreal. He won four Olympic medals with Finland, including a silver medal in their 2006 loss to rival Sweden in the final. In 1999, Koivu was chosen as the first European-born captain in Canadiens history. He finished his career with 255 goals and 577 assists in 1,124 NHL games.
β The home of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes is now officially named the Gila River Arena. It’s part of a nine-year partnership between the team and Gila River Casinos.
FOOTBALL-PACKERS-STARR
Hall of Famer Starr has stroke
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) β Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr is recovering from a mild stroke. Starr’s family says in a statement released by the Green Bay Packers that the 80-year-old Starr had the stroke last week.
The family says Starr is functional and making progress every day.
Starr led the Packers to five NFL titles and two Super Bowl titles and was Green Bay’s head coach from 1975-83.
