In Brief | Nation and World
Seattle LB Leroy Hill arrested on assault charges
ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill was arrested after police say he assaulted his girlfriend and kept her in his home against her will.
According to a release from the Issaquah Police Department on Wednesday morning, Hill was arrested on investigation of unlawful imprisonment-domestic violence and third-degree assault-domestic violence. According to King County Jail records, Hill was booked into the Seattle correctional facility early Wednesday afternoon.
Both charges are felonies in Washington state. It’s at least the fourth time Hill, 30, has been arrested and the second time he’s been accused of domestic violence.
Police said they responded to Hill’s home around 4 p.m. Tuesday. A 26-year-old said she had been assaulted several times and was kept in Hill’s home against her will. The women told police that Hill blocked the doorway and took her cellphone. She was able to escape the home when Hill used the bathroom, police said.
She was treated at a hospital and released. A Seahawks spokesman said the team is aware of the situation.
Hill played last season on a one-year contract with the Seahawks. He played in 13 games, starting 12, and recorded 47 tackles and 1½ sacks. Hill is one of two players still on the Seahawks roster from their lone Super Bowl appearance when they lost to Pittsburgh. He’s played all eight NFL seasons with the Seahawks and has started 89 of 97 games in his Seattle career.
Hill is scheduled to become a free agent this offseason.
USADA chief: UCI obstructed Lance Armstrong probe
ERLIN — The International Cycling Union did all it could to stall its doping investigation into Lance Armstrong, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis Tygart said Wednesday.
“At every turn, the UCI attempted to obstruct our efforts to reveal the truth,” Tygart told a special hearing of the Bundestag sports committee.
He added that the cycling body still “appears to be irresponsibly trying to script a self-interested ending to this affair.”
Tygart said the UCI’s actions highlighted the need for doping agencies to have “true independence” to avoid any conflicts of interest arising from running the sport.
USADA fulfills its duties to catch drug cheats because “it does not have a conflicting duty to also protect the image of the sport it serves, or of commercial factors such as obligations to sponsors, owners or investors,” he said. “I was shocked that (sporting) federations here still handle doping cases. It’s what we call the fox guarding the hen house.”
Vijah Singh admits using deer-antler spray
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Vijay Singh says he has used deer-antler spray and wasn’t aware that it may contain a substance banned by the PGA Tour.
The 49-year-old Fijian first revealed he used the spray in an interview with Sports Illustrated. The magazine said Singh paid one of Sports With Alternatives To Steroids’ owners $9,000 last November for the spray, hologram chips and other products.
The magazine also reported Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis sought help from SWATS in his recovery from a torn right triceps. The company says its deer-antler substance contains a banned performance-enhancer connected to human growth hormone.
Singh released a statement Wednesday at the Phoenix Open.
“While I have used deer-antler spray, at no time was I aware that it may contain a substance that is banned under the PGA Tour Anti-Doping Policy,” Singh said in the statement.
49ers CB Chris Culliver makes anti-gay comments
NEW ORLEANS — The San Francisco 49ers say they have addressed anti-gay remarks made by cornerback Chris Culliver during a Super Bowl media day interview. The team didn’t say whether the second-year player will face disciplinary action or a fine.
During an interview Tuesday at the Superdome, Culliver responded to questions from comedian Artie Lange by saying he wouldn’t welcome a gay player in the locker room. He also said the 49ers didn’t have any homosexual players and, if they did, those players should leave.
The 49ers said in a statement Wednesday that they “reject” Culliver’s comments. A message left for a team spokesman wasn’t immediately returned.
In addition, the team says, “We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community.”
Judge tosses Saints fan’s suit over bounty probe
NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a class-action lawsuit that a New Orleans Saints season-ticket holder filed against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell over the league’s bounty investigation.
The suit claimed the NFL’s sanctions against the team over its alleged system of offering cash bonuses to Saints players for big hits punished season ticket holders more than anyone else and sought more than $5 million in damages.
U.S. District Judge Helen “Ginger” Berrigan rejected the notion that Saints ticket holders were the only ones who could have experienced “mental suffering” from the team’s disappointing 7-9 record this season.
“Rather, that agony has been much more widely felt by the Who Dat Nation,” Berrigan wrote in her ruling, which came only days before New Orleans hosts Sunday’s Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens.
