NFL: Document: ‘Pacman’ paid ‘extortion’
Court documents allege that a 29-year-old man arrested for a Las Vegas strip club shooting extorted hush money from suspended Titans cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones.
Police said Arvin Kenti Edwards, of Renton, Washington, used go-betweens to reach Jones, who paid $15,000 over several installments to various people after the shooting.
Three people were shot, including a man who ended up paralyzed – after a melee at the Minxx strip club during the NBA All-Star Weekend in February 2007.
* Linebacker Odell Thurman was reinstated from an NFL suspension after sitting out the last two seasons. The Bengals said yesterday they were informed by commissioner Roger Goodell that Thurman is eligible to play.
* Colts running back Kenton Keith was arrested after refusing to leave a nightclub parking lot that was being cleared by police. Keith was charged early Sunday with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, resisting law enforcement, public intoxication and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, because a man he brought to the club with him was 19, police said.
* Seahawks defensive lineman Rocky Bernard was arrested yesterday after a woman told police he hit her at a downtown nightclub.
* Offensive tackle Max Starks, a backup for most of last season, will return to the Pittsburgh Steelers after signing a one-year tender offer worth $6.9 million.
BASEBALL: Sheets to skip start
Brewers ace Ben Sheets will skip his start tomorrow because of soreness in his right triceps that caused him to leave his last start. Sheets will be replaced in the rotation by Dave Bush, who got passed over Sunday when Yovani Gallardo returned from the 15-day disabled list.
* Giants left-hander Noah Lowry had an MRI yesterday after feeling a tingling sensation in his injured forearm.
RUNNING: Arkansas track coach retires
Arkansas track and field coach John McDonnell, who has led the Razorbacks to 42 national titles and 83 conference crowns, will retire at the end of the outdoor season, the school announced yesterday. The 69-year-old McDonnell has won more national championships than any other collegiate coach in any sport.
HOOPS: Drake taps new coach
Arizona State assistant Mark Phelps was hired as Drake’s men’s basketball coach, replacing Keno Davis. Phelps’ hiring came less than a week after Davis took the Providence job.
* Ohio State freshman center Kosta Koufos will declare for the NBA draft but will not immediately sign with an agent.
NBA: Lakers not counting on Bynum
Lakers coach Phil Jackson indicated the team doesn’t expect injured center Andrew Bynum to make a serious contribution any time soon.
When asked after practice if there was a risk of messing up team chemistry by playing 7-footers Bynum and Pau Gasol at the same time, Jackson replied: “I think without a doubt that Andrew would come off the bench and we would play him a little bit off the bench if there was any chance that he could come back and play again.”