NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The NFL on Thursday provided a federal judge with what it says is evidence Commissioner Roger Goodell did not improperly pre-judge the four players suspended in the bounty investigation.
Attorneys for Jonathan Vilma, who has sued separately, and NFLPA lawyers representing the three other punished players have argued Goodell showed improper bias with comments he made before sending the players notice of their suspensions on May 2.
Attorneys for the players have been given until Friday to file their own evidence and briefs on the matter.
NEW YORK (AP) — Less than three weeks before the season kicks off, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association are no closer to an agreement to end the lockout of the officials.
As replacement officials work preseason games — and generally get criticized for their performances — the league and officials disputed such issues as full-time employees and adding officiating crews.
On Sept. 5, the Cowboys visit the Giants to open the season. Not since 2001 has the NFL played games that count in the standings with replacement officials, and that was for one week. This lockout began June 3.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Quarterback Vince Young has been ordered to pay a loan company nearly $1.7 million after missing a payment in late May, shortly after signing with the Buffalo Bills.
The ruling against Young was made in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan on July 2, according to court documents.
Young took out a high-risk loan from Pro Player Funding for $1.877 million during the NFL lockout in May 2011, while he was still under contract with the Tennessee Titans. The loan — plus $619,000 in interest — was due to be paid back in January 2013 at an annual interest rate of 20 percent. That rate jumped another 10 percent if Young missed a payment.
BASEBALL
TORONTO (AP) — A male fan died in a hospital after going into cardiac arrest at the game between the Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox.
Play was halted for four minutes in the seventh inning while the fan received CPR and was carted off on a stretcher.
Ambulance sirens could be heard outside the stadium as the fan was taken away, still receiving CPR.
Following the game, Toronto Police Services confirmed the fan had died in a hospital after collapsing. His name was not released.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco Giants general manager Brian Sabean insists his club's two suspended veteran players should have known better than to use performance-enhancing drugs.
A day after outfielder and All-Star game MVP Melky Cabrera received a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test, joining reliever and teammate Guillermo Mota as two of the four big leaguers suspended this season, Sabean said he was shocked when he received word of the suspension from Major League Baseball on Wednesday morning.
DENVER (AP) — Major League Baseball owners approved the sale of the San Diego Padres to a group that includes the O'Malley family and golfer Phil Mickelson.
Commissioner Bud Selig announced the endorsement after the conclusion of the owners meetings in Denver.
Under the deal, the group will buy the franchise from John Moores for around $800 million. The final closing of the sale will be on or before Aug. 31.
AMSTERDAM (AP) — A Dutch court has ordered the brother of slain former Seattle Mariners outfielder Greg Halman provisionally released after prosecutors joined the defense in asking for his acquittal on manslaughter charges.
Jason Halman is believed to have fatally stabbed his older brother after the two quarreled about loud music in the early hours of Nov. 21, 2011. During Jason Halman's trial, psychiatrists said he was having a psychotic episode at the time of the killing, which took place in an apartment they were sharing in Rotterdam.
Judges at the Rotterdam District Court are expected to rule on Aug. 30.
GOLF
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Carl Pettersson shot an 8-under 62 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the Wyndham Championship.
David Mathis and Tim Clark were a stroke back, Tom Gillis, Scott Stallings and Troy Matteson shot 64, and Matt Every had a 65 in the final event before the FedEx Cup playoffs.
CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. (AP) — In a close, tense match between teammates and friends, Justin Thomas beat fellow University of Alabama player Bobby Wyatt on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur championship at Cherry Hills.
The 19-year-old Thomas won 1 up in the match-play contest against the top-seeded Wyatt, who equaled a tournament record in stroke-play qualifying by shooting 9-under 132.
Thomas will face Australian Oliver Goss, a 2-and-1 winner over Bobby Leopold of Cranston, R.I.
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal announced three of his four vice captains on Thursday, picking Irishmen Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark for the match against the United States.
TENNIS
MASON, Ohio (AP) — Serena and Venus Williams moved into the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open by handling the afternoon heat, humidity and wind that did in Andy Murray.
Murray's off-day turned into the biggest upset of the tournament, a straight-sets loss that left him with hardly any hard-court time heading into the U.S. Open.
Murray lost 6-4, 6-4 to France's Jeremy Chardy, an opponent he'd beaten easily the four previous times they'd played.
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Mardy Fish and Juan Martin del Potro also reached the quarterfinals Thursday.
On the women's side, Serena Williams won her 19th straight match — her last 12 in straight sets — by beating Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-4, 6-3. Venus Williams beat Sara Errani 6-3, 6-0
LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — The team from Petaluma, Calif., earned a 6-4 victory over Fairfield, Conn., on a sun-splashed opening day at the Little League World Series.
Japan also won its early game, 7-0 over Curacao, while Taiwan routed a team from Ramstein Air Base in Germany, 14-1. In the late game, Goodlettsville, Tenn., beat Kearney, Neb., 12-1.
