Vick files for bankruptcy protection

 Imprisoned quarterback Michael Vick filed for bankruptcy protection while serving time for federal dogfighting charges, saying he owes between $10 million and $50 million to creditors.
Vick filed Chapter 11 papers in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Newport News on Monday. The seven largest creditors listed in the court papers are owed a total of about $12.8 million.
The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback hopes he “can, after the conclusion of the bankruptcy case, rebuild his life on a personal and spiritual level, resurrect his image as a public figure, and resolve matters with the NFL such that he can resume his career,” according to the filings.
Vick is serving a 23-month prison sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., after pleading guilty last year to bankrolling a dogfighting ring. He was subsequently suspended indefinitely without pay and lost all his major sponsors, including Nike. He also faces state charges related to dogfighting.

MRI reveals good news for Willis, Tigers
DETROIT (AP) — Dontrelle Willis and the Detroit Tigers got good news Tuesday when a MRI revealed he has tendinitis in his right knee.
The Tigers said the pitcher had a cortisone shot to reduce inflammation and was fitted for a brace to provide support when he returns to Lakeland, Fla., later this week to resume a program designed to help him regain control.
A month ago, the Tigers sent Willis to their spring training complex. The 2005 runner-up for the NL’s Cy Young Award and 2003 NL Rookie of the Year gave up 21 walks in 11 1-3 innings over four starts and a relief appearance.
Detroit signed him a $29 million, three-year deal after acquiring him and Miguel Cabrera in a trade last winter with the Florida Marlins.

Secondman arrested for Walker attack
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A second man was arrested on charges of abducting, beating and robbing Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker in Las Vegas last month.
Deshawn L. Thomas, 40, was arrested Monday in Las Vegas and held without bail at the Clark County jail, police said Tuesday.
Thomas will be scheduled to appear in Las Vegas Justice Court to face felony kidnapping, robbery and conspiracy charges, police said in a statement. Jail officials said it was not immediately clear if Thomas had a lawyer.

New position for NFL director of stadium security filled by chief
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL hired Pennsylvania’s state police chief for a new position that will cover all aspects of stadium security from fan behavior to signal stealing.
But Col. Jeffrey Miller, who begins work as director of strategic security Aug. 18, said Tuesday there was far more to the job than ensuring no repeat of the episode last year involving the New England Patriots.
“I think it’s safe to say that the league is obviously sensitive to any issue which could affect the integrity of the product that they put out on the field,” Miller said at a news conference in Harrisburg, Pa. “Obviously, I wasn’t in the room when they worked this all out, but it is a new security director position and it’s going to cross over a number of different areas.”

Shoal Creek prepares for U.S. Jr. Amateurs
SHOAL CREEK, Ala. (AP) — Shoal Creek is gearing up to host the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, its first major event since the 1990 PGA Championship was marred by racial controversy.
The par-72 course in suburban Birmingham will play at 7,251 yards from July 21-26.
Ben Kimball of the United States Golf Association said Tuesday it will be the longest course in U.S. Junior Amateur history. He and others spoke at a news conference promoting the event.
It will be the first national tournament at Shoal Creek since 1990, when it drew controversy because of an all-white membership and a comment by founder Hall Thompson that Shoal Creek would never be pressured into accepting blacks as members.

Truex penalized
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Martin Truex’s bid to make the Chase for the championship took a severe hit Tuesday when NASCAR penalized his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team 150 points for bringing an illegal car to Daytona.
Truex’s car failed its initial inspection last week at Daytona because the No. 1 Chevrolet failed to fit NASCAR’s roof template. NASCAR officials seized the car and sent it to their Research and Development Center in Concord for further inspection.
“Somebody made a big mistake,” said Truex, who missed the only practice session before Saturday night’s race because of the illegal car. “Shouldn’t happen in this level of auto racing, but people make mistakes. We’ll go on.”
But it will be an uphill battle from here for the star driver at DEI, who is in a contract negotiation year.

Tulsa looks to cash in on OKC’s NBA action
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — With the SuperSonics NBA franchise set to relocate to Oklahoma City from Seattle, leaders here are anxious to cash in on a piece of the action, lobbying for a handful of exhibition or — at a long shot — regular season games that would be played at the city’s new, $178 million downtown arena.
Also up for grabs, officials hope, are some top-name musical acts that might be out of a venue at Oklahoma City’s Ford Center when the team is playing at home.
“It gives us kind of an upper edge,” said John Bolton, general manager of the 18,000-seat BOK Center arena, which is slated to have its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 30. “Having an NBA team in the building is fantastic and awesome, but it does put pressure on dates.

A-Rod breaking records
NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez’s decision to opt out of his contract last October cost him $200,000 in All-Star bonuses from the New York Yankees this year.
Rodriguez’s old deal, which he agreed to with Texas before the 2001 season, contained provisions that earned him $100,000 bonus for making the AL All-Star team and another $100,000 for receiving the most fan votes in his league.
His agent, Scott Boras, informed the Yankees during Game 4 of Boston’s World Series sweep that A-Rod was terminating his $252 million, 10-year agreement. Then in December, Rodriguez signed a record $275 million, 10-year contract with New York, a deal that allows him to make up to $305 million if he reaches milestone achievements.