- Associated Press - Saturday, May 10, 2014

PRO FOOTBALL

NEW YORK (AP) - The only two quarterbacks chosen on the second day of the NFL draft Friday have a lot to emulate.

Derek Carr’s guiding light has been older brother David, the top overall pick in the 2002 draft. Jimmy Garoppolo’s favorite player has been Tom Brady, the 199th selection in 2000.

The problem for Carr, taken fourth in the second round by Oakland, is that David was only mediocre as a pro. The issue for Garoppolo, chosen 62nd overall by New England, is, well, can anyone really live up to Brady’s career?

The two were among dozens of picks made Friday as the NFL draft wrapped up Rounds 2 and 3 at Radio City Music Hall. The first day shattered all-time television viewership records and fed a roaring crowd, but the second day was more subdued.

BEREA, Ohio (AP) - A day of celebration dissolved into confusion for the Browns.

Hours after quarterback Johnny Manziel’s arrival had Cleveland’s football pulse racing faster than it had in years, a report that star wide receiver Josh Gordon may be facing an indefinite suspension shattered the city’s collective joy.

One star in, one maybe on his way out.

As the second round of the NFL draft was set to open Friday, ESPN reported that Gordon, who led the NFL in yards receiving last season, had failed another drug test for marijuana and could be banned for a year. The ESPN report, based on anonymous sources, described letters the Pro Bowler received about the failed test.

The Browns deferred any comment on Gordon’s situation to the league office. Gordon’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined to comment.

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey heard from management regarding a tweet he sent that joked about hazing the team’s first-round draft pick.

The jest fell flat in the wake of the Dolphins’ 2013 bullying scandal, in which Pouncey was implicated.

The Dolphins took Tennessee tackle Ja’Wuan James with the 19th overall choice Thursday.

“Great pick! I can’t wait for our gifts he’s getting us lol,” Pouncey tweeted.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A member of Congress is requesting a hearing on the Washington Redskins’ name, calling it “another example of racial insensitivity in sports” in the wake of Donald Sterling’s lifetime ban from the NBA.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., sent a letter to the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce citing the derogatory nature of the word “redskins” and suggesting the committee use its influence to persuade team owner Dan Snyder and the NFL to change the name.

Waxman appears unlikely to get the hearing before the committee, which is chaired by Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., and oversees professional sports.

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PRO BASKETBALL

NEW YORK (AP) - The NBA chose Dick Parsons, a former Citigroup chairman and former Time Warner chairman and CEO, as interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Parsons will oversee the franchise while the league tries to force owner Donald Sterling to sell it following his lifetime ban for making racist remarks.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that Parsons “will bring extraordinary leadership and immediate stability to the Clippers organization.”

With Sterling banned from anything to do with the team or league, and team President Andy Roeser on an indefinite leave of absence, the league and Clippers worked together to find someone to lead the organization along with coach Doc Rivers.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Portland reserve point guard Mo Williams is unlikely to play in Game 3 against San Antonio on Saturday night because of a groin injury.

Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts told reporters he doesn’t anticipate Williams will play. Earl Watson and Will Barton will come off the bench in his place.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The Sacramento Kings are seeking help from the public for the NBA draft, starting a contest that will allow as many as two people to be in the team’s draft room June 26.

The Kings launched a “Draft 3.0” contest website. The team says people can rank draft prospects on the website and explain their methodology.

Contestants can use information from publicly available statistical databases to create their systems. Submissions will be collected through May 19.

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BASEBALL

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Yu Darvish came within one out of a no-hitter for the second time, giving up only a ninth-inning single to David Ortiz in the Texas Rangers’ 8-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Darvish took a perfect game into the seventh before Ortiz reached on a two-out error by right fielder Alex Rios. The right-hander walked his next batter and another in the eighth but went into the ninth looking for the first no-hitter in the majors this season.

Dustin Pedroia grounded out and Shane Victorino struck out, bringing Ortiz to the plate. With the crowd in a frenzy, the big slugger hit a sharp grounder through Texas’ defensive shift on the right side of the diamond for a clean single.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt will be sidelined for at least six weeks after breaking his left thumb when he was hit by a pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Paul Maholm.

Belt was struck by Maholm’s first pitch of the second inning on Friday night. He remained on the bases until the inning was over, and then was replaced defensively by Joaquin Arias.

NEW YORK (AP) - Mets ace Matt Harvey took the next step in his rehabilitation from right elbow surgery, increasing his throwing distance from 90 to 120 feet.

Harvey said he feels great and the target date for throwing off a mound is June 10.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minneapolis City Council shortened the window of time around Major League Baseball’s July 15 All-Star game during which other events in the city can be limited.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota has sued the city, alleging that an ordinance adopted in February that limits other events is unconstitutional.

The ordinance said the city wouldn’t issue permits or event licenses between July 5 and July 20 in an area that includes all of downtown Minneapolis without additional approval from MLB.

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AUTO RACING

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - Kevin Harvick has a second straight shot at winning from the pole at Kansas Speedway.

Harvick was back on top at the 1.5-mile track, posting a track record to help propel him to his second pole of the season. Harvick posted his record 194.658 mph lap in the second round of NASCAR’s knockout qualifying format. His No. 4 Chevrolet hit 194.252 in the third round to give him two straight poles at Kansas, after he won from the top spot at October’s race.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - Kyle Busch dominated the caution-filled Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway for his second victory in two starts this year.

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COLLEGES

Three Oregon basketball players who were investigated but not charged in an alleged sexual assault have been dismissed from the team.

Damyean Dotson, 19, Dominic Artis, 19; and Brandon Austin, 18, were suspended after the school received a police report concerning allegations made by a student who said she was assaulted by the players in early March. School officials announced that the players would not return to the Ducks because of conduct that is not befitting of student athletes.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) - Trustees at Youngstown State University voted to offer the president’s job to former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, who started his college coaching career there.

The Youngstown State appointment will not be official until a contract is signed, school spokesman Ron Cole said. The board chairman and vice chairman were authorized to begin negotiations.

Tressel recently was a finalist for but was not chosen to be president at the University of Akron. He has been an administrator there for two years after being forced out at Ohio State following a scandal in which players sold memorabilia for cash and tattoos.

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TENNIS

MADRID (AP) - Defending champion Rafael Nadal gave his clay-court doldrums a boost by reaching the Madrid Open semifinals on Friday with a dominant performance against Thomas Berdych.

In the women’s tournament, two-time defending champion Serena Williams withdrew with a leg injury, while Maria Sharapova ousted Li Na in the quarterfinals.

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CYCLING

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) - Canadian Svein Tuft powered Orica Green-Edge to victory in the team time trial in Belfast in the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia, taking the overall leader’s pink jersey on his 37th birthday.

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