Fast Break

NFL

Holmes retires due to health

Priest Holmes retired Wednesday, ending a short comeback hailed as one of the most improbable in NFL history.

The 34-year-old three-time Pro Bowl running back said he experienced “symptoms” during last Sunday’s game in Indianapolis similar to those he felt more than two years ago when head and neck injuries put him out of the game for 22 months.

He refused to be specific. Holmes did mention during an often rambling series of answers that paralysis had been a possibility if he kept playing.

Baseball

Pirates drop Phelps off roster

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped Lakeland High School graduate Josh Phelps off their 40-man roster in a surprise move and claimed right-hander Jimmy Barthmaier off waivers from the Houston Astros.

The Pirates firmed up their off-season roster late Tuesday by designating Phelps, right-hander Josh Sharpless and Shane Youman for assignment. Phelps cannot resign with the Pirates until May 15.

Phelps, picked up on waivers from the Yankees last season, hit .351 in 28 games with Pittsburgh and had five homers and 19 RBIs. He hit .436 in 11 spot starts despite being used infrequently by manager Jim Tracy.

Arena football

Shock open at Green Bay

The Spokane Shock will open the 2008 season on the road against the Green Bay Blizzard in a rematch of the 2006 ArenaCup VII.

The arenafootball2 league released the schedule on Tuesday. The Spokane Shock home games will begin at 5 p.m.

The Shock, entering its third year, will open on the road for the first time in franchise history. The last time the Shock played the Blizzard was for the league title in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Shock won 57-34.

The Shock’s first home game will be on April 4 against the Stockton Lightning at the Spokane Arena. The team will close the regular season with the final two games at home on July 19 against Quad City and July 26 against Boise.