Defensive tackle Sapp retires after 13 years

Warren Sapp’s 13-year NFL career officially ended when his retirement was posted on the Oakland Raiders’ Web site. Sapp said immediately after last season that he was through playing, but did not file the paper work. The posting on the team’s site was the first official word that the star defensive tackle was done.

In January, the 35-year-old defensive tackle posted a two-word message on his Web site: “I’M DONE!” He had told teammates and coaches his plans after the season finale against San Diego.

•Carolina Panthers guard Jeremy Bridges has dropped the appeal of his misdemeanor assault conviction after learning he would not face penalties from the NFL.

•Buddy Dial, a star receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers who also played for the Dallas Cowboys, has died. He was 71. Dial died Friday in a Houston hospital. He had been hospitalized recently for treatment of cancer and pneumonia.

Basketball

Dukes center ails

Duquesne Dukes center Shawn James has torn cartilage in his right shoulder, and his status is uncertain for the rest of the season.

The labrum tear was found during an MRI exam.

•John Wooden had a new cast put on his broken left wrist and the 97-year-old UCLA coaching great’s vital signs were good, his daughter Nan Muehlhausen said.

He remained hospitalized at an undisclosed location.

Auto racing

Hendrick blasts track

Team owner Rick Hendrick thinks NASCAR should not return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway until the retaining wall Jeff Gordon slammed into is improved.

Track officials said owner Bruton Smith was assessing the walls and anticipated having SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barriers installed along the inside before the Truck Series race there in September.

•A NASCAR appeals committee reduced the penalties for two Nationwide Series crew chiefs punished for violations found before the season-opening race.

Newt Moore, crew chief for Johnny Sauter at Phoenix Racing, had his suspension reduced from six weeks to two weeks.

Charlie Wilson, crew chief for Cale Gale at Kevin Harvick Inc., had his $15,000 fine reduced to $5,000.

Miscellany

Skier’s leg amputated

Austrian skier Matthias Lanzinger’s lower left leg was amputated because of complications from two broken bones in a crash at a World Cup race.

Lanzinger broke his shin and fibula Sunday during a super-G. The double fracture severely damaged blood vessels, hampering circulation in the 27-year-old skier’s leg.

•Norway’s Kjetil Backen was the first musher to reach the checkpoint at Nikolai in Talkeetna, Alaska, checking in at 10:39 a.m. with 15 dogs in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

•Popular longtime sportswriter Bob Moran died at his Chandler, Ariz., home after a 31/2-year battle with stomach cancer. He was 55.