In brief: USC center sidelined with torn triceps
Southern California center Matt Spanos has a torn right triceps and won’t play Saturday night when the top-ranked Trojans open their season against Idaho.
That means that Spanos, a fifth-year senior, will have to wait before making his first career start.
He will be replaced by Jeff Byers, who will move to center from left guard. Alatini Malu probably will start at left guard.
“An 82-year-old Texas woman who pleaded guilty to trying to extort $2 million from Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr was sentenced in San Antonio to one-year probation.
A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Ruby Y. Young to not have any contact with Starr or his family or contact the media about an alleged relationship she had with the two-time Super Bowl MVP in 1960.
Court documents show Young sent a 3 1/2-page letter to Starr in October 2006 that read, in part, “And now, the time has come for you to pay – to pay for the many injuries you caused me.”
Basketball
Mercury take Game 1
Cappie Pondexter scored 26 points – including two crucial free throws with 2.1 seconds left – to lift the Phoenix Mercury to a 102-100 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Thursday night in San Antonio
Diana Taurasi scored 20 points, including 4-for-7 shooting on 3s, for top-seeded Phoenix. Penny Taylor added 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Hammon had 32 points for the Silver Stars.
“Kobe Bryant scored 27 points – 15 in the first quarter – and the United States cruised into the semifinals of the FIBA Americas tournament as the No. 1 seed by beating Argentina 91-76 at Las Vegas.
“Mike Montgomery, the winningest coach in Stanford men’s basketball history, will return to the school as an assistant to the athletic director.
Baseball
Garcia’s season ends
Freddy Garcia cost the Philadelphia Phillies $10 million for one win.
The two-time All-Star right-hander and former Seattle Mariner had season-ending shoulder surgery nearly three months after he threw his last pitch for the Phillies.
Renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews performed the operation on Garcia’s labrum in Birmingham, Ala. Acquired from the Chicago White Sox for two minor leaguers, Garcia was expected to be Philly’s ace. Instead, he was 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA in 11 starts.
“The Texas Rangers exercised their 2009 option on rookie manager Ron Washington’s contract.
Miscellany
Steinhauer takes lead
Sherri Steinhauer shot a 5-under-par 67 in windy conditions at Springfield, Ill., to take a one-stroke lead in the LPGA State Farm Classic, while Annika Sorenstam was four shots back in defense of her last tour title.
Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum shot a 2-over 74 and Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., was at 4 over.
“Regan Smith was finalizing a deal to drive the No. 01 for Dale Earnhardt Inc. next season.
DEI president Max Siegel has previously said that Smith was on his short list of candidates for the No. 01, which DEI acquired in last month’s merger with Ginn Racing.
“Joe Gibbs Racing has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday and several published reports say the team will announce it has signed a deal to field Toyotas in the Nextel Cup series.
“World Wrestling Entertainment has suspended 10 of its most popular stars for violations of a policy that tests for steroids and other drugs, the company said.
“Australia’s sports doping agency has cleared champion swimmer Ian Thorpe of doping charges that arose last year.
“Richard Sukuta-Pasu scored a pair of second-half goals, and Germany eliminated the United States soccer team from the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with a 2-1 victory in Cheonan, South Korea.