Back to web version
Sports Buzz
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Sen. Arlen Specter are scheduled to meet today to discuss the Spygate case involving the New England Patriots. The meeting is scheduled in Specter’s office in Washington. The Pennsylvania Republican has asked Goodell to explain his decision to destroy the tapes and notes from the case, which go back to 2002.
•The Saints re-signed kicker Martin Gramatica, who played for the team in the final three games of 2007. He made all five of his field-goal attempts and will compete with Olindo Mare in training camp.
Investigation of wrestler ended
The Fayette (Ga.) County Sheriff’s Office has closed its investigation into the death of pro wrestler Chris Benoit and is standing by its initial conclusion that Benoit killed his wife and 7-year-old son and then himself last June.
The sheriff’s office indicated there was never any evidence to suggest a different conclusion, but investigators wanted to remove any doubt. A medical examiner was unable to say if steroids played a role in the killings.
Big bucks, not well spent
The most expensive Thoroughbred race horse ever purchased at auction has been retired. The Green Monkey, who sold for a record $16 million two years ago as a 2-year-old and then flopped on the racetrack, will stand at stud in Ocala, Fla., starting in 2009.
The horse, whose grandfather was Storm Cat on his father’s side and Unbridled on his mother’s side, raced just three times. He finished third once and fourth twice. The high price was spurred by an outstanding workout at a 2-year-old sale.
Doper back on track for Britain
Dwain Chambers (below) will run for Britain at the World Indoor Championships after winning a legal fight to get his place on the team. Chambers was banned for two years (2003-05) after testing positive for the steroid THG. He returned to the sport only six months ago.
UK Athletics, the sport’s governing body in Britain, initially said he would not be able to represent the country until he had spent a year proving he was drug free. Chambers, who served his suspension, challenged that ruling. He ran the qualifying time for the 60 meters three times at a meet in Birmingham and won Sunday’s British qualifier.
Quick hits
•Former baseball star Darryl Strawberry will pay more than $430,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest for the tax years 1989 and ’90.
•Former tennis star Ilie Nastase has resigned as head of the Romanian Tennis Federation after he was criticized for spending too much money on a Davis Cup match against France, which Romania lost. He had held the position for eight years.
•Stat of the week: Every PGA Tour winner in 2008 except for Tiger Woods has missed a cut this year.