PRO FOOTBALL
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -The NFL indefinitely suspended Michael Vick without pay just hours after he acknowledged in court papers that he did, indeed, bankroll gambling on dogfighting and helped kill some dogs not worthy of the pit.
Vick, however, insisted he placed no bets of his own nor took any winnings.
In disciplining Vick, commissioner Roger Goodell said Vick’s admitted conduct was “not only illegal but also cruel and reprehensible” and regardless whether he personally placed bets, “your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL player contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player.”
A “summary of facts” signed by Vick was filed along with his written plea agreement on a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge. He will appear before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson to formally plead guilty Monday and then await sentencing at a later date.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Schobel signed a contract extension with the Buffalo Bills that is potentially worth about $50.5 million over the seven-year deal.
The deal includes $20 million in guaranteed money and locks Schobel up through 2013, extending his current contract for four additional years.
PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (AP) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver David Boston was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after police found him passed out behind the wheel of a sport utility vehicle.
The 29-year-old was found slumped over the steering wheel of a red Range Rover on Thursday evening, police said.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina safety Emanuel Cook was arrested on a gun charge and suspended from the university, making him ineligible to play for the Gamecocks.
The 19-year-old player was charged with unlawful possession of a pistol, according to a police report. Cook and James Gore III were arrested by university police Thursday night at a parking lot near campus dormitories, the report said.
The athletic department said Cook was suspended from the university because of an arrest involving a weapon.
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee tailback LaMarcus Coker, the team’s leading rusher last season who was indefinitely suspended two weeks ago, will rejoin the team but not play in the season opener against California on Sept. 1.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, talking with reporters for the first time since arriving on campus last January, confirmed he underwent arthroscopic surgery this past spring to remove a bone spur from his throwing arm.
Clausen, rated by many as the top high school recruit last winter, described the procedure as a minor setback.
BASEBALL
ST. LOUIS (AP) – The Atlanta Braves cut ties with struggling closer Bob Wickman, designating him for assignment.
The move came a day after Wickman surrendered a game-winning two-run home run to the Reds’ Adam Dunn. Wickman is 3-3 with a 3.92 ERA and 20 saves in 26 chances.
The Braves also recalled right-handers Jose Ascanio from Double-A Mississippi and Joey Devine from Triple-A Richmond. Infielder Martin Prado was optioned to Richmond.
Wickman, 38, saved his 20th game on Aug. 15 against the Giants, a night after blowing his sixth save. He has eight career 20-save seasons, including three in a row.
SOCCER
CARSON, Calif. (AP) – David Beckham is taking a break.
Exhausted after playing three games in six days, Beckham won’t travel with the Los Angeles Galaxy for Sunday’s Major League Soccer game in Colorado.
Coach Frank Yallop decided to rest Beckham after evaluating the star midfielder’s condition following a 3-0 loss Thursday to Chivas USA. He’s expected to play next in Wednesday’s SuperLiga championship against Pachuca at the Home Depot Center.
HOCKEY
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) – Milan Michalek agreed to a six-year, $26 million contract extension with the San Jose Sharks.
The Czech, a 22-year-old right wing, is considered a rising star after just two full NHL campaigns. He was San Jose’s fourth-leading scorer last year, compiling career highs of 26 goals, 40 assists and a plus-17 rating while mostly playing on the second line with captain Patrick Marleau.
TENNIS
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) – James Blake beat Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2) in a match that ended just after midnight Saturday to set up an all-American final at the Pilot Pen.
Blake will play his best friend on tour, Mardy Fish, for the title.
Fish beat hard-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (3), 6-4 to advance to his first final this year.
It will be the first time the frequent practice partners have played each other for a championship.
TRACK AND FIELD
OSAKA, Japan (AP) – Luke Kibet of Kenya won the marathon in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 59 seconds, claiming the first gold medal of the 2007 track and field world championships.
Mubarak Hassan Shami of Qatar was second in 2:17:18, and fast-finishing Viktor Roethlin of Switzerland was third in 2:17:25.
It was the slowest winning time in world championship history. The previous was 2:14.57 by Hiromi Taniguchi of Japan in Tokyo in 1991.
AUTO RACING
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) – Kasey Kahne passed Ryan Newman with eight laps to go, then held off several charges from Jason Leffler to win the Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The race was marred by a NASCAR scoring error against Kyle Busch that cost him a chance to run for the win. Busch was penalized with 77 laps to go because NASCAR said he violated the pit-road commitment line. He had to forfeit his second-place position, a penalty NASCAR later said was incorrect.
But it was too late by then, as Busch had dropped all the way back to 28th.
BASKETBALL
SEATTLE (AP) – Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. She earned 20 votes from members of the league’s media. Indiana’s Tamika Catchings was second with 16.
The 2003 league MVP and its leading scorer (23.8 points per game) and rebounder (9.7) is the first international player to win the defensive award. The 6-foot-5 Jackson’s 2.03 blocks per game trailed only Connecticut’s Margo Dydek (2.06). Jackson’s 7.1 defensive rebounds per game led the league.
Also, Liberty center Janel McCarville received the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award.
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