Season-ticket holder David James Mancina claimed he and other ticket holders were entitled to compensation for the diminished vale of their tickers and their “personal emotional reaction to the unwarranted penalties inflicted on their beloved team, players, coaches, and executives.”
NBA acknowledges incorrect calls in recent games
NEW YORK — The NBA has acknowledged a pair of costly incorrect calls from the final seconds of recent games.
The league says video replay showed that Denver’s Andre Iguodala reached in and fouled Indiana’s Paul George with the score tied at 101 and 2.2 seconds left Sunday. Iguodala was credited with a steal and the Nuggets won the game.
The league also says a charging foul called against Dallas guard O.J. Mayo on Tuesday should have been a block on Portland’s Ronnie Price, who did not get his body directly in Mayo’s path prior to him starting his upward shooting motion. Mayo should have been given two free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining and the game tied at 104. Instead, Portland got possession and LaMarcus Aldridge made the winning shot.
Brook Lopez replaces Rondo in All-Star game
NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez has been chosen to replace the injured Rajon Rondo on the Eastern Conference All-Star team.
Commissioner David Stern on Wednesday selected Lopez, who is averaging 18.6 points and 7.3 rebounds for the second-place Nets.
Rondo, the Boston Celtics point guard who was voted to start the Feb. 17 game in Houston, has a torn ACL. The East head coach, likely Erik Spoelstra of Miami, will decide who replaces Rondo in the starting lineup.
Mississippi’s Jones out for season with injury
OXFORD, Miss. — Mississippi forward Aaron Jones is out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Tuesday’s loss to Kentucky.
The 6-foot-9 sophomore has been one of the 16th-ranked Rebels’ most important reserves this season, averaging 3.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He’s also second on the team with 32 blocks.
Jones had his knee examined on Wednesday morning and the school confirmed the extent of the injury.
Senior Nick Williams is also out indefinitely with a foot injury. Coach Andy Kennedy says he hopes Williams can return soon, though there was no timetable. The 6-foot-4 guard is averaging 9.4 points per game.
The Rebels travel to face No. 8 Florida on Saturday.
Jays sign INF Andy LaRoche to minor league deal
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with infielder Andy LaRoche on a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.
LaRoche appeared in 96 games for the Triple-A teams of the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox last season, batting .251 with 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 41 RBIs.
The right-handed hitter has played in 403 big league games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics. He has a career average of .226 with 22 home runs and 133 RBIs over five seasons.
The Worm Turns: Rodman writes book for children
NEW YORK — Dennis Rodman, one of basketball’s most outrageous personalities, has written a book for children.
The Hall of Famer’s book, “Dennis The Wild Bull,” came out Wednesday and fans will immediately recognize Rodman’s influence. The large red bull on the cover has flowing red hair, two nose rings, a tattoo and red stubble under his chin.
Rodman says the book teaches kids that it’s OK to be different and that they will be accepted, as he was by teammates in Detroit in Chicago while winning five championships.
And Rodman, whose previous works include titles such as “Bad as I Wanna Be” and “I Should Be Dead by Now,” laughs at the notion of himself as a children’s author, saying that “to write a children’s book with all the wild things I do and make it believable was pretty much incredible.”
Vinci loses to Barthel at Open GDF Suez
PARIS — Fifth-seeded Roberta Vinci was eliminated from the Open GDF Suez on Wednesday, losing to Mona Barthel of Germany 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the second round.
Vinci struggled in the second set, dropping two of her service games, before Barthel immediately earned a break against the Italian to start the third. Vinci, who is ranked 16th, broke back but the 45th-ranked Barthel earned two more breaks to take the match.
Barthel will meet third-seeded Marion Bartoli in the quarterfinals after the Frenchwoman fought back from four set-points down to defeat American Christina McHale 7-5, 6-1.
Second-seeded Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic also advanced to the quarters, beating Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Rain stops play at Thailand’s Pattaya Open
PATTAYA, Thailand — Rain washed out play Wednesday at the Pattaya Open with defending champion Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia yet to play her first round match.
Organizers have rescheduled the remaining three singles matches of the first round and all the eight second round matches for Thursday.
Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, whose first round match against Ayumi Morita of Japan was suspended due to rain on Tuesday, will resume leading 6-3, 5-7, 2-1. Seventh-seeded Elena Vesnina of Russia will resume against Greek veteran Eleni Daniilidou 6-3, 1-0.
From wire sources
