In brief: Nadal’s knee may force withdrawal
Tennis: Rafael Nadal is having his knees checked by doctors and expects to announce his status for Wimbledon in the coming days.
A posting on Nadal’s Web site said the reigning Wimbledon champion was in Barcelona for medical tests Monday and today. He is expected to make an announcement by Wednesday.
Nadal withdrew from this week’s Wimbledon tuneup at Queen’s Club in London, citing knee trouble. His 31-match winning streak at the French Open ended with a fourth-round loss.
“I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees – that’s no secret – that did not allow me to compete always at 100 percent,” Nadal said Friday, when he pulled out of the Queen’s Club event. “I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon. I hope I can be ready to compete by then.”
Wimbledon starts June 22.
Last year, Nadal beat Roger Federer at the All England Club in the longest men’s championship match in tournament history.
•Ferrero draws wild card: Former top-ranked player Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain has been given a wild card for Wimbledon.
The 2003 French Open champion received a spot in the draw along with 2008 Wimbledon and U.S. Open junior champion Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.
Vikings ask Favre to make decision
Football: The Minnesota Vikings reportedly have told Brett Favre to decide this week if he wants to play this year.
Coach Brad Childress imposed the deadline on the star quarterback, according to ESPN. The network cited two unidentified sources on its Web site. The Sirius NFL Radio network, however, reported later without citing a source that a deadline is not in place.
When Favre retired in February for the second time, he blamed a partially torn biceps tendon for his poor play late in the season for the New York Jets. The three-time NFL MVP said his health was the main reason behind his decision.
With the Vikings interested in bringing him back for a 19th season, however, Favre has reportedly been considering a comeback contingent on the full healing of his throwing arm.
ESPN has reported Favre had arthroscopic surgery in May on his ailing right shoulder, but that it hasn’t responded. The report said the 39-year-old wouldn’t return to the game unless he feels better.
•Seahawks reach deal with Greene: The Seattle Seahawks have their initial contract agreement with a rookie draft choice: seventh-round pick Courtney Greene.
Agent Todd France confirmed in an e-mail to the Associated Press that his client agreed to a four-year contract.
Greene is a safety out of Rutgers. He was an All-Big East Conference selection last season.
•Morgan retires again: Sports agent Drew Rosenhaus said New Orleans Saints linebacker Dan Morgan has decided to retire from the NFL a second time.
•Tennessee examines possible violation: Tennessee is looking into whether it committed another NCAA recruiting violation by allowing media to be present during a meeting between coach Lane Kiffin and recruits.
A segment of ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” which aired Sunday, showed Kiffin in his office with two people identified by the network as recruits.
According to NCAA recruiting rule 13.10.1, “A member institution shall not permit a media entity to be present during any recruiting contact made by an institution’s coaching staff member.”
Daly misses chance to play in U.S. Open
Golf: John Daly makes his return to the PGA Tour this week.
His return to the U.S. Open will have to wait at least another year.
In his first time competing in America since the PGA Tour lifted his six-month suspension, Daly managed only four birdies over 36 holes of a U.S. Open qualifier in Germantown, Tenn. He shot 1-over-par 143 and didn’t come close to getting one of 13 spots available in Tennessee.
The Tennessee sectional had mostly PGA Tour players, with an even larger field in Columbus, Ohio, for those who played the Memorial. Among those qualifying were David Duval, amateur Rickie Fowler of Oklahoma State for the second straight year, and 50-year-old Tom Lehman, who once played in the final group four straight years in the U.S. Open.
Davis Love III, who moved up to No. 45 in the world a week too late, failed to qualify. Also missing out in Ohio was U.S. Amateur champion Danny Lee, who turned down his spot at Bethpage by turning pro.
University of Washington junior Nick Taylor qualified for the second straight year, taking medalist honors during the sectional at Roslyn, Wash.
Petty cuts salaries, reduces workforce
Motorsports: Richard Petty Motorsports laid off nine employees and reduced salaries throughout the organization, a byproduct of Chrysler’s bankruptcy filing.
RPM officials took the measures because of anticipated cutbacks from Dodge, a person familiar with the moves told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding RPM’s contract with Chrysler.
Hearing will address Coyotes’ fate
Hockey: The fight over who will own the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes and where the team will play reaches a critical stage this week with a Canadian billionaire on one side and the National Hockey League on the other.
More than 300 documents have been filed on the case in U.S. Bankruptcy Court since Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes filed for Chapter 11 protection on May 5, much to the surprise of the NHL.
A hearing is scheduled today on whether Judge Redfield Baum should order the team sold to BlackBerry maker Jim Balsillie and moved to Hamilton, Ontario, over the heated objection of the NHL.
Committee approves changes to rules
Basketball: An NCAA committee in Indianapolis has approved three rules changes intended to clarify block-charge calls, who can shoot free throws after an injury and the expanded use of replay.