September 25, 2008 in Sports

Armstrong will ride with Astana in Tour de France

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Associated Press photo

Lance Armstrong has committed to ride for Astana in 2009 in his quest for an eighth Tour de France title.
(Full-size photo)

Lance Armstrong is chasing an eighth Tour de France title and an elusive feat: persuading everyone he’s clean.

As Armstrong reunites with his close friend and Astana team director Johan Bruyneel, the man behind his yellow jerseys, he’s also adding a new member to his support group. Anti-doping expert Don Catlin has been hired to test Armstrong anytime, anywhere – and to post the results online for the world to see.

“I think it’s the first time an athlete can actually be totally validated on the chance he’s successful,” Armstrong said Wednesday. “In my opinion, Don Catlin is beyond reproach.”

Armstrong revealed details of his comeback two weeks after saying he would end a three-year retirement. He’ll ride for Astana and will compete in the Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Australia, in January.

Astana was banned from this year’s Tour because of past doping violations. But Pat McQuaid, the leader of cycling’s governing body, said he believed the team would be allowed to return in 2009.

The makeup of the 2009 Astana team is unclear. Alberto Contador, the 2007 Tour de France champ, suggested Tuesday that the two elite riders couldn’t coexist on the same team.

Neben wins time trial: American Amber Neben won the time trial world championship in Varese, Italy, finishing ahead of Christiane Soeder of Austria.

Judith Arndt of Germany took the bronze.

Kristin Armstrong of the U.S. and the University of Idaho sought to add a world title to her Olympic gold, but finished fifth.

Football

Bills lose Parrish

Buffalo Bills receiver Roscoe Parrish will miss four to six weeks after having surgery to repair ligament damage in his right thumb.

Coach Dick Jauron made the surprise announcement one day after Parrish had what was described as a brief but intricate operation. Jauron said Parrish told him he was hurt early in the fourth quarter of a 24-23 win over Oakland last weekend.

Anderson still the man: There wasn’t any satisfaction in Derek Anderson’s voice and no outward display of happiness. For a guy who nearly lost his starting job, Cleveland’s easygoing quarterback was seemingly unchanged.

While others were calling – some were screaming – for the winless Browns to bench the ineffective Pro Bowler and turn things over to popular backup Brady Quinn, Anderson had no doubt he would start this week at Cincinnati.

“There wasn’t any uncertainty in my mind,” Anderson said after coach Romeo Crennel announced he was sticking with the 25-year-old – for now.

Taylor on crutches: Sporting crutches and an Ace bandage, Washington Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor spoke for the first time about the emergency procedure that followed Sunday’s 24-17 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Taylor was kicked in the calf in the second quarter of the game but didn’t think it was anything serious until pain and numbness set in later that night.

At 3 a.m., he went to Virginia Hospital Center, where a mass of blood near his ankle was diagnosed as compartmental syndrome.

Doctors drained the blood in a 20-minute operation. The pressing medical issue was solved, but Taylor will be sidelined for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys – and possibly longer – while he recuperates.

Bryant’s infant son dies: Matthew Tryson Bryant, the 3-month-old son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant, died.

“I don’t have a lot of details,” coach Jon Gruden said after practice. “It’s just a horrible tragedy, and I can’t explain it.”

Bryant, a seventh-year pro in his fourth season with Tampa Bay, kicked a winning field goal in overtime against Chicago last Sunday. Two years ago, he made the third-longest field goal in NFL history, a 62-yarder to beat Philadelphia.

Miscellany

France plans to bid

France will bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The French Olympic Committee agreed to bid for the games. Grenoble, Nice and Annecy are among the expected contenders.

City officials have until mid-October to declare interest, and the French committee will select its candidate in March.

The International Olympic Committee will choose the host city in 2011.

Lang, Wiesner advance: Two-time champion Diane Lang and left-hander Toni Wiesner each won two matches at Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., to advance to the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur final.

The 53-year-old Lang, the 2005 and 2006 winner from Jamaica, beat U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Joan Higgins of Glendora, Calif., 3 and 2 in the quarterfinals, and edged Claudia Pilot of Austin, Minn., 2-up in the semifinals.

The 61-year-old Wiesner, from Fort Worth, Texas, beat Boodie McGurn of Richmond, Va., 3 and 2 in the quarterfinals, and topped qualifying medalist Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas 2 and 1 in the semifinals.

Marucci, Zahringer reach final: Buddy Marucci and George Zahringer advanced to the final of the Senior Amateur Championship, winning quarterfinal and semifinal matches at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

Marucci, the runner-up to Tiger Woods in the 1995 U.S. Amateur, eliminated 17-time Shady Oaks club champion John Grace 3 and 2 in the morning quarterfinals, then beat Frank Ford III of Charleston, S.C., 2-up in the afternoon semifinals.

Zahringer, the 55-year-old New Yorker who won the 2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur, edged Joe Keller 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals, and topped Randy Nichols of Connersville, Ind., 1-up in the semifinals with a par on No. 18.

Penguins’ Gonchar out: Defenseman Sergei Gonchar, 34, will be kept out of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup at least through the regular-season opener in two weeks because of a dislocated left shoulder.

Gonchar, who sustained the injury during the first period of the Penguins’ preseason opener Saturday, led the reigning Eastern Conference champions in ice time last season and was third on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 53 assists.

Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero said surgery is an option.

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