Judge rejects Vick’s initial financial plan
Fallen NFL star Michael Vick told a bankruptcy judge Friday in Newport News, Va., that he became a changed man in prison and is determined to do all the right things upon his release from prison, including repaying his creditors with the millions he hopes to resume earning in professional football.
But after more than three hours of testimony in which Vick laid out what he called his “exit strategy,” U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank J. Santoro rejected it. Santoro told Vick to draft a new Chapter 11 plan, one with a bit more certainty.
Santoro said there is no guarantee the league will have the 28-year-old player back, and suggested he start on a new plan by considering liquidating one or both of his Virginia homes and three cars he had planned to keep.
•Paralyzed player dies: Former Baylor defensive back Kyle Woods, paralyzed from the neck down during a practice in 1979, has died in Waco, Texas. He was 49.
Soccer
Sounders star investigated
Prosecutors are reviewing a woman’s claim that Seattle Sounders FC star Fredy Montero raped her twice last month.
Dan Donohoe, a spokesman for the King County prosecutor’s office in Seattle, confirmed that “a matter involving this person has been referred from Bellevue police for review,” and no charging decision had been made.
Bellevue police said a woman reported on March 22 that Montero had raped her early that morning at the Somerset Green townhomes, and that he also raped her on March 15.
Basketball
Heat make playoffs
Dwyane Wade had 27 points and 10 assists, and the Miami Heat clinched a playoff berth a year after an ugly 15-win season by beating the Charlotte Bobcats 97-92 at Charlotte, N.C.
The Heat joined the 1968-69 San Diego Rockets as the second NBA team to reach the playoffs after going 15-67 the season before.
•Magic crush Cavs: Dwight Howard had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their most lopsided loss of the season with a 116-87 blowout at Orlando, Fla.
•Griffin honored: Blake Griffin, the sophomore forward from Oklahoma who led the nation in rebounding, collisions and hustle plays, was the runaway choice as the Associated Press’ college player of the year.
Bill Self, who led Kansas from a decimated national champion to a fifth straight Big 12 title, was selected coach of the year.
•Fox new Georgia coach: Georgia named Nevada’s Mark Fox as its new men’s coach with the goal of transforming a moribund program into a national power.
Longtime assistant David Carter, 42, was promoted to replace Fox as Nevada’s coach.
Hockey
Capitals claim division
The Washington Capitals clinched their second consecutive Southeast Division title despite losing 5-4 to the Buffalo Sabres on Jason Pominville’s breakaway goal 1:51 into overtime at Washington, D.C.
The point awarded for getting to overtime was enough to give the Capitals a nine-point cushion ahead of second-place Carolina.
•Blackhawks earn berth: Nikolai Khabibulin made 25 saves, and Jonathan Toews’ scored his team-leading 32nd goal as the Chicago Blackhawks clinched their first playoff berth in seven years by beating Nashville 3-1 at Chicago.
•Wilson expected to be coach: Ron Wilson of the Toronto Maple Leafs is expected to be named coach of the U.S. Olympic team for next year’s Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C., according to several reports that cited unidentified sources.
Golf
Wind howls at LPGA
Kristy McPherson and Christina Kim teed off well before the wind started gusting and jumped into the lead at 6-under-par 138 at the halfway point of the LPGA Tour’s first major of the season, the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Rancho Mirage, Texas.
Although the wind helped knock first-round leader Brittany Lincicome back a few shots, she was still in contention.
“I survived,” Lincicome said after her round of 74, which was eight shots worse than her opening 66.
Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., shot a 72 and is nine shots back.
•Three share lead: Paul Casey shot a 2-under-par 70 for a share of the lead with Geoff Ogilvy and John Senden at 8 under during the suspended second round of the Shell Houston Open at Humble, Texas.
Auto racing
Reutimann wins pole
David Reutimann has taken Michael Waltrip Racing from a mangled mess at Texas to the front of the field.
Reutimann earned the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the 11/2-mile, high-banked Texas Motor Speedway with a lap of 190.517 mph at Fort Worth, Texas.
A year ago, the No. 00 was driven in Texas qualifying by Cup rookie Michael McDowell, who escaped unscathed from a horrific crash.
Season points leader Jeff Gordon will start his Chevrolet on the outside of the front row after a qualifying lap of 190.194 mph.
•Petty to field car: Richard Petty will make his first foray into the Indianapolis 500 as an owner when he fields a car for John Andretti in next month’s race. Petty will be joining fellow NASCAR team owners Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi at Indy.
Tennis
Federer loses cool
Maybe it was the unpredictable wind or the unreliable forehand or the months of unsatisfactory results. Perhaps it was the sweltering midafternoon sun.
Whatever the reason, Roger Federer reached his boiling point. He raised his racket over his head and slammed it to the concrete, a shocking outburst from the five-time winner of the ATP Tour’s sportsmanship award.
The tirade came during a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 loss to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at the Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne, Fla.
“It has been a tough last year or so,” a red-eyed Federer said shortly after the match.
The No. 3-seeded Djokovic, winner of the 2007 title, will play in the final Sunday against No. 4-seeded Andy Murray.