(Golf)
...Howling winds, soaking rain, bitter cold, soaring scores. Welcome to the British Open-Day 1, in brutal weather in England. Rocco Mediate, who dazzled fans in the sunshine at Torrey Pines, is atop the leaderboard after surviving the elements, shooting a 1-under 69, nailing a 12-foot putt in a crosswind, to get into lst place. He is tied with Grahame McDowell and Robert Allenby. Greg Norman, in semi-retirement, was tied at 70 with Adam Scott amongst others.
Phil Mickelson lost a ball early, took a triple bogey, and lost his composure, shooting a career worst 9-over par 79. Even worse for Ernie Els and VJ Singh and John Daly, all who shot 80, ten over par.
At 1-point the wind was clocked at 25-miles an hour across the course; later in the morning it was 25-miles an hour in their face. An inch of rain fell in a 30-minute span early in the round. Later in the day, the sun came out and wind died down. Golfers this morning wore ski hats, gloves, scarves and hooded sweatshirts on the course. It got so bad, Sandy Lyle and Rich Beem quit in the middle of their round.
(Baseball)
...The San Diego Padres have dealt pinch-hitter Tony Clarke back to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a Double A-pitcher to be named later from Mobile. As part of the deal, Clarke reportedly waived the 500-thousand dollar trade kicker in his contract, but may get an additional year tacked onto his contract with the lst place D-Backs.
...The Seattle Times is reporting the Mariners and Dodgers have had discussions about a deal that would return power hitting 3rd baseman Adrian Beltre to LA. Beltre is due 5-million left on this years contract and 12-million next year; he is hitting .259 and has never matched his Dodgers numbers in the Pacific Northwest. The Mariners reportedly want 3rd baseman Andy LaRoche and shortstop Chin Hu plus cash in the deal.
...The Dodgers are also discussing a deal with the Pirates for shortstop Jack Wilson, hitting .279; the Bucs want pitching in return.
...The last place Padres have Jake Peavy on the mound tonite, opening a grueling 11-game road trip in St-Louis against the Cardinals. The Padres start the second half of the season, having lost 17-of-22 heading into the All Star break.
...Chris Young went a strong 3-plus innings in a rehab start last nite in Lake Elsinore, giving up 1-run and throwing 43-strikes out of 59-pitches.
...The Dodgers, beset by injuries and slumps, open a 6-game road trip in Arizona tomorrow nite. The entire National League is under the .500-mark starting the second half of the season.
...The Angels and Boston open a weekend series tomorrow in Anaheim, in a matchup of lst place teams.
...Injury prone Braves pitcher Mike Hampton pulled a groin last nite during another rehab start, his fifth different injury this season.
...Troy Tulowitzki, hitting just .166, completed a rehab assignment last nite; and could rejoin the Colorado Rockies this weekend; he had been on the DL with severe cuts in his hand from a shattered bat.
...Colorado, beset by pitching staff problems, say Glendon Rusch, Kip Wells and Mark Redman will join their rotation in the next week. All 3 had either been in the minors or on the DL.
...Lawyer Rusty Hardin dismissed reports that drug dealer Brian Radomski had shipping labels for HGH showing it had been mailed to Roger Clemens home. Hardin says it does not prove the legendary pitcher used it, insinuating Debbie Clemens was the abuser.
(Football)
...The NFL wants cell phone records from Brett Favre that may show 7-phone calls made to Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell days after Favre announced he wanted to be released by the Green Bay Packers. The Packers filed tampering charges against the Vikings last nite.
...Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy today said the Green Bay Packers are in the right to decide the status of Brett Favre, and that the player was wrong for changing his mind 3-times in 5-weeks about playing or retiring.
...Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said today last year's coach Bobby Petrino 'disconnected' from his players as soon as the season opened last year and the losing began. Blank also said he still feels betrayed by the lies Michael Vick told him last year about his 5-year involvement in a dog fighting ring.
...The Eagles contract troubles are growing. Bryan Westbrooke fired his agent today, demanding a new contract, a day after Lito Sheppard hired Drew Rosenhaus to represent him.
