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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Fever slap Storm with first setback

Indiana’s Ebony Hoffman drives past Seattle’s Camille Little.  (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
From Staff And Wire Reports

Basketball: Katie Douglas scored 20 points to lead the Indiana Fever to a 73-66 victory over the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.

Ebony Hoffman scored 18 and Tamika Catchings added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Fever (1-2), who avoided their worst start since 2001 and snapped a three-game losing streak against the Storm.

Indiana’s Yolanda Griffith suffered a left ankle injury in the first quarter and did not return.

Lauren Jackson had 21 points, Swin Cash scored 14 and Sue Bird added 10 points and five assists for Seattle (2-1).

The Fever used a 7-2 run to extend their lead to 65-56 in the fourth quarter. Douglas, playing with a left eye contusion, hit a jumper to give Indiana a 69-60 advantage with 4 minutes left.

Indiana’s Briann January (Lewis and Clark High) had four rebounds and two assists in 13 minutes.

Seahawks sign QB Teel, DE Reed

Football: The Seattle Seahawks have signed sixth-round draft choice Mike Teel and another of their seventh-round picks from April to four-year contracts.

The team announced that Teel, a quarterback from Rutgers, joined defensive end Nick Reed in signing deals seven weeks before the start of training camp. The signing of seventh-round safety Courtney Greene, Teel’s teammate at Rutgers, was announced Monday.

Teel was the 178th overall selection. Greene was the 245th pick. Reed was the 247th choice, from Oregon.

Four others draft picks remained unsigned, including fourth overall choice Aaron Curry.

Lawyer claims NFL treats his clients differently: Minnesota Vikings players Kevin Williams and Pat Williams are being improperly singled out by the NFL for extra steroids testing, their lawyer said in Minneapolis.

Attorney Peter Ginsberg said he filed papers Monday in Hennepin County District Court asking Judge Gary Larson to say the NFL can’t treat the Williamses differently from other players while the long court battle over their suspensions continues.

Green’s brother, girlfriend die

Golf: Pro golfer Ken Green’s brother and girlfriend were killed in a recreational vehicle accident in which Green also was hurt.

Green was driving on Interstate 20 near Hickory, Miss., on Monday when the right front tire of his RV blew out. Green was unable to control the vehicle and ran off the road and down an embankment before hitting a large oak tree.

Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Jon Kalahar said passengers William Y. Green, of Indiantown, Fla., and Jean Marie Hodgin, of Greensboro, N.C., were killed in the wreck. William Green is Ken Green’s brother and caddie. Hodgin was the golfer’s girlfriend.

Report: Mayfield had meth in system

Auto racing: Jeremy Mayfield tested positive for methamphetamines during a random drug test at Richmond International Raceway on May 1, ESPN.com reported.

The story cited two independent sources providing the information Monday night.

Because of a gag order issued by a North Carolina judge on May 29, neither party is allowed to discuss Mayfield’s test results.

NASCAR suspended Mayfield from driving the No. 41 Mayfield Motorsports Toyota on May 9 for a violation of its substance-abuse policy. Mayfield’s attorneys said in May that NASCAR’s test results indicated he tested positive for amphetamines.

Andretti, Patrick patch things up: Marco Andretti said there might have been a few hard feelings aimed at Andretti Green Racing teammate Danica Patrick after Saturday night’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, but they already were forgotten.

“I just said what I was feeling,” Andretti said during a break in IndyCar testing at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. “I was frustrated. But we talked it out. It’s not the first time it’s happened and it’s not the last time it’s going to happen.”

“Marco and I are fine,” Patrick said. “It’s definitely nothing new to have drivers out there pushing and competing for positions and having differences about things.”

After Saturday’s race, Andretti expressed frustration with Patrick. Andretti finished a season-best fourth and Patrick was sixth, but they were battling side by side late in the race for fifth.

Overbrook Farm will sell its horses

Horse racing: A major Kentucky thoroughbred farm that houses the great stallion Storm Cat announced it is selling off nearly its entire stock of about 200 horses.

Overbrook Farm owner Bill Young Jr. explained he just wasn’t cut out to continue operating a thoroughbred breeding facility with the same drive as his late father, William T. Young, who founded it nearly four decades ago.

Dunkirk had minor surgery: Belmont Stakes runner-up Dunkirk had surgery for a leg injury but is expected to return to racing as early as this fall.

Dunkirk fractured his left hind cannon bone during Saturday’s race and had surgery to insert a screw to stabilize the leg. Trainer Todd Pletcher said he anticipates a full recovery.

Nadal takes aim at Wimbledon

Tennis: Rafael Nadal will travel to London on Tuesday in hopes of defending his Wimbledon title despite having played with pain in his knees for months.

The top-ranked Spaniard said in a statement that after two days of medical tests in Barcelona, Spain, he has decided to try physical therapy to prepare for the tournament, which starts June 22.

“I am going to give my 200 percent to be ready for the most important tournament in the world,” Nadal said. “I will not go out and play, especially on the Wimbledon Centre Court, if I am not 100 percent ready to play.

Relocation fee could halt Coyotes’ move

Hockey: A relocation fee imposed by the NHL could ruin Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie’s bid to buy the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes and move them to Hamilton, Ontario.

The potential fee was a consistent topic during a 61/2-hour hearing on the team’s fate in U.S. Bankruptcy Court at Phoenix.