Byline: Seattle Times news services
NFL
Labor talks in crunch time
NFL owners and players may find themselves shifting to hurry-up mode as time gets tight to reach labor peace.
Although both sides say progress has been made in the last month of meetings in various locations, the prospect of postponing the opening of training camps grows stronger every day. Lawyers for the NFL and the players association sorted out contract language and details Wednesday for a second straight day, hoping it could speed the process in reaching a new collective-bargaining agreement. Attorneys met at a Manhattan law firm.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith plan to return to the negotiations Thursday, along with several owners and players.
Packers' Underwood charged
Packers cornerback Brandon Underwood was released on a $1,000 signature bond in Green Bay, Wis., after being accused of disorderly conduct against his wife.
WLUK-TV reported Underwood appeared for an initial hearing to face the misdemeanor charge after police were called to his Green Bay house, just hours after the team got its Super Bowl rings June 16. The 25-year-old allegedly pushed his wife to the ground and ripped a necklace from her neck, according to the complaint.
Brandie Underwood, 25, filed for divorce in May, according to online court records. She said they are receiving counseling and still living together.
Doping
Doctor pleads guilty
A Canadian sports doctor whose high-profile clients have included Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez pleaded guilty in federal court in Buffalo, N.Y., to bringing into the United States unapproved drugs, including human growth hormone, that were used to treat professional athletes.
Dr. Anthony Galea, a healing specialist from Toronto who was sought out by the biggest names in sports, was indicted by a federal grand jury in October on charges that he smuggled human growth hormone and other substances into the United States and lied to border agents to avoid getting caught. He faces similar charges in Canada.
Most of the U.S. charges were dismissed with Galea's plea, and he agreed to cooperate with investigators and disclose the identities of his patients and their treatments.
Colleges
Schools against extra recruiting calls
Legislation that allowed NCAA Division I schools to contact high-school juniors by phone in sports other than football and men's basketball has been suspended because many schools are against it.
The legislation passed in April, but NCAA.org says numerous schools have since raised concerns about extending the recruiting process, forcing the NCAA to revisit its ruling. The Division I Legislative Council will hold a conference call on July 14 to reconsider the proposal because it received 106 override requests by the June 27 deadline.
Tennis
Isner into quarterfinals
Top-seeded John Isner used his powerful serve to advance to the quarterfinals of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I., beating Arnaud Clement, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, in the second round.
Wozniacki retires with injury
Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki retired from her second-round match at the Swedish Open in Bastad against local favorite Sofia Arvidsson because of a shoulder injury.
NHL
Barnaby sentenced
ESPN analyst and former NHL forward Matthew Barnaby was ordered to complete 500 hours of community service to have charges dropped stemming from an argument he had with his estranged wife in May.
Barnaby, 38, was accused of causing an estimated $300 in damage by kicking the garage door May 13 in an attempt to enter the suburban Buffalo home where his wife and two children live.
Auto racing
Indianapolis to add 3 races
The NASCAR Nationwide Series and Grand-Am Road Racing will hold events at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway the same weekend as the Brickyard 400 next year, adding a new series and three races to the Speedway's schedule.
Basketball
Croatia hands U.S. first loss
Toni Katic scored 21 points to lead Croatia to an 87-85 victory over the United States in Riga, Latvia, in the second round of FIBA's Under 19 World Championship, the defending champion's first loss in the tournament.
Jeremy Lamb of NCAA champ Connecticut had 25 points for the U.S. (5-1), which had already clinched a berth in the quarterfinals.
Skiing
Gold medalist dies at 41
Mika Myllyla, a Finnish Olympic gold medalist and winner of three world championships in cross-country skiing whose career crashed after he was caught up in a doping scandal in 2001, was found dead on Tuesday in his apartment in Kokkola, Finland. He was 41. The police did not provide details but said no crime was involved.
Seattle Times news services
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