France's anti-doping agency accused Lance Armstrong of violating its rules

PARIS (AP) — France's anti-doping agency accused Lance Armstrong of violating its rules Thursday for not fully cooperating with a drug tester and says it could punish the seven-time Tour de France champion. Armstrong has denied misbehaving during a test of his hair, urine and blood on March 17. No banned substances were found. However, the agency, known as AFLD, said in a statement that the doctor leading the tests maintains Armstrong "did not respect the obligation to remain under the direct and permanent observation" of the tester. AFLD said cycling's governing body has given its permission to open disciplinary procedures against Armstrong, but did not say what the punishment could be. Armstrong, who has had tense relations with France's anti-doping authorities for years, is hoping to win an eighth Tour title in July after having retired in 2005. AFLD president Pierre Bordry wouldn't comment "because we are entering into a contentious phase, or likely to be contentious." Bordry suggested, however, that the agency has not yet decided whether to seek sanctions against Armstrong. Asked if the agency is launching disciplinary proceedings, he said: "Not yet. We'll see." Bordry noted that the statement does not say that Armstrong is guilty of an infraction. Armstrong recently gave his own version of events, saying he wasn't sure of the identity of the drug tester. At question is a 20-minute delay when Armstrong says the tester agreed to let him shower while the American rider's assistants checked the tester's credentials. "I did not try to evade or delay the testing process that day," Armstrong said in a statement Tuesday. Armstrong was training in Beaulieu-sur-Mer in southern France when the test was conducted. Armstrong said he had returned from a ride to find the tester at his house, identifying himself as a representative of a French lab.


Source: www.google.com

France's anti-doping agency accused Lance Armstrong of violating its rules

Bills running back Marshawn Lynch will be suspended three games

Bills running back Marshawn Lynch will be suspended three games by the NFL, according to a Buffalo News report on Thursday.

The official announcement could come as early as today.

Lynch was arrested near Los Angeles on Feb. 11. In searching a parked car carrying Lynch, Culver City police found a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun inside a backpack in the trunk. Police also found four marijuana cigarettes in the car, but no drug charges were filed.
He pleaded guilty to having a concealed firearm and was sentenced to 80 hours community service and three years' probation.

It was Lynch's second run-in with the law in less than a year.

In June, he pleaded guilty to a traffic violation and admitted he was behind the wheel of his SUV when it sped off from a downtown Buffalo intersection after striking a pedestrian, who sustained minor injuries. Lynch wasn't disciplined by the league for the accident.

With Lynch suspended, the Bills will be minus the player who's led them in rushing and touchdowns over the past two seasons. Last year, he had eight touchdowns and 1,036 yards on the ground, enough to make his first Pro Bowl appearance as an injury replacement.

The Bills have a solid backup in Fred Jackson, though the team has interviewed several veteran free agent running backs over the past three weeks.


Source: msn.foxsports.com

Bills running back Marshawn Lynch will be suspended three games

Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann is under increased pressure

(CNN) -- Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann is under increased pressure after their 4-0 Champions League defeat to Barcelona -- described by club legend Franz Beckenbauer as a "catastrophe". The defeat leaves Bayern's hopes of advancing to the semifinals of the competition in tatters and comes hard on the heels of a 5-1 thrashing by VfL Wolsburg in the Bundesliga. Reigning champions Bayern slipped to fourth, four points adrift of new leaders Wolfsburg and Saturday's match against Eintracht Frankfurt is now considered a must-win game for the Munich giants. Beckenbauer, who is now the club president, was scathing in his criticism of the current Bayern team under Klinsmann's charge. "This is a catastrophe," Beckenbauer told Premiere Television after the 4-0 defeat against Barcelona. "This is schoolboy stuff. The first half was the worst I have ever seen Bayern play," he was quoted on Reuters.com. Klinsmann, who enhanced his reputation by taking Germany to the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup on home soil, has found club management more of a struggle after assuming the Bayern hot seat last summer. Strong performances in the Champions League have helped gloss over indifferent Bundesliga displays, but Wednesday's humiliating defeat to the Spanish league leaders underlined defensive frailties again. Club chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was also publicly critical of the performance but said they would not be making a rushed decision. "One should not take any decisions today," Rummenigge told Reuters.com. "It was a disgrace but it is best if you sleep and then deal with these issues rationally." Former German international striker Klinsmann took charge of the Munich giants in succession to Otmar Hitzfeld and promised an improvement in the club's level of performance.


