NFL-OBIT/TATUM
Hard-hitting former Raider dies
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Former Raiders All-Pro safety Jack Tatum has died at the age of 61, according to a friend and former Ohio State teammate.
John Hicks says the man nicknamed "The Assassin" for his bone-jarring tackles died of a heart attack Tuesday in Oakland.
Tatum is best known for his hit that paralyzed Darryl Stingley in an NFL preseason game in 1978
Stingley died in 2007.
NFL-CONCUSSIONS
NFL poster has harsher language on concussions
NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL will distribute a new poster to teams that warns of the dangers of concussions in much harsher language than before.
The document says traumatic brain injury can lead to problems including depression and early onset of dementia and "can change your life and your family's life forever."
The pamphlet previously distributed to players said that current research with pro athletes "has not shown that having more than one or two concussions leads to permanent problems if each injury is managed properly."
Greg Aiello (eye-EHL'-oh) says the new wording "is intended to present the most current and objective medical information on concussion."
NFL-COWBOYS/BRYANT
An eye opener for Bryant
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant says he never expected his refusal to carry Roy Williams' shoulder pads to become such a big issue.
And the Cowboys' first-round pick says he didn't know that rookies carrying the pads of veterans after practice was a long-standing ritual.
Bryant says he told Williams that if he had known the situation was going to turn out like this, the rookie would have carried all of Williams' equipment. Bryant says he's trying to do the right things.
Bryant says he has no problem with another rookie tradition of paying for meals. He has already gotten a $1.95 million signing bonus and is due a $570,000 roster bonus during camp.
NFL-RAVENS/CODY
Cody not allowed to practice
WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -- Baltimore Ravens second-round draft pick Terrence Cody has failed his conditioning test and was not permitted to participate in the team's first training camp practice.
The 360-pound defensive tackle out of Alabama signed a three-year contract Monday and arrived at McDaniel College eager to launch his NFL career. But after flunking his physical, he was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP).
Ravens coach John Harbaugh says, "When he passes the conditioning test, he'll practice."
NFL-GIANTS/JONES
Jones going home
NEW YORK (AP) -- New York Giants rookie safety Chad Jones is heading home to New Orleans after a nearly monthlong stay in a New York hospital.
The third-round draft pick from LSU was transferred to the hospital June 29 after suffering serious injuries to his left leg and ankle in an early morning car accident in New Orleans on June 24.
Jones has undergone several surgeries both in New Orleans and New York since the accident. He plans to rest and recuperate in New Orleans before returning to New York in several weeks and undergoing further surgery.
Jones signed his contract about a week before the accident.
NFL-EAGLES/KOLB
Kolb era under way in Philly
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) -- It's time for Kevin Kolb (kahb) to step up and show why the Eagles' brass anointed him as the team's starting quarterback following Donovan McNabb's April trade to Washington.
The club's 2007 second round draft pick out of Houston was under center Tuesday for the Eagles first training camp practice of the preseason.
Kolb, who turns 26 next month, has played in only 12 games for the Eagles, making his first two starts last season when McNabb was injured. He's thrown four TD passes and seven interceptions.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Sabathia looking to pass Price...A-Rod still chasing 600th homer
UNDATED (AP) -- New York left-hander CC Sabathia (suh-BATH'-ee-uh) will be looking to become the AL's first 14-game winner tonight when the Yankees take the field at Cleveland. And teammate Alex Rodriguez will be looking to finally collect his 600th career home run on his 35th birthday
Sabathia's 13-and-3 record matches Tampa Bay's David Price for most wins in the league.
Rodriguez hasn't gone deep since hammering his 599th home run Thursday night. He's gone 5-for-16 in the four games since.
Twenty-five-year-old Josh Tomlin will make his big-league debut for the Indians.
The Yanks are a major league-best 63-and-35 and hold a three-game lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the East race.
The Rays will be working on a three-game winning streak when they go up against the Detroit Tigers, who got no-hit last night by Tampa Bay's Matt Garza.
Minnesota has won three in a row and starts tonight's outing at Kansas City just a game back of first-place Chicago in the Central standings. The White Sox host Seattle this evening.
Oakland is tied with Los Angeles for second in the West, 7 1-2 games behind Texas. The Athletics go head to head with the Rangers and the Angels host Boston.
Baltimore at Toronto rounds out the junior circuit slate.
Adam Wainwright will be looking to join Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez (oo-BAHL'-doh hih-MEHN'-ehz) as the only 15-game winners in the major leagues. The right-hander brings a 14-and-5 record to the mound tonight in New York when Central leader St. Louis goes up against the Mets. The Cardinals are one-game clear of Cincinnati in the division race. The Reds will be out to avoid a third straight loss when they play at Milwaukee, where the Brewers will be hunting a sixth straight W.
The East-leading Braves are in Washington and will be facing rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg (STRAHS'-burg) of the Nationals. Atlanta holds a 4 1-2 game lead over Philadelphia. The Phillies will host Arizona this evening.
Also in the senior circuit under the lights, West-leading San Diego brings a three-game winning streak and 3 1-2 game lead over the Giants into its game against the visiting L.A. Dodgers, San Francisco entertains Florida and Colorado looks to snap a six-game losing streak when it hosts Pittsburgh.
MLB-HAREN
Angels keeping fingers crossed
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- The L.A. Angels' newest acquisition will be re-examined by the team doctor today. Dan Haren was forced to leave last night's game in the fifth inning after getting hit on his throwing arm by a line drive.
Haren was making his first appearance for the Halos after coming over in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline is Saturday.
MLB-WHITE SOX/THOMAS
White Sox to honor former slugger
CHICAGO (AP) -- The White Sox are retiring the No. 35 Frank Thomas wore while playing on the South side of Chicago. Thomas is rejoining the AL club as a team ambassador.
