Newsmakers

Fined The NFL fined Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis $25,000 on Friday for two separate plays, including a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco. Both plays occurred in the fourth quarter of Baltimore’s 17-14 loss Sunday. The league deemed that Lewis “unnecessarily kicked the opponent” and later “unnecessarily struck a defenseless receiver.”

•The Orlando Magic and coach Stan Van Gundy were fined $35,000 each for his criticism of referees earlier in the week. The fines were announced one day after Van Gundy’s comments about the replacement officials were published.

Suspended South Carolina running back Jarvis Giles was suspended and won’t make the trip to play No. 2 Alabama tonight. Giles violated team and university policy.

Injured An orthopedist will determine whether Cincinnati senior quarterback Tony Pike needs surgery on his left forearm, which would be a major setback for the No. 8 Bearcats. Pike was hurt late in the first half of a 34-17 win at No. 21 South Florida on Thursday night and didn’t play again.

Upheld A ruling by a New Jersey judge set the stage for a second manslaughter trial for former NBA star Jayson Williams, whose lawyers argued that a racial slur and other misconduct by the prosecutor’s office should result in dismissal. State Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman upheld Williams’ convictions for covering up the shooting death of a hired driver and rejected attempts to dismiss a retrial early next year on the manslaughter charge.

Mending Red Wings forward Johan Franzen has undergone successful surgery to repair a ligament in his left knee. Franzen is expected to miss at least four months because of the injury suffered Oct. 8 during Detroit’s 3-2 victory over Chicago.

Testifying NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith will both testify at a Congressional hearing on head injuries among NFL players. The committee will hold its hearing Oct. 28. The decision to hold the hearings follows a preliminary study done for the NFL which suggested retired pro football players may have a higher rate than normal of Alzheimer’s disease or other memory problems.