Source: edition.cnn.com

Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann is under increased pressure

Rays get their first win of the season

Tampa Bay 7, at Boston 2: Scott Kazmir pitched six solid innings and the bullpen preserved the lead, giving the American League-champion Rays their first win of the season.

Detroit 5, at Toronto 1: Miguel Cabrera homered twice and Brandon Inge connected for the third consecutive game.
Kansas City 2, at Chicago White Sox 0: Zack Greinke pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning and the Royals' bullpen was perfect in the team's first victory of the season.

at Minnesota 6, Seattle 5: Justin Morneau homered and drove in three runs and Jason Kubel hit the go-ahead RBI double in the fifth inning for the Twins.

at Texas 8, Cleveland 5: Nelson Cruz hit two solo homers and drove in three runs and 20-year-old rookie Elvis Andrus had his first homer for the Rangers.

Oakland 6, at Angels 4: The A's trailed 4-0 before scoring three runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth.


Source: www.latimes.com

Rays get their first win of the season

Tiger Woods is getting ready to play in his 15th Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tiger Woods is getting ready to play in his 15th Masters. The 73rd edition tees off today at Augusta National Golf Club. Woods, who rallied from five shots down two weeks ago on the final day to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, has finished second each of the past two Masters.

Woods has one of the latest tee times, teeing off in the next-to-last group at 1:52 p.m. Eastern time. That's just behind the group that includes defending Masters champion Trevor Immelman.

Phil Mickelson is always a fan favorite at Augusta, and he enters in fine form. Lefty already has won twice on the PGA Tour this season and is trying for his third green jacket.

One player who would be defying history if he wins the Masters this week is South Africa's Tim Clark. He won the Par-3 tournament yesterday with a round that included a hole-in-one. No winner of the Par-3 contest has ever gone on to win the Masters in the same year. Since 1989, the average finish for the Par-3 winner in the Masters is 35th place.

Tiger Woods is getting ready to play in his 15th Masters

Orlando one game behind the second-place Celtics in the Eastern Conference

Yao Ming scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, outplaying Dwight Howard and leading the Rockets to a 93-83 victory over the Magic last night in Houston to drop Orlando one game behind the second-place Celtics in the Eastern Conference.


Ron Artest had 16 points and matched a season high with seven assists, and reserve Von Wafer scored 14 points for the Rockets, who stayed a half-game behind San Antonio in the race for the Southwest Division title.

Howard had 13 points and 10 rebounds but went 3 for 9 from the free throw line for the Magic, who opened the game 4 for 12 from the field.

Rafer Alston had 15 points and three assists in his first game in Houston since he was traded to Orlando Feb. 19 in a deal that brought Kyle Lowry to the Rockets. The Magic are 18-6 with Alston as their point guard.

Hawks 118, Raptors 110 - Josh Smith had 25 points and seven rebounds, and Atlanta used 11-for-22 shooting from 3-point range to beat host Toronto.

The Hawks (44-34), trying to secure the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, also got 25 points from Joe Johnson and 17 from Maurice Evans. Mike Bibby added 13 points and 10 assists, while Al Horford chipped in 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Chris Bosh had 21 points and 10 rebounds for his eighth consecutive double-double and 40th this season, and Shawn Marion added 18 points, but the Raptors lost their second in a row after winning six straight.

Bobcats 101, 76ers 98 - Gerald Wallace scored 29 points, including the final 4 of the game, and Charlotte beat visiting Philadelphia to snap a three-game losing streak.

Raymond Felton scored a career-high 32 points and the Bobcats recovered after blowing a 20-point lead.

Charlotte moved within 2 1/2 games of idle Detroit for the final playoff spot in the East with four games left.

Hornets 93, Heat 87 - Rasual Butler hit a tying 3-pointer with no time remaining in regulation, David West hit the winning jumper with 8.8 seconds left in overtime, and visiting New Orleans stunned Miami and clinched a playoff berth.

Chris Paul finished with 26 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, and Peja Stojakovic added 24 points for the Hornets (48-29), who not only clinched a postseason berth but stayed in the hunt for home-court advantage in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Spurs 99, Thunder 89 - Tim Duncan had 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Drew Gooden provided a needed lift off the bench as San Antonio beat host Oklahoma City in its first game since learning Manu Ginobili would miss the rest of the season.

