NFL: Giants re-up for camp in Albany
Considering that the Giants made no plans to move their training camp, their return to the University at Albany was a foregone conclusion. That return was made official yesterday. On Aug. 1, they will open their 15th consecutive camp in Albany, the longest period at one site in team history. The camp concludes Aug. 20 — making it slightly shorter than usual. “Albany has been an ideal summer home for our football team,” Giants co-owner John Mara said. — Paul Schwartz
* Police in Madison, Wis., said six rings reported stolen from former Wisconsin and Giants running back Ron Dayne were returned to him in a plastic bag. Dayne reported in April that his two Rose Bowl rings were stolen from his Waunakee home.
* Former NFL lineman Jon Runyan won the Republican primary election in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional district. The retired Eagles player is a political neophyte who will face first-term Democratic Rep. John Adler in November.
* A toxicology report found no alcohol in Chris Henry‘s system after the Bengals receiver died in December from a fractured skull and other head injuries in an accidental fall.
* Seahawks rookie wide receiver Golden Tate apologized and said he was “very embarrassed” after police in suburban Seattle gave him a warning for trespassing into a gourmet doughnut shop at 3 a.m. last weekend.
MLB: Amar’e says he will opt out
Amar’e Stoudemire said he will opt out of the final year of his contract if he doesn’t re-sign with the Suns before then. Stoudemire, speaking at his basketball camp, said he deserves a maximum contract and would like it to be with Phoenix, where he has played since he was drafted out of high school in 2002. The All-Star power forward said there was “no chance” he would exercise the final year of his contract with the Suns, which would pay him about $17 million.
MLB: Galarraga less than perfect this time
In Chicago, Armando Galarraga, who became the centerpiece of a national story last week when a blown call spoiled his perfect game against the Indians, had a relatively uneventful night in a 7-2 Tigers win over the White Sox. He allowed two runs and seven hits and took a no-decision.
* In St. Petersburg, Fla., struggling slugger Carlos Pena hit a grand slam and a solo homer to back unbeaten Jeff Niemann‘s two-hit pitching and help the Rays beat the Blue Jays 9-0.
* In Philadelphia, Ben Francisco hit a two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning and the Phillies rallied for a 10-8 victory over the Marlins. . . . In Cleveland, Tim Wakefield bounced back from two rough outings to lead the Red Sox past the Indians 3-2.
ETC.: Pondexter’s 31 help Libs snap skid
In Chicago, Cappie Pondexter scored a season-high 31 points and the Liberty (3-4) snapped a two-game skid with an 85-70 victory over the Chicago Sky. The Liberty took a 41-31 halftime lead, and Pondexter added 11 points in the third quarter as New York pushed the lead to 69-43.
* In Oklahoma City, Andrea Harrison hit a grand slam, Megan Langenfeld homered for the third time in two games and UCLA put on a record-setting offensive show to beat Arizona 15-9 and win its 11th Women’s College World Series title.
* Scott Arniel was introduced as the Blue Jackets’ new head coach. . . . The Rangers agreed to terms with forward Dane Byers on a contract extension.
* In The Woodlands, Texas, Bob Estes earned another trip to Pebble Beach by claiming one of the two final spots in a rain-delayed qualifier for the U.S. Open.