Fast Break
NFL
‘Madden NFL’ goes with two
For the first time in its storied (some say cursed) history, the cover of EA Sports’ “Madden NFL” video game will feature two cover athletes: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
The shared cover of “Madden NFL 10,” which arrives in stores Aug. 14, has something for everyone: Polamalu is a defensive AFC player and Fitzgerald an offensive NFC player.
Both played in last season’s Super Bowl, which the Steelers won 27-23.
Both athletes are known for their long, helmet-defying hair.
EA’s football franchise is feared for its mysterious “Madden curse.”
Previous cover models like Donovan McNabb, Shaun Alexander and Vince Young have suffered injuries during their “Madden” season.
Fitzgerald, however, was defiant.
“I didn’t think about the curse,” he said. “If both of us have MVP years, everybody will be (champing) at the bit to get on the cover.”
Cycling
French agency drops Lance case
France’s anti-doping agency said Friday it will not seek sanctions against American Lance Armstrong over a dispute with a drug tester.
The agency said in a statement that it “decided to take into consideration the athlete’s written explanations” and will not open disciplinary procedures.
At issue was a 20-minute delay when Armstrong said a drug tester who showed up on March 17 to collect blood, urine and hair samples agreed to let him shower while the American rider’s assistants checked the tester’s credentials.
The anti-doping agency had argued that he did not fully cooperate, but Armstrong has said he did not try to evade or delay testing.
“Just got the word from the French agency AFLD on the shower gate incident,” the seven-time Tour de France winner wrote on social networking site Twitter. “Case closed, no penalty, all samples clean. Onward.”
College football
Red-White game today
Eastern Washington University will hold in annual Red-White spring game at 2 p.m. today at Woodward Field.
Eagles coach Beau Baldwin plans to split his team between offense (Red) and defense (White) and, because of a rash of spring injuries on the defensive side of the football, keep the scrimmage-like workout tightly controlled.
The event is free and open to the public.
It will precede EWU’s annual Orland Killin Dinner, Dance and Auction, which is taking place in partnership with the Michael Roos Foundation and starts at 4:30 p.m.