Lakers 122, Kings 104 - Pau Gasol scored 26 points, Kobe Bryant added 22, and Los Angeles overcame a sluggish start to beat host Sacramento and move within a half-game of Cleveland for the NBA's best record.

Bulls 110, Knicks 103 - Kirk Hinrich scored 25 points to lead five players in double figures and Chicago used a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter to run away from visiting New York.

Trail Blazers 96, Grizzlies 93 - Travis Outlaw banked in a 14-footer with 13 seconds left to complete visiting Portland's comeback from an 18-point second-quarter deficit.

Timberwolves 87, Clippers 77 - Ryan Gomes had 24 points and 13 rebounds and Craig Smith added 16 points for visiting Minnesota.


Source: www.boston.com

Orlando one game behind the second-place Celtics in the Eastern Conference

Josh Beckett gutted his way through last October

Josh Beckett gutted his way through last October, valiant yet diminished by injury, a fitting lasting image after a frustrating and largely mediocre season. The Red Sox anointed him their No. 1 starter for this season because, despite what happened last year, they have seen and they know what he is capable of.

"He was on fumes," manager Terry Francona said. "We all know that. But today he wasn't."

Beckett's classic Opening Day start yesterday, the highlight of a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, dashed the images of last year's weakened ace and reminded all how good Beckett can be at full capacity. In seven innings, Beckett gave as dominant a regular-season performance as he has in a Red Sox uniform. He allowed one run on two hits and three walks while striking out 10.

The outing bubbled with promise that he has morphed into the 2007 Beckett, the pitcher who experienced no health problems and nearly won the Cy Young Award. Starting on Opening Day for the first time with Boston, Beckett carried momentum from his sterling spring training and announced himself as the team's ace, not with words but with the lightning bolts he fired through the chill.

"You think about" starting on Opening Day, Beckett said. "That's something that you're always striving for, to get to that point in your career. It's awesome."

Beckett's 1-2-3 opening inning, which included two strikeouts, betrayed his emotions. "I had to control myself as far as adrenaline," he said. Dustin Pedroia's first-inning home run calmed Beckett. Watching it fly over the Green Monster, "you feel like you don't have to be that perfect," Beckett said.

Beckett's fastball, from the first inning to the seventh, hummed in the mid-90s, topping out at 96 miles per hour, a velocity he reached on his first pitch. He sprinkled in the changeup that he honed during spring training and buckled Rays batters with his curveball.

Of all the ways to measure Beckett's dominance, the best might be this: He did not allow a hit from the windup. Against the 18 batters he faced with no one on base, Beckett struck out nine and walked two.

As great as he was, Beckett said, "I don't think I was perfect by any means." He lost the feel for his curveball in the third inning, when he walked the eighth and ninth batters and Carl Crawford's drive to deep center scored the only run he surrendered. Beckett allowed three of the first five batters he faced out of the stretch to reach base.

But his scant struggles also allowed for a full display of his power. Akinonri Iwamura led off the sixth with a walk, and Crawford belted a double that put runners on second and third with no outs. The Sox clung to a 4-1 lead. The Rays' 3, 4, and 5 hitters awaited.

Beckett had saved some of his most merciless pitches. Evan Longoria popped up behind the plate. Carlos Pena struck out looking at a chest-high, 96-m.p.h. fastball, his third strikeout of the day. Pat Burrell chopped to third.

Beckett walked off the mound, expressionless. "That," Francona said, "was impressive."

Beckett struck out at least 10 for the fourth time in 91 starts with the Red Sox. Of course, he has the potential to do that every time he climbs the mound. But other forces, either his condition or injury, have prevented Beckett from fulfilling his promise with the Red Sox aside from the 2007 season. Take away 2007 and Beckett is 28-21 with a 4.56 ERA with Boston.

"I can only tell you from afar, but Josh Beckett has got the makeup of one of those guys you just ride," John Smoltz said. "He's had some injuries, and he's had some issues with his fingers that he has had to deal with. For a guy who's been lights out at a time when you want to be lights out, the season from Game 1 to Game 162, I think people are looking for things for him to accomplish that most people think he should have accomplished already. People don't understand how hard that is, whether it's a Cy Young, winning 20 games. It's a very difficult thing.

"I think in these next few years, you'll see it all come together for him. He's got everything you want in a power pitcher. He's fun to watch. If I had to teach somebody the power mechanic throw, next to Roger Clemens, he's right there as far as a guy who gets in position to deliver what I'd call a perfect pitch."

