National Digest
Warrants DES MOINES (AP) — Warrants have been issued for the arrest of two former University of Iowa football players in connection with a sexual assault on campus, school officials said Tuesday. The players named in the warrants are Cedric Everson III and Abeberell “Abe” Satterfield, both former defensive backs. The men are accused of second-degree sexual abuse. Satterfield also is accused of third-degree sexual abuse. The arrest warrants are in connection with an incident at Hillcrest Hall, a campus dormitory, on Oct. 14, 2007, according to a news release from the school. Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said she has been in contact with attorneys for Everson and Satterfield and expects that the former players will turn themselves in. Spurs win SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Kobe Bryant had 28 points and 10 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 93-91 on Tuesday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals. It was the Spurs’ first home loss this postseason, and the defending champions face elimination when Game 5 is played in Los Angeles on Thursday. Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 29 points and 17 rebounds. Reserve Brent Barry had 23 points and his last-second 3-point attempt could have given the Spurs the win. He claimed he was fouled on the play by Derek Fisher but there was no call. The Lakers led all game night after opening a 22-8 lead. The Spurs got within 81-79 in the fourth quarter, but the Lakers scored seven straight points. On the track NEW YORK (AP) — Big Brown was back on the track a day earlier than expected, and trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said the unbeaten colt looks as good as ever — maybe even better. The Triple Crown hopeful took a 1 1/2-mile jog around Belmont Park on a rainy morning. It was the first time since Friday that Big Brown was out exercising following the discovery of a quarter crack on the inside of his left front hoof. Big Brown will attempt to become the first Triple Crown champion in 30 years, since Affirmed in 1978, in the Belmont Stakes on June 7. WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress expects to hold a hearing next month on thoroughbred racing, looking into horse safety and other issues following the death of Eight Belles. The U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection sent letters last week to several industry leaders, asking for their views on the sport. Eight Belles broke down shortly after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby earlier this month. The filly was euthanized on the track. Santana shines By The Associated Press This was precisely the type of performance the New York Mets hoped for when they acquired Johan Santana. Santana worked around eight hits and two walks, allowing three runs in seven innings, helping the struggling Mets top the first-place Florida Marlins 5-3 on Tuesday night. Santana (6-3), acquired from Minnesota in February and signed to a $137.5 million, six-year contract, helped the Mets win for only the second time in nine games. The left-hander earned his 99th major league win, retiring surging slugger Dan Uggla in three key situations. Fernando Tatis and Ramon Castro each hit a pair of two-out RBI singles for the Mets one day after embattled manager Willie Randolph kept his job — for now — following a much-publicized meeting with ownership. New York improved to 24-26 with its fifth victory in 15 tries. In other NL games, it was: Cincinnati 9, Pittsburgh 6; Milwaukee 3, Atlanta 2; Houston 8, St. Louis 2; Chicago 3, Los Angeles 1; Philadelphia 7, Colorado 4; San Francisco 6, Arizona 3; and San Diego 4, Washington 2. Triple triumph By The Associated Press The Cleveland Indians stole three bases on the same play Tuesday night, 15 days after they turned the 14th triple play in major league history. This time Cleveland used the rare feat to help win its game, beating the Chicago White Sox 8-2. The last triple steal came on Oct. 1, 1987, by Atlanta against Houston according to the Elias Sports Bureau. With the bases loaded and Ben Francisco batting, White Sox pitcher Ehren Wasserman faked a throw to third and threw to first, which caught Jamey Carroll off the bag. First baseman Paul Konerko got Carroll in a brief rundown. David Dellucci broke from third and Konerko’s throw to catcher Toby Hall was in the dirt, allowing Dellucci to score. Dellucci, Carroll and Grady Sizemore, who was on second when the play began, were given stolen bases. The odd play didn’t result in good reviews from either team. “Those are not plays we practice in spring training,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said. In other AL games, it was: Seattle 4, Boston 3; Texas 12, Tampa Bay 6; Minnesota 4, Kansas City 3, 12 innings; Baltimore 10, New York 9, 11 innings; Los Angeles 3, Detroit 2; and Oakland 3, Toronto 1. TENNIS Amelie Mauresmo held her nerve and her serve when it counted, reaching the second round of the French Open by defeating Olga Savchuk 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 in a match disrupted by rain. The start of play was delayed 2 hours, 50 minutes because of rain, but Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina reached the second round before another rain delay of nearly three hours. When play resumed, No. 14 Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Mariya Koryttseva 6-4, 6-3. Among the men, fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko stopped 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 and No. 9 Stanislas Wawrinka defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. No. 13 Juan Monaco lost to Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. Three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal, who was originally scheduled to play his first match Monday, managed to play only two games against Thomaz Bellucci before rain suspended play for the day with the score 1-1.
LACROSSE RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Three former Duke lacrosse players falsely accused of rape can pursue a civil lawsuit against the disgraced Durham County prosecutor who led the case against them, a judge ruled. Federal bankruptcy Judge William L. Stocks lifted a stay that had protected former District Attorney Mike Nifong as he moved through bankruptcy proceedings. Stocks, a month after hearing arguments about whether the bankruptcy case should delay the civil lawsuit, said in a ruling that his court didn’t have jurisdiction to hear many of the claims involved in the civil case. Nifong, citing a woman’s story that she was raped at a lacrosse team party in March 2006, pursued rape charges against Dave Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann. State prosecutors declared the players innocent last year, and Nifong was disbarred and spent a night in jail in the fallout from the case. No DNA from any Duke lacrosse player was found on the accuser, and exculpatory evidence that genetic material from other unidentified males was found on the woman was withheld from the defense for several months. GOLF MUNICH, Germany (AP) — Michelle Wie will make her first appearance in a full Ladies European Tour field at this week’s German Open. The 18-year-old American was given a sponsor’s invitation to play in the event, which begins Thursday. A sore wrist hurt in March and studies at Stanford University have limited her to just two tournaments on the LPGA Tour this year. BASEBALL NEW YORK (AP) — Roger Clemens added a new claim of “intentional infliction of emotional distress” to his defamation suit against Brian McNamee. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner said McNamee, his former personal trainer, was “malicious and grossly negligent” when McNamee told baseball investigator George Mitchell last year that Clemens had used steroids and human growth hormone. Clemens also said McNamee defamed him when he repeated his accusations to SI.com. Clemens asked for compensatory and punitive damages plus legal fees from McNamee, who has said he has little money. SOCCER BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq will not reverse its decision to dissolve its national Olympic committee despite a threat by soccer’s governing body to ban the country’s soccer team from World Cup qualifying. Jazair al-Sahlani, the newly appointed spokesman for the temporary Olympic committee that replaced the permanent body, said the decision “is firm and will not be reconsidered.” But al-Sahlani told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that the dissolution only applies to the national committee’s executive council and not its federations. FIFA on Monday suspended Iraq’s soccer federation from international competition for one year because of the decision by its government to disband all national sports governing bodies. GYMNASTICS COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The first step in Olympic gold medalist Paul Hamm’s recovery is already done. Hamm had surgery to repair the broken bone in his right hand, and will begin physical therapy Thursday. He said he hopes to be back on gymnastics equipment in five weeks, giving him plenty of time to get ready for the Beijing Olympics. The men’s gymnastics competition in Beijing begins Aug. 9, a little less than 11 weeks from now.
