By The Associated Press

Published: Friday, March 27, 2009
Updated: Friday, March 27, 2009 11:31 AM CDT

Here's a look at Thursday's sports in brief around the world.

BASEBALL

WASHINGTON (AP) — All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada received a sentence of one year of probation for misleading Congress about the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Tejada faced possible prison time, but was issued a sentence of probation, 100 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine.

Tejada stood before the judge and gave a 45-second statement, speaking softly in accented English. He said he takes “full responsibility for not answering the question” and apologized to Congress, fans of his sport, “and especially the kids.”

Last month, the 34-year-old athlete pleaded guilty to withholding information when questioned by a House committee’s investigators in August 2005 about an ex-teammate’s use of steroids and human growth hormone.

He also acknowledged he bought HGH while playing for the Oakland Athletics, but said he threw the drugs away without using them.

FOOTBALL

DALLAS (AP) — A police officer was placed on administrative leave over a traffic stop involving an NFL player whom he kept in a hospital parking lot and threatened to arrest while his mother-in-law died inside the building.

Officer Robert Powell also drew his gun during the March 18 incident involving Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats in the Dallas suburb of Plano, police said.

Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle apologized to the family and announced that Powell would be on paid leave pending an internal investigation.

Powell, 25, a three-year member of the force, stopped Moats’ SUV outside Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano after Moats rolled through a red light.

Police officials said Powell told his commanders he believed he was doing his job, and that he drew his gun but did not point it.

Moats told KRLD-FM in Dallas in a phone interview that the officer pointed the gun at both him and his wife.

PRO BASKETBALL

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James will be profiled on CBS’ “60 Minutes” this Sunday in an interview he did a few months ago.

The 24-year-old James, who has led the Cavaliers to the NBA’s best record this season, sat down for the one-on-one with show contributor Steve Kroft.

The magazine show spent time at one of James’ practices and filmed him at his Akron high school, as well as at a concert for President Barack Obama he hosted at Quicken Loans Arena with rapper and close friend Jay-Z.

James’ mother, Gloria, is also interviewed in the piece.

During the interview, James returns to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, his alma mater, where he first broke onto the national stage. As a 17-year-old junior in 2002, James appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

GOLF

MADRID (AP) — Seve Ballesteros will undergo a fourth round of chemotherapy as he continues treatment of a cancerous brain tumor.

Ballesteros said that blood tests from his third round of chemotherapy showed he could continue with the treatment, with the next round scheduled to begin Saturday.

The five-time major winner underwent three surgeries following a biopsy after being admitted to La Paz Hospital in October, shortly after fainting at Madrid’s Barajas international airport.

Ballesteros said his spirits were “still high,” although the 51-year-old golf great did not mention the possibility of a public appearance that he’d been planning to make.

As a player, Ballesteros was known for spectacular shots and improvisational play to win three British Opens and two Masters. He also recorded 50 victories on the European Tour and is widely recognized as having transformed European golf.

Ballesteros retired in 2007 because of a long history of back pain and has since concentrated on golf course design.

OLYMPICS

DENVER (AP) — After a year of embarrassing protests leading up to the Beijing Games, Olympic leaders called for an end to international torch relays starting next year in Vancouver.

The torch relay turned into a convenient platform for protesters to denounce China’s human rights record. Some of the biggest protests were in London, Paris and San Francisco. In San Francisco, officials were forced to reroute the parade path to avoid confrontations.

The International Olympic Committee announced the change at its three-day meetings in Denver, but said it doesn’t require an adjustment of the contracts for host cities. There was no requirement for cities to take the relays internationally, but in recent years, the cities would request such a tour.

Gilbert Felli, the IOC’s executive director for the Olympic Games, said the IOC started recognizing risks during the relay before the Athens Games.

HOCKEY

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says the financially struggling Phoenix Coyotes are actively seeking investors or possibly new ownership, but reiterated that the team won’t be relocated.

The Coyotes have reportedly lost $200 million since current owner Jerry Moyes brought the team in 2001, and are projected to lose another $30 million this season.

Bettman said the Coyotes are actively engaging with potential investors, whom he would not identify.

The Coyotes will miss the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season and have had only two sellouts in 37 home games.

In a recent survey, Glendale residents rejected the notion of taxpayer money to help provide financial assistance to the team.