Armstrong gets off to fast start

Cycling: Lance Armstrong could hardly have imagined a better start to what he’s calling his last Tour de France.

The Texan placed an impressive fourth in the short opening time trial in Rotterdam, Netherlands, shrugging off renewed doping allegations to dust several other likely podium contenders as well as edge rival Alberto Contador, the defending champion and prerace favorite.

Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara, the world and Olympic time trial champion, collected a fourth Tour prologue win and second in a row, clocking 10 minutes even for the 5.5-mile ride on rain-dampened roads in Rotterdam.

Armstrong trailed 22 seconds back in fourth. Perhaps most impressively, the American bested Contador by 5 seconds.

Associated Press

Nowitzki re-ups with Mavericks

NBA: Dirk Nowitzki had a good day.

First, Germany waxed Argentina in the World Cup.

Then, he agreed to terms on a new four-year contract with the Mavericks.

While everybody involved figured there was never a reason for concern, it still was a sigh of relief for Mavericks nation when Nowitzki and adviser Holger Geschwindner agreed to the deal that will keep the 7-foot power forward in Dallas until 2014.

Though terms were not immediately known, the contract could be worth as much as $96 million for four years.

Nowitzki opted out of the final year of his contract, which would have paid him more than $21 million, and became an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.

Dallas Morning News

Hawks’ Ganther arrested for DUI

NFL: Seattle Seahawks running back Quinton Ganther has been released from Sacramento County Jail in California following an early morning arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence.

The Sacramento County Sherriff’s inmate registry showed Ganther, 25, was booked into jail at 6:50 a.m. Saturday and released hours later. His bail had been listed as $1,482.

The Seahawks, who signed Ganther as a free agent this winter from the Washington Redskins, had no comment other than to say they were aware of the situation and gathering information.

He rushed for 199 yards in eight games last season.

Associated Press