The White Sox say the two-time league MVP will be honored at U.S. Cellular Field on Aug. 29.
Thomas will make appearances for the team and join its speakers bureau.
His number will be the 10th retired by the White Sox,
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-HUGGINS/HOSPITAL
Huggins still in the hospital
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- A spokesman for the West Virginia University basketball team says further testing has revealed that coach Bob Huggins broke seven ribs -- not four -- in a hotel room fall.
Bryan Messerly says Huggins remains in a Las Vegas hospital and should be released soon, but he does not know exactly when.
Huggins injured himself in a fall in his Las Vegas hotel room Friday.
He was in Nevada on a recruiting trip.
NBA-ROCKETS/YAO
Yao may quit if foot doesn't heal properly
BEIJING (AP) -- Yao Ming sounded far from optimistic about his future in comments to Chinese state media.
The Houston Rockets 7-foot-6 center is considering quitting basketball after next season if he doesn't fully recover from his lingering foot injury.
Yao turns 30 in September and missed last season following foot surgery. He is set to return to the Rockets after deciding not to opt out of the final year of his contract. Though he has said his recovery was going well, the Rockets have signed 7-foot veteran Brad Miller to share the work at center.
Yao all but ruled out playing for China in the 2012 London Olympics.
NBA-TIMBERWOLVES/FLYNN SURGERY
Flynn gets fixed
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Jonny Flynn has undergone surgery on his left hip.
Flynn was injured in the second-to-last game of last season. He missed the final game of the season and aggravated the injury while working out with the team before summer league play.
The team says it does not have a specific timetable for his return to the court.
OLYMPICS-LONDON 2012
Two years and counting
LONDON (AP) -- London is marking the two-year countdown to the 2012 Summer Games by throwing open venues to star athletes, issuing a call for 70,000 volunteers and opening the first official Olympic store for sale of mascots and other souvenirs.
Activities are planned across the city to celebrate the buildup to the opening ceremony on July 27, 2012, when London will welcome the world to the greatest sports show on earth.
Organizers are launching the Olympic volunteer program and urging people to apply for specialist positions such as doctors, anti-doping personnel and scoreboard operators. The signup for more general volunteer positions will open on Sept. 15.
NHL-NEWS
Isles and Moulson have a deal
UNDATED (AP) -- New York Islanders left wing Matt Moulson has avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $2.45 million.
General manager Garth Snow says Moulson played an "integral" role last season and is part of the team's "young core of players."
Moulson led the Islanders with a career-high 30 goals as New York finished last in the Atlantic Division. His 48 points were fourth on the team. Moulson was one of three Islanders to play all 82 games.
Also:
The Rangers are adding some offensive punch by agreeing to terms with free agent forward Alexander Frolov on a one-year deal worth $3 million.
The 28-year-old winger spent his first seven NHL seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. Frolov has scored over 20 goals five times but is coming off a disappointing one in which he had only 19 goals and 32 assists in 81 games.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-PITINO
Alleged extortionist returning to court
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- It's day two in the trial of the woman accused of trying to extort Rick Pitino. The lawyer for the University of Louisville basketball coach says his client may testify this afternoon or Wednesday.
Former federal prosecutor Steve Pence tells The Associated Press that Pitino's testimony could last at least half a day in the case of Karen Cunagin Sypher (SY'-fur). Pitino was not at the trial yesterday.
The 50-year-old Sypher has pleaded not guilty to extortion, retaliating against a witness and lying to the FBI.
In opening statements yesterday, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kuhn said Sypher lied repeatedly in an attempt to extort millions from Pitino, then traded sexual favors and lied again to cover up her crime.
NASCAR-JTG/AMBROSE
Ambrose moving on
HARRISBURG, N.C. (AP) -- Marcos Ambrose is leaving JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of the season. This is the Australian's fifth year with the team.
Ambrose started with JTG in the Truck Series, and helped it expand to NASCAR's premier Sprint Cup Series.
Ambrose debuted with the team in a 2006 truck race at Martinsville. He won two Nationwide Series races for JTG, and nearly won the Cup race at Sonoma last month. He lost the race when, while trying to conserve fuel under caution, he turned his engine off and couldn't maintain reasonable speed.
Ambrose did not say where he will drive next season, but he's believed to be close to finalizing a deal with Petty Enterprises.
CYCLING-ARMSTRONG/DOPING
Feds seek records from '04 Armstrong doping case
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Federal investigators have subpoenaed documents from a 2004 arbitration case in which a Dallas-based company tried to prove Lance Armstrong used performance enhancing drugs.
Attorney Jeffrey Tillotson handled the case for SCA Promotions Inc.. He says his office will send the documents to federal prosecutors in Los Angeles who are investigating cheating in professional cycling.
The records include depositions from former Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, former Armstrong teammate Frankie Andreu (an-DRAY'-oo) and his wife, and testimony from Armstrong and his business associates.
SCA wanted to avoid paying Armstrong a $5 million performance bonus. The case ended with SCA paying Armstrong $7.5 million.
PGA-WYNDHAM/CELL PHONES
Wyndham to act as guinea pig
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- Golf fans will be able to bring their cell phones onto the course at next month's Wyndham Championship.
Officials of the PGA tournament says they'll allow fans to use mobile phones at Sedgefield Country Club as long as the devices are kept in silent mode and calls are made only in designated areas around the course. Also, fans won't be allowed to take pictures or video during the four competitive rounds.
Tournament director Mark Brazil is a member of the PGA Tour's tournament advisory council and he says the group discussed changing the cell phone policy after some fans complained they were out of touch with their families and businesses without their mobile devices. He says the tour has confidence in his event's network of volunteers and security workers to enforce the trial rules.