Member of Thomas’ family hospitalized
Authorities were called to the home of former New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, where police said a 47-year-old man was taken to the hospital and treated for an accidental overdose of sleeping pills early Friday morning in New York.
Police would not identify the man, except to give his age. But reached on his cell phone the 47-year-old Thomas told the New York Post he had not been treated for a sleeping pill overdose, and that it was his 17-year-old daughter Lauren who had a medical issue.
It “wasn’t an overdose,” he told the newspaper. “My daughter is very down right now. None of us are OK.”
Harrison Police Chief David Hall refuted Thomas’ claim about his daughter to the New York Times on Friday night.
“I understand that this person claims it was his daughter; he is lying,” Hall told the newspaper. “It was definitely not his daughter, it was a male. We know the difference between a 47-year-old black male and a young black female.”
Hall told The Daily News that the man took about 10 Lunesta sleeping pills. “He was unconscious, but breathing on his own,” Hall said.
Football
NFL doping violations surface
New Orleans Saints veterans Deuce McAllister and Will Smith reportedly are among several players who have violated the NFL steroids policy.
Fox 31 television in Denver, citing an unnamed source, reported there are between six and 10 positive tests in the NFL for a weight-loss diuretic. The only names the station mentioned were the two Saints.
ESPN.com, citing two unnamed sources, reported the number is more than 10 and may exceed 15.
•NFL may add games: Roger Goodell wants to lengthen the 16-game regular season. The NFL commissioner knows it won’t happen for a while.
Goodell told a sports conference that an expanded regular season would improve the overall quality of the league and increase fan interest. It can’t happen before the 2010 season and would depend on negotiations with media partners and the players’ union.
The NFL discussed adding one or two more games to the regular season at its owners’ meetings this month, but no decision was made.
•Rodriguez signs deal: First-year Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez is finally under contract with the school.
He signed a six-year deal worth at least $2.5 million annually.
Golf
Oberholser leads in Scottsdale
Arron Oberholser shot a 6-under-par 64 for an 11-under 129 total and a one-stroke lead halfway through the Frys.com Open at Scottsdale, Ariz.
Australian Steve Allan shot a 63 and was a shot back at 10 under.
•Diaz leads in China: American Laura Diaz shot a 9-under 63 to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the Grand China Air in Haikou, China, the LPGA Tour’s first tournament in China.
•James in front at AT&T Championship: England’s Mark James birdied the first six holes on the back nine and shot an 8-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead over Dan Forsman in the AT&T Championship at San Antonio.
•Surgery goes well for Ballesteros: Seve Ballesteros underwent a third operation for a cancerous brain tumor, a 6 1/2 -hour procedure in Madrid, Spain, that went “better than expected.”
Doctors removed the rest of the tumor and reduced brain swelling. The 51-year-old Spanish golf great was in stable condition in the intensive care unit at Madrid’s La Paz Hospital.
Hockey
Coach struck with hockey stick
New York Rangers coach Tom Renney was hit on the head by a stick and briefly lost consciousness during the second period in Columbus, Ohio.
He was taken to the dressing room and didn’t return to the bench, but did watch the second half of the game with medical personnel.
•Briere out: Philadelphia Flyers center Daniel Briere will be sidelined up to a month because of a torn abdominal muscle.
Horse racing
Zenyatta still perfect
Make it 9 for 9 for the unstoppable Zenyatta.
The 4-year-old filly stayed perfect in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic in Arcadia, Calif., roaring from last to first around the turn to win the race.
The event concludes today.
Miscellany
Pairs champions in third
Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker, the defending U.S. pairs champions, were third after the short program at Skate America in Everett. They trailed surprise leaders Maria Mukhortova and Maxim Trankov of Russia.Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, America’s most accomplished ice dancing pair, skated a clean program in the compulsory dance and were second in the standings.
•39-year-old wins title: Giacobbe Fragomeni became a world champion at age 39 when his fight with Rudolf Kraj for the vacant WBC cruiserweight boxing title was stopped in the eighth round at Milan, Italy.
•Bute retains title: Lucian Bute nearly collapsed in the final round and was saved by the bell as he retained his IBF super-middleweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Librado Andrade in Montreal.
•Power takes another pole: Will Power won his third straight Indy 300 pole position today, overtaking Scott Dixon with seconds left in qualifying at Surfers Paradise, Australia.