Wednesday's Sports in Brief
By The Associated Press
Aug 07, 2008 - 11:21:59 CDT
Here's a look at Wednesday's sports in brief around the world.
FOOTBALL
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The monthlong saga of Brett Favre’s unretirement ended when he was traded by the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets.
The Packers had been talking with the Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers since deciding earlier this week that they could no longer co-exist with the player who won a Super Bowl and three MVP awards in 16 years with the team.
The arrival of Favre signals the end of Chad Pennington’s career with the Jets. New York GM Mike Tannenbaum said there would be another transaction regarding Pennington, who spent his first eight seasons with the Jets.
BASEBALL
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — His rocking chair sat empty and motionless with his old New York Yankees jersey draped over it, but the spirit of beloved broadcaster Bobby Murcer lived on with his family, friends and colleagues.
Hundreds filled an Oklahoma City-area church for a stirring and often humorous tribute to Murcer, a five-time All-Star outfielder who died from brain cancer on July 12.
He was remembered in words by his son, an astronaut and a 13-year-old cancer survivor, and in video messages from Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, Rich “Goose” Gossage and comedians Billy Crystal and Ray Romano.
Current Yankees Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte made the 225-mile trip from Arlington, Texas, where they were scheduled to play the Rangers later in the evening.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Joba Chamberlain was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the New York Yankees due to rotator cuff tendinitis in his pitching shoulder.
The club said Chamberlain will rest for about a week before beginning a throwing program. Chamberlain had gone to see noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews after undergoing an MRI on his ailing right shoulder Tuesday.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit his 513th home run, breaking a tie for 20th place with Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews on the career list.
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies claimed Livan Hernandez off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.
Hernandez, a former World Series MVP and two-time All-Star, was 10-8 with a 5.48 ERA in 23 starts before the Twins designated him for assignment Friday. The 33-year-old right-hander, spent his previous 13 seasons in the NL with Florida (1996-99), San Francisco (1999-02), Montreal/Washington (2003-06) and Arizona (2006-07).
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A former University of Toledo basketball player has been charged with point shaving, according to a federal bill of information filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
Sammy Villegas, who played basketball for four years at Toledo and has followed that with a professional career in his native Puerto Rico, is accused of shaving points in games during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.
The case comes a little more than a year after a Toledo football player was accused in a gambling scheme, though the charges against him were dropped. A university spokesman described the cases as isolated incidents.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bill Self, the Kansas basketball coach who guided the Jayhawks to their first NCAA championship in 20 years, signed a 10-year, $30 million contract.
The deal had been in the works since April, when Self’s Jayhawks came from nine points down in the final minutes to beat Memphis in a thrilling title game and he subsequently turned down an offer to return to Oklahoma State, his alma mater.
Kansas and Self, 45, said in April he had agreed to the deal while the details were worked on. Kansas also agreed to big raises for his staff as well as improvements on the school’s basketball facilities.
AUTO RACING
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. finally agreed to a contract extension with Dale Earnhardt Inc. that keeps him in the No. 1 Chevrolet at least through 2009.
The two sides held a mutual option on the 2009 season, but Truex had been reluctant to commit even though DEI was eager to retain him. He tested the market, and had verbally agreed to stay with the team several weeks ago, but declined signing anything.
Now that he’s signed, the two sides are working on a longer deal.
TENNIS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Florent Serra defeated second-seeded Fernando Verdasco and Denis Gremelmayr beat fourth-seeded Feliciano Lopez on an afternoon of upsets at the Countrywide Classic.
Serra ousted Verdasco, hampered by a sore ankle, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Gremelmayr took a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Lopez.
Sixth-seeded Mardy Fish came back strong after losing the first set to take a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-0 win over Vince Spadea.
In a night match, No. 5 seed Marat Safin advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Wayne Odesnik.
BOWLING
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Kim Terrell-Kearney won the first professional championship match featuring two black bowlers, beating Trisha Reid 216-189 in the U.S. Bowling Congress’ U.S. Women’s Open.
Terrell-Kearney, from Dover, Del., built an early lead and held on for her second U.S. Women’s Open victory and third career major title. She earned $25,000.
