In brief: Steelers draft pick robbed at gunpoint

Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall was robbed at gunpoint along the Chicago lakefront early Monday, his mother and agent said.

The running back was not hurt in the robbery, during which two people stole Mendenhall’s wallet and cellular telephone, his mother, Sybil Mendenhall, told the Chicago Tribune.

“He didn’t get hit or anything; he didn’t get hurt or anything,” Sybil Mendenhall said. “He’s fine.”

Police spokesman John Mirabelli said a man and a woman were robbed at the lakefront around 2 a.m. Monday by two offenders, but declined to identify the victims. No one was in custody for the crime, he said.

“Atlanta Falcons linebacker Michael Boley was charged with battery after his wife, Chantelle, accused him of becoming “physical” after an argument.

Boley, 25, was arrested Saturday at his Dacula, Atlanta, home and released on $1,200 bond for the misdemeanor.

Olympics

Protests scrutinized

With the Beijing Games less than 100 days away, the International Olympic Committee clarified its protest rules, saying athletes’ external appearance, clothing and gestures would be scrutinized in China.

The IOC sent a six-point letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Associated Press, to the national Olympic federations in response to their request for interpretations of Rule 51.3 of the Olympic charter. That rule states “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

The letter expanded on the rule, saying: “The conduct of participants at all sites, areas and venues includes all actions, reactions, attitudes or manifestations of any kind by a person or group of persons, including but not limited to their look, external appearance, clothing, gestures, and written or oral statements.

“As in all Olympic Games, such conduct must also, of course, comply with the laws of the host state.”

The IOC letter said that, indeed, Olympic athletes are free to express their opinions, so long as those expressions are in compliance with the Olympic charter.

Miscellany

10k enticing Flanagan

Shalane Flanagan was pretty sure she’d run the 5,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials this summer. After all, she holds the American record and is a two-time U.S. champion in the event.

Suddenly, the 10,000 is looking pretty inviting, too.

Flanagan broke the American record by 17 seconds in her first 10,000-meter race Sunday night, a stirring duel with New Zealand’s Kim Smith at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational at Stanford, Calif.

Flanagan’s time of 30 minutes, 34.49 seconds easily bettered the previous mark of 30:52.32 set by Deena Kastor and was the fastest in the world since 2006. Smith’s clocking of 30:35.54 was a personal best by 45 seconds.

“Minnesota Wild prospect Julien Sprunger scored two power-play goals to lead Switzerland to a 2-1 win over Belarus at the IIHF World Hockey Championship in Quebec City.