Atlanta Falcons part ways with Vick
Football: Less than five years after the Atlanta Falcons signed Michael Vick to a $130 million contract, the suspended quarterback was released in a 98-word statement.
Before Friday’s announcement – a move that clears Vick to sign with any NFL team – general manager Thomas Dimitroff called the team’s former franchise player.
Dimitroff said Vick, who has missed two seasons while serving a prison sentence for running a dogfighting ring, deserved to hear first about his release. He said Vick “was upbeat” in the short conversation and was looking forward to moving on.
•Vikings keep on Favre: The Minnesota Vikings are planning to send a trainer and a coach to Mississippi to work with Brett Favre, ESPN reported.
The purpose of the trip is to assess the quarterback’s progress since he had arthroscopic surgery two weeks ago to repair a partially torn biceps tendon in his right arm, the network reported, citing an unidentified source.
•Redskins cut Thrash: Veteran receiver James Thrash was released by the Washington Redskins after failing a physical.
Tide’s winning tradition takes a hit
College Football: The NCAA hit Alabama’s football program where it hurts – the Tide’s famed history.
The Crimson Tide will slip a notch in the record books if university officials don’t appeal NCAA sanctions that would force the program to vacate 21 wins for misuse of textbooks acquired by student-athletes for free using their scholarships.
Though Alabama escaped sanctions that would keep the team from bowl games or competing for championships, the university is considering lodging an appeal.
Without a successful appeal, the program famed for Bear Bryant, national and conference titles no longer can boast more bowl wins than any other school after having to vacate a 2006 Cotton Bowl win over Texas Tech. That drops the Tide’s bowl win total to 30. Southern California tops the list after gaining win No. 31 against Penn State in the Rose Bowl.
•NCAA ordered to release letter: The NCAA must release copies of its response to Florida State’s appeal of penalties stemming from academic violations, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said.
In a letter addressed to NCAA president Myles Brand, the attorney general said failure to release the contents of the letter or provide access to them could result in a $1,000 fine, a year in jail, or both.
Nordqvist leads LPGA Championship
Golf: Anna Nordqvist made a 36-foot birdie putt on the final hole to break a tie with Nicole Castrale and take the lead after two rounds of the LPGA Championship in Havre de Grace, Md.
Nordqvist, a rookie from Sweden who played at Arizona State, began the day in second place – one stroke behind Castrale.
Starting on No. 10, Nordqvist birdied three of the first eight holes before losing momentum.
She was 2 over during a nine-hole stretch before making her 11th birdie of the tournament, on No. 9, to move to 8-under-par 136.
Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., missed the cut after shooting a 75.
•Storm stalls St. Jude: Brian Gay shot a 4-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead over Bryce Molder and Robert Allenby in the suspended second round of the St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn., leaving Phil Mickelson six strokes back at TPC Southwind.
Gay, who opened with a 64, had a 10-under 130 total. Molder shot a 63, and Allenby was 5 under for the day and 8 under overall with three holes to play during the round that was stopped after severe thunderstorms hit the area.
Jackson leads Seattle over Minnesota
Miscellany: Lauren Jackson had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Seattle Storm to an 88-71 victory over Minnesota in Minneapolis, handing the Lynx their first loss of the season.
Tanish Wright scored 17 points and Sue Bird and Swin Cash added 15 each for the Storm who shot 57 percent (35 for 62) from the field.
•Frederick dies from injuries: Bob Frederick, who took criticism for hiring an obscure assistant named Roy Williams as Kansas basketball coach and later helped create the Big 12 Conference, died Friday night following a bicycling accident. He was 69.
An accomplished cyclist, Frederick was riding on a city street in Lawrence, Kan., Thursday evening when he hit a pothole, flew over the handlebars and struck the pavement. He was taken by helicopter to the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., with massive head injuries.
•Phelps cruises to victory: Michael Phelps easily won the 200-meter butterfly at the Santa Clara (Calif.) International Grand Prix.
Phelps touched first in 1 minute, 54.37 seconds in the night’s final, beating the field by 5.61 seconds.