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FOOTBALL
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The monthlong saga of Brett Favre’s unretirement ended when he was traded by the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets.
The Packers had been talking with the Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers since deciding earlier this week that they could no longer co-exist with the player who won a Super Bowl and three MVP awards in 16 years with the team.
The arrival of Favre signals the end of Chad Pennington’s career with the Jets. New York GM Mike Tannenbaum said there would be another transaction regarding Pennington, who spent his first eight seasons with the Jets.
BASEBALL
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — His rocking chair sat empty and motionless with his old New York Yankees jersey draped over it, but the spirit of beloved broadcaster Bobby Murcer lived on with his family, friends and colleagues.
Hundreds filled an Oklahoma City-area church for a stirring and often humorous tribute to Murcer, a five-time All-Star outfielder who died from brain cancer on July 12.
He was remembered in words by his son, an astronaut and a 13-year-old cancer survivor, and in video messages from Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, Rich “Goose” Gossage and comedians Billy Crystal and Ray Romano.
Current Yankees Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte made the 225-mile trip from Arlington, Texas, where they were scheduled to play the Rangers later in the evening.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Joba Chamberlain was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the New York Yankees due to rotator cuff tendinitis in his pitching shoulder.
The club said Chamberlain will rest for about a week before beginning a throwing program. Chamberlain had gone to see noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews after undergoing an MRI on his ailing right shoulder Tuesday.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Manny Ramirez of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit his 513th home run, breaking a tie for 20th place with Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews on the career list.
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies claimed Livan Hernandez off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.
Hernandez, a former World Series MVP and two-time All-Star, was 10-8 with a 5.48 ERA in 23 starts before the Twins designated him for assignment Friday. The 33-year-old right-hander, spent his previous 13 seasons in the NL with Florida (1996-99), San Francisco (1999-02), Montreal/Washington (2003-06) and Arizona (2006-07).
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A former University of Toledo basketball player has been charged with point shaving, according to a federal bill of information filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.
Sammy Villegas, who played basketball for four years at Toledo and has followed that with a professional career in his native Puerto Rico, is accused of shaving points in games during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons.
The case comes a little more than a year after a Toledo football player was accused in a gambling scheme, though the charges against him were dropped. A university spokesman described the cases as isolated incidents.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bill Self, the Kansas basketball coach who guided the Jayhawks to their first NCAA championship in 20 years, signed a 10-year, $30 million contract.
The deal had been in the works since April, when Self’s Jayhawks came from nine points down in the final minutes to beat Memphis in a thrilling title game and he subsequently turned down an offer to return to Oklahoma State, his alma mater.
Kansas and Self, 45, said in April he had agreed to the deal while the details were worked on. Kansas also agreed to big raises for his staff as well as improvements on the school’s basketball facilities.
AUTO RACING
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. finally agreed to a contract extension with Dale Earnhardt Inc. that keeps him in the No. 1 Chevrolet at least through 2009.
The two sides held a mutual option on the 2009 season, but Truex had been reluctant to commit even though DEI was eager to retain him. He tested the market, and had verbally agreed to stay with the team several weeks ago, but declined signing anything.
Now that he’s signed, the two sides are working on a longer deal.
TENNIS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Florent Serra defeated second-seeded Fernando Verdasco and Denis Gremelmayr beat fourth-seeded Feliciano Lopez on an afternoon of upsets at the Countrywide Classic.
Serra ousted Verdasco, hampered by a sore ankle, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Gremelmayr took a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Lopez.
Sixth-seeded Mardy Fish came back strong after losing the first set to take a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-0 win over Vince Spadea.
In a night match, No. 5 seed Marat Safin advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Wayne Odesnik.
BOWLING
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Kim Terrell-Kearney won the first professional championship match featuring two black bowlers, beating Trisha Reid 216-189 in the U.S. Bowling Congress’ U.S. Women’s Open.
Terrell-Kearney, from Dover, Del., built an early lead and held on for her second U.S. Women’s Open victory and third career major title. She earned $25,000.