Sports Briefs

A University of Central Florida football player who died after spring drills had a pre-existing medical condition worsened by physical stress, autopsy results released Thursday showed.
The Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office said Ereck Plancher, 19, had a sickle cell trait that caused problems with his red blood cells during physical exertion. The examination showed Plancher’s heart began beating abnormally, and blood flow to the wide receiver’s muscles and organs slowed or stopped.
Investigators found no trauma to the body and no illegal drugs or toxins.
Plancher collapsed in March, the day before spring practice was to begin. UCF says he received CPR from trainers and was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The school did not immediately comment.
Anheuser-Bush under new ownership
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Sports world, this Bud’s still for you.
Anheuser-Busch executives told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that the beer maker will maintain its high level of sports marketing and sponsorship under new owner InBev. In fact, they said, spending could increase.
“There’s nothing at all for those of us that are at the pulse of all this to suggest that our sports are cutting back at all,” said Tony Ponturo, vice president of global media and sports marketing for Anheuser-Busch.
Sports marketing accounts for two-thirds of Anheuser-Busch’s overall marketing, but InBev’s reputation as a cost-cutter had raised speculation that the huge budget could get the ax, leaving many a drinker to wonder “Whassup?”
 Flacco bids to start
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Joe Flacco won’t face any delays in his bid to become the Baltimore Ravens starting quarterback.
Baltimore’s top draft pick has agreed in principle to a five-year deal that could earn him up to $30 million and includes $8.75 million in guaranteed money. The agreement came late Wednesday night following a negotiating session between Pat Moriarty, the team’s vice president of football administration, and Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta.
Adu, Altidore, Bradley to lead U.S. soccer team
Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley will lead the U.S. men’s soccer team into the Beijing Olympics.
Coach Peter Nowak announced the 18-man roster Thursday. Forward Brian McBride, goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender Michael Parkhurst are the three overage players allowed in the under-23 tournament.
Selecting the Olympic squad was tricky because the Beijing Games overlap with World Cup qualifying for the U.S. team.
“We’re trying to accommodate the Olympic team, but we need to also keep in mind it’s an important time for the senior team,” Nowak said on a conference call. “We need to make sure we field two competitive teams.”
Hamm to test
broken hand
Paul Hamm is ready to put his broken hand to the test.
The Olympic gymnastics champion will take part in an intrasquad meet Saturday to show he’s physically able to compete at the Beijing Games. Though Hamm still isn’t 100 percent — his injury was only eight weeks ago — coach Miles Avery said the selection committee will like what it sees.
“Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Those are the terms you hear,” Avery said. “In some areas, it looks like he just didn’t skip a beat at all. It looks like Paul Hamm doing gymnastics.”
Oral Robert’s suspend three players
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Oral Roberts basketball coach Scott Sutton has kicked three players off the team including forward Marchello Vealy.
ORU announced in a news release that Vealy and guards Curtis Allen and Jonathan Dunn are off the team for failing to comply with team policies.
Vealy is from Oklahoma City and was the Mid-Continent Conference Sixth Man of the Year two seasons ago.
Yao Ming is Back
HANGZHOU, China (AP) — Yao Ming is back, transforming China’s basketball team and providing a big relief for Olympic organizers.
The Houston Rockets center marked his return from injury Thursday with 11 points in just over 12 minutes of play for the Chinese national team in an Olympics warmup against a Serbian squad.
Entering six minutes into the first quarter to huge applause from the crowd in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Yao appeared a little rusty, but made a solid contribution to China’s kickoff 96-72 victory in the four-team Stankovic Cup tournament.
The game was Yao’s first since a stress fracture in his left foot ended his NBA season in February and threatened his star turn as part of China’s team.
Ljubicic withdraws
UMAG, Croatia (AP) — Fifth-seeded Ivan Ljubicic withdrew from the second round of the Croatia Open on Thursday because of back pain, allowing Roko Karanusic to reach his first ATP quarterfinals.
Karanusic will play Argentine Maximo Gonzales, who upset second-seeded Ivo Karlovic, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, to also reach the first ATP quarterfinals.
Ljubicic sought medical help Wednesday because of back problems.
Paul teams up with Pro Bowlers Association
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — New Orleans guard Chris Paul will return to the lanes, teaming up with the Professional Bowlers Association for the inaugural Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational.

The event will take place Sept. 20 as part of the third annual Chris Paul Winston-Salem Weekend. All the money raised will goto the CP3 Foundation, which supports a variety of charities and programs in Winston-Salem and New Orleans.
Paul, a regular bowler who was introduced to the sport by his family as a young boy, has hosted celebrity bowling tournaments before in Winston-Salem.
“I am thrilled to have a PBA event be a major part of my charity weekend and bring some of the best bowlers in the world to Winston-Salem,” said Paul. “I always tell people that I am a bowler first and a basketball player second, so I know this event will be an ultimate test of my bowling skills. There will certainly be a lot of bragging rights at stake among the NBA players who attend.”
Paul, who was runner-up for NBA MVP last season and is a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team, will head up a field of five NBA stars who will team up with five PBA bowling stars to form five doubles teams consisting of one NBA celebrity and one pro bowler.

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — After playing professional golf for 27 years, Dan Forsman got a new nickname this week: Rookie.
Forsman turned 50 on Tuesday, and will be playing his first Champions Tour event at this weekend’s 3M Championship at the TPC Twin Cities.
“When I registered on Monday, I felt like I was a freshman in college in some respects,” he said. “I didn’t know the golf course, I didn’t know the people, but I quickly became affiliated and associated with them and became very comfortable. In many ways I’m on a threshold of a new start.”

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Good luck, Terry Murray. You’ve just been hired for the toughest job in the National Hockey League.
That’s what Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said Thursday when he introduced Murray as the 22nd head coach in franchise history at the team’s training facility.
Murray, who turns 58 Sunday, signed a three-year, $2.65 million contract to succeed Marc Crawford, who was fired June 10 after two unsuccessful seasons.
Unsuccessful has been the byword for the Kings in recent years since they haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2002. They had 71 points last season — tied with Tampa Bay for the fewest in the NHL.
“When you’re in a rebuilding process, you have to keep your eyes on two things: What’s in front of you, and where you want to go,” Lombardi said. “If you have a very good team in place, it’s easy to focus on the next game. When you’re dealing with young players, it changes day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month. That’s what I mean about the difficulty of the job.