Sports Briefs August 9, 2011
Football
The Baltimore Ravens have signed veteran running back Ricky Williams to replace Willis McGahee, who they let go days before training camp.
Williams agreed to a two-year deal, the team announced on Monday.
The former Heisman Trophy played last season with the Miami Dolphins and if everