Barbaro’s prognosis said to be poor

He still looks every bit the champion. Only the fiberglass casts on both of Barbaro’s hind legs are indicators of something terribly wrong.

“His ears are up, he’s bright, he’s looking around,” Dr. Dean Richardson said Thursday. “If you look at this horse, it’d be hard to put him down.”

That precisely is the heartbreaking task that could be imminent because of a hoof disease so serious Richardson said the Kentucky Derby winner is “a long shot” to survive.

“It could happen within 24 hours,” Richardson said during a news conference at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center.

Richardson said Barbaro has a severe case of laminitis in his left hind leg – a painful, often fatal disease caused by uneven weight distribution in the limbs.

“If he starts acting like he doesn’t want to stand on the leg, that’s it. That will be when we call it quits,” he said.

Richardson, who has treated Barbaro since the colt suffered catastrophic injuries in the Preakness on May 20, said 80 percent of the horse’s left hoof wall was removed Wednesday with the sudden onset of the disease.

“I’d be lying if I said anything other than poor,” he said.

Soccer

Materazzi faces investigation by FIFA

FIFA said it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Marco Materazzi for his conduct in Italy’s victory in the World Cup final.

World soccer’s governing body said it opened the investigation because of statements by France’s Zinedine Zidane, who was sent off Sunday for head-butting Materazzi in the chest.

Zidane claimed he was provoked by insults from Italy’s Materazzi.

Track and Field

Jones tied to alleged check scheme

Bank records connect star sprinter Marion Jones to an alleged check-counterfeiting scheme that led to criminal charges against her coach and ex-boyfriend Tim Montgomery.

Documents filed in a federal court in Manhattan show a $25,000 check made out to Jones was deposited in her bank account from a Virginia man whom prosecutors have accused of enlisting friends and business partners to help launder the proceeds of the multimillion-dollar plot.

Football

Lions agree to terms with tackle Backus

Veteran offensive tackle Jeff Backus agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions on a six-year contract with $15.5 million guaranteed.

•Former Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the NFL’s supplemental draft.

•Jessica Mendoza homered twice and drove in six runs as the U.S. beat Britain 14-0 in the World Cup of Softball at Oklahoma City.