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

Sports in brief: Vick added to 53-man roster

Football: Michael Vick can throw passes to his teammates instead of ball boys.

The Philadelphia Eagles elevated Vick to the team’s 53-man roster Tuesday, a move that allows the quarterback to practice with the team.

Wide receiver Hank Baskett was released to make room for Vick, who is eligible to play Sept. 27 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Vick will begin practicing with the team Wednesday, though he cannot play in Sunday’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints. Vick was suspended for the first two regular-season games as the final league penalty for his role in running a dogfighting ring.

Kevin Kolb is expected to take the snaps with the starters Wednesday because Donovan McNabb has a cracked rib. Jeff Garcia was signed to back up Kolb in case McNabb can’t play.

Vick hasn’t played in a regular-season game since Dec. 31, 2006 when he was with the Atlanta Falcons.

Associated Press

Senior men kick off skating

Figure skating: The senior men’s competition will kick off the first day of competition at the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in the Spokane Arena Jan. 15.

The event schedule, released Tuesday, has the senior events taking place over two weekends, with senior-level men’s and pairs the first weekend (Jan. 15-17), and senior-level ladies and ice dancing the second weekend (Jan. 21-23).

Over the course of nine days, the event will crown 12 national champions in ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dancing on the senior, junior and novice levels.

Tickets are on sale and are available by visiting the Spokane Arena box office, or online at www.spokane2010.com.

Complete schedule, B4

Cheney, LL land big donation

Youth sports: The city of Cheney and West Plains Little League have been selected as winners of the Farmers Insurance Group’s “Improve A Field Contest.” In partnership with 710 ESPN Seattle, Farmers will donate $10,000 toward building baseball fields for youth in Cheney.

The West Plains Little League was founded in 2004 and began its first year with 330 players aged 5-12. The league now has more than 570 players aged 5-14.

The rapid growth of the West Plains LL and other youth sports groups has prompted Cheney to build additional fields in the first phase of a 50-acre park site.

Dozens of groups applied for the donation and this is the first time an Eastern Washington community has been selected.