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

Newsmakers

From Staff And Wire Reports

Signed New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker said Tuesday he signed the $9.5 million tender offer that came along with being designated the team’s franchise player. Welker made the announcement on Twitter. Welker led the NFL with 122 receptions and was second with 1,569 yards receiving.

• The Seattle Seahawks agreed to terms with veteran offensive lineman Alex Barron following Barron’s tryout during Seattle’s rookie minicamp last weekend. Seattle announced the agreement with Barron and three others. The Seahawks also agreed to terms with tight end Cooper Helfet, cornerback Donny Lisowski and tackle Andrew Mitchell. Barron was the 19th overall pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2005 and was a starter for St. Louis through the 2009 season. Barron spent the 2010 season with Dallas and was on injured reserve last season.

Qualified The U.S. beach volleyball team of April Ross and Jennifer Kessy qualified for their first Olympics, joining fellow Americans and two-time gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor in the tournament.

Died Thoroughbred owner Peter Fuller died of cancer in Portsmouth, N.H. He was 89. Fuller owned Dancer’s Image, who won the 1968 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified days later. Fuller, son of a former Massachusetts governor, watched Dancer’s Image rally from last to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Forward Pass. A few days later, traces of the drug phenylbutazone were found in Dancer’s Image’s post-race urinalysis. Dancer’s Image was disqualified by the stewards and placed last. Forward Pass was declared the winner. The medication, known as “bute,” is now common and given to alleviate chronic pain and joint soreness, not to enhance performance. It was legal on race days in most jurisdictions in 1968, but not Kentucky. The scandal raised all sorts of theories, including Fuller’s staunch belief that his role in the civil rights movement might have sparked the disqualification.

Fined NASCAR fined Kurt Busch $50,000 for reckless driving on pit road at Darlington and a postrace altercation with Ryan Newman’s crew members.