Beckett's first start of the season suggested the year it all comes together may be this one. Francona said all spring Beckett reminded him of the 2007 Beckett. Yesterday only reinforced that.

"We've got a long way to go," Francona said. "But watching the way he's throwing is big."


Source: www.boston.com

Josh Beckett gutted his way through last October

North Carolina tarred and feathered Spartans back in December

'Hometown' team takes down another top-seeded Big East opponent, providing a lift to fans in the economically beleaguered Final Four host city.

Reporting from Detroit -- Before Saturday's Final Four game at Ford Field, Kalin Lucas decided to become a Detroit native.

The Michigan State point guard asked to have his hometown on the official game roster changed from nearby Sterling Heights, Mich., to the city hosting the Final Four.

After Lucas' steady play Saturday in an 82-73 victory over Connecticut, the Spartans can set up residency for another couple of days in the hardscrabble city that has embraced them, until Monday's NCAA title-game showdown against North Carolina.

"It is hard times in Detroit," Lucas said. "So we just came out tonight, played hard, played aggressive for the whole 40 minutes."

As they had in the Midwest Regional final against another top-seeded team from the Big East, Louisville, the Spartans refused to back down. They stood toe to toe with bigger, stronger, longer UConn, proving their grit is equal to any opponent's muscle.

"We are the blue-collar team and this is the blue-collar city," said Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo, whose team was seeded second in its regional.

The Spartans set the tone at tipoff, using all of the themes that delivered them to the doorstep of their first national championship since 2000.

When the Spartans briefly tussled with the Huskies under the basket -- sparked when hulking Connecticut forward Jeff Adrien and slightly built Michigan State guard Travis Walton tangled -- they proved that nobody was going to bully them in Ford Field.

"I knew we weren't going to back down from anybody," Izzo said.

Going 10 players deep, the Spartans rotate stars quicker than reality shows. Four players scored at least 10 points for the Spartans, perhaps none more timely than Raymar Morgan's 18.

While center Goran Suton, who was the Midwest Regional's most outstanding player, was quiet with only four points, the Spartans' depth was vital as their bench outscored Connecticut's, 33-7.

Morgan's confidence appeared shaky in three previous tournament games, as he scored no more than four points. Wearing a mask to protect a broken nose Saturday, he looked indestructible, making seven of 13 shots.

"I said if they were going to have an X factor it was going to be Raymar Morgan," Adrien said. "He could've waited a couple of days."

The Spartans played in front of a Final Four-record crowd of 72,456, the majority of whom were dressed green enough for St. Patrick's Day. The hometown following electrified them from the jump, when Michigan State grabbed a quick 9-2 lead.

Connecticut took a five-point lead midway through the first half, but the Spartans came back to lead, 38-36, at halftime -- before the Huskies stormed out of the locker room with a 6-0 run to start the second half.

Durrell Summers, who came off the Michigan State bench to score all 10 of his points in the second half, made a one-handed dunk over Stanley Robinson to provide the Spartans with a 66-56 lead with less than six minutes to play. Two first-half three-pointers by reserve Korie Lucious were valuable as well.

Nobody was more important than Detroit's newest resident Lucas, who used to live at times with his grandmother in the city. He scored 21 points with five assists.

"I thought he controlled the game," Izzo said.

The Spartans also shook the characterization that Big Ten teams can't run by setting the pace against the Huskies, outscoring them, 22-10, on fastbreak points.

"We thought we had depth over them and that's why we wanted to run," Izzo said. "Our league is physical and our league is tough. That helped prepare us as much as anything in this tournament."

The Spartans' defense helped keep UConn's Sequoia lineup from taking over, holding 7-foot-3 center Hasheem Thabeet to a quiet 17 points and six rebounds. Travis Walton held Huskies guard A.J. Price to five-for-20 shooting.

Before exiting the court, the Spartans stood looking and pointing up into the stands. Many players said they thought about family members or friends who were struggling in the city's slumping economy.

"I think they kind of forget about the hard times," Walton said. "That's one thing we talked about is bringing hope to the city for a whole weekend. For the moment we were on that court and we won that game, people didn't think about what they were going through outside of this. They were just happy that we won and they can continue to cheer for us on Monday."

Source: latimes.com/sports

North Carolina tarred and feathered Spartans back in December