Newsmakers

Selected Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore headed a 24-man roster announced to train for the United States before World Cup qualifiers next month against Costa Rica and Honduras. Brian Ching, a Gonzaga product now playing forward for the Houston Dynamos of Major League Soccer, was also selected to the roster. The U.S. team, seeking its sixth straight World Cup berth, plays at Costa Rica on June 3 and then hosts Honduras three days later at Chicago’s Solider Field. The Americans plan to announce their roster for the Confederations Cup on June 7, a day before leaving for the eight-nation World Cup warmup tournament in South Africa.

•David Beckham was among 24 players picked Sunday for England’s roster for World Cup qualifiers next month. Beckham, on loan to AC Milan from Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy, has 17 goals in 110 international appearances. The 34-year-old midfielder hopes to play at next year’s World Cup, where he could break goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s record of 125 games for England.

Recovering The agent of Steelers linebacker James Harrison says the player’s young son is doing fine in a Pittsburgh hospital three days after an attack by a pit bull. Harrison’s agent, William Parise, says the family hopes that 2-year-old James Harrison III will be released today.

Charged Miami Dolphins defensive end Randy Starks has been charged with using his truck to hit a police officer who tried to stop the vehicle on foot. Miami Beach (Fla.) Police say the officer tried to stop the 25-year-old player when he was driving a truck packed with 13 people early Sunday in heavy traffic. They say the vehicle was meant for four people. Police say Starks kept slowly moving forward even as the officer was beside the truck. They say Starks swerved the vehicle slightly, hitting the officer in the chest and pinning him against another vehicle. The officer wasn’t injured, but Starks was charged with aggravated battery and remained in a Miami jail Sunday afternoon.