In brief: Flyers’ Downie given 20-game suspension
Flyers rookie Steve Downie’s NHL debut is on hold. So is Dean McAmmond’s 13-year career.
Downie received a 20-game suspension from the NHL on Friday for leaving his feet during a preseason game in Philadelphia to deliver a deliberate and dangerous hit to the head of the Ottawa forward, one of the longest punishments in league history.
“It’s a hit that as soon you see it live, you think, ‘This is going to be a bad one’,” NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell said.
Golf
Americans falter
Woody Austin had three straight birdies to earn an important halve on a day the International team dominated at the Presidents Cup in Montreal.
The International team won four matches to cut the Americans’ lead to 7-5 after two days.
Vijay Singh and Stuart Appleby led the way by handing Tiger Woods his worst loss in team competition, 5 and 4, although there wasn’t much Woods and Jim Furyk could do. Singh holed out from a bunker and chipped in for eagle, Appleby made a long eagle putt at No. 12 and they combined to go 11 under through 14 holes.
“David Branshaw made 11 consecutive pars in a swirling wind, then birdied his final two holes to take a one-stroke lead at 10-under-par 134 in the PGA’s Viking Classic at Madison, Miss.
“Lorena Ochoa finished with three birdies and trails Stacy Prammanasudh by three strokes after the second round of the Navistar LPGA Classic at Prattville, Ala.
Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., is tied for 10th place at 5-under 139. Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum is at 144.
Basketball
Thomas awaits decision
A jury in New York asked for hundreds of pages of testimony and documents before finishing its first full day of deliberations in the sexual harassment case brought by a former top New York Knicks executive against coach Isiah Thomas.
The panel returns to U.S. District Court in Manhattan to resume its work on Monday.
“Indiana Pacers forward Shawne Williams missed a court hearing stemming from a misdemeanor charge of driving without a license and could face an arrest warrant.
“A federal judge sentenced former NBA player Robert “Tractor” Traylor to three years of probation for preparing a false tax return that hid assets of a convicted drug dealer.
“Tina Thompson scored 14 points and Delisha Milton-Jones added 12 to help the United States rout Canada 85-37 and secure the top seed in Group B at the FIBA Americas tournament in Valdivia, Chile.
Miscellany
Mosley accused
Boxer Shane Mosley is accused of using BALCO designer steroids as part of a doping regimen before a 2003 fight against Oscar De La Hoya, SI.com reported. Mosley won that fight.
“Danish cyclist Michael Rasmussen, kicked out of the Tour de France by his team, had traces of a blood-boosting substance in his system when tested during the race, the French sports daily L’Equipe reported.