<strong><span class="subhead">NBA gambling report released</span></strong></p><p>A review of the NBA&#8217;s officiating program found no evidence of illegal activity by any referee other than <strong>Tim Donaghy. </strong></p><p>The report, compiled over 14 months by former federal prosecutor <strong>Lawrence Pedowitz, </strong>uncovered no evidence showing that referees manipulated the outcome of games, rebutting a claim made by Donaghy&#8217;s lawyers.</p><p>The report did say that referees had engaged in legal gambling in forms other than betting on NBA games. Pedowitz offered several recommendations, including the creation of an anonymous hot line for gambling information and the monitoring of games for suspicious activity. The report said the league should also work to eliminate the appearance of bias and make the referees more accessible to the news media and the fans.</p><p>Donaghy is serving a 15-month sentence.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Let the jockeying begin</span></strong></p><p><strong>Lance Armstrong </strong>has to earn a leadership role with his new Astana cycling team and may have to play a supporting part to <strong>Alberto Contador</strong>, team manager <strong>Johan Bruyneel </strong>said Thursday.</p><p>&#8220;Alberto &#8230; is currently the best professional cyclist in the world,&#8221; Bruyneel said on Astana&#8217;s Web site. &#8220;That being said &#8230; At the end of the day, the strongest rider will be supported.&#8221;</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Deaf to get &#8216;aural content&#8217;</span></strong></p><p>A federal district judge has ruled that the Americans With Disabilities Act requires Washington&#8217;s NFL team to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing fans with &#8220;equal access to aural content&#8221; such as music lyrics, ads and other broadcasts on the public-address system.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Sproles wins AFC honor</span></strong></p><p>Former Kansas State and Olathe North star <strong>Darren Sproles </strong>was selected AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September. Sproles ranks second in the NFL with a 32.4-yard average for 14 kickoff returns, including a touchdown. On Sept. 14 at Denver, Sproles&#8217; 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown tied a Chargers record that has stood since 1962.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Venus Williams advances</span></strong></p><p><strong>Venus Williams </strong>reached the Porsche Grand Prix quarterfinals by defeating <strong>Kateryna Bondarenko</strong> 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday. <strong>Jelena Jankovic </strong>won her first match, defeating <strong>Alona Bondarenko</strong> 6-2, 6-0.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Elsewhere</span></strong></p><p>&#8226;Shortstop<strong> Eddie Brinkman</strong>, 66, who played for the Senators, Tigers, Cardinals and Yankees, died Sept. 30, apparently of a heart ailment.</p><p>&#8226;Connecticut freshman basketball player <strong>Nate Miles</strong>, who violated a restraining order last month, has been expelled.