...Miami Dolphins quarterback Josh McCown has 6-stitches in his injured index finger from a chain saw accident, but says he will be ready to throw in camp a week from now.
...The Kansas City Chiefs have released safety Greg Wesley.
...The Baltimore Ravens signed top draft pick quarterback Joe Flacco to a 5-year-30 million dollar deal with an 8-million bonus.
...In college football.
...UCLA has suspended starting safety Brett Lockett for the start of the season, leaving only 1-secondary starter from last year.
...Florida tailback Percy Harvin, who had emergency surgery on his heel in the spring, has been cleared by doctors for full Gators preseason workouts.
...Indianapolis lawyer Jack Swarbrick, who lured the NCAA headquarters to that city, has now been hired as the new Athletic Director at Notre Dame.
(Basketball)
...The Lakers, looking to change their frontline, have been approached by the Detroit Pistons about a Rasheed Wallace deal straight up for Lamar Odom. Sources say there is a split in the front office, that Phil Jackson wants to move Odom, and GM-Mitch Kupchack wants to keep him. The Lakers-Sacramento Kings trade Odom for Artest is still being discussed.
...Marcus Camby, traded from Denver to the LA Clippers is not happy; he called the trade 'shocking, insulting and degrading'.
...The Phoenix Suns, looking for guard help, are interested in bringing in ex-Clippers guard Sean Livingston, who has been out 2-years with 3-torn knee ligaments. The Suns are also looking at Celtics guard Sam Cassell.
...The Boston Celtics, stung by the loss of James Posey to the New Orleans Hornets, are talking to Lakers free-agent Trevor Ariza and Dallas forward Devean George.
...The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free-agent guard Tyronn Lue to a 2-year deal; he turned down 1-year offers in Phoenix and Boston.
...UCLA's Kevin Love, the top pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves was dazzling last nite in the Las Vegas summer league. He had 18-points-17-boards and 4-assists and 2-blocks against the Lakers.
...USC's OJ Mayo, now with Memphis, is averaging 18-a game but shooting just 40-percent in the Summer League.
...Former San Diego State guard Brandon Heath, now with the LA Clippers, is averaging just 5-points a game.
...The Charlotte Bobcats have picked up former Aztec forward Marcus Slaughter, who is averaging 5-points-2 rebounds a game.
...USC has landed 6-9 North Carolina Alex Stephenson, who is transferring in, after averaging 4-points and 4-rebounds a game in the ACC.
(Hockey)
...The LA Kings hired longtime NHL coach Terry Murray, who led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals and also coached the Washington Caps and Florida Panthers. He has a career mark of (360-288-89) and (46-43) in postseason.
...The Toronto Sun is reporting the LA Kings-Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators are discussing a 6-player trade. The Kings would ship goal scorer Anzi Kopitar and a high pick to Chicago. The Hawks would send goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and defenseman Cam Barker to the Senators; the Kings would get veteran goalie Martin Gerber and 22-year old star defenseman Andrej Meszaros.
...The Calgary Flames have sighed veteran center Jamie Lundmark, who played the last 2-years in Russia.
...The St-Louis Blues have signed Toronto free-agent defenseman Andy Wozniewski.
(General)
...The scandal marred Tour-de-France lost a 3rd rider in 3-days when Italian star Riccardio Ricco was pulled off the line, and arrested for possession and use of EPO blood thinning drugs. His Saunier team immediately dropped out of the Tour.
...England's Mark Cavendish won today's 12th stage, with Aussie Cadel Evans still retaining the Yellow Jersey.
...Veteran boxer James Toney won his 70th career fight last nite, when a head butt and bleeding in the eye stopped Hasim Rachman in a fite. Toney wants to fite Vladimir Klitzhko.
...Welterweight boxer Oscar Diaz is in critical condition after blood clot-brain surgery last nite after collapsing in the llth round of a welterweight fight in San Antonio.
...San Diego State, facing a 250-thousand dollar athletic budget cut, may be forced to add 2-more women's sports because of Cal-Now and Title 9-issues. The Aztecs have 6-men's sports and 12-women's sports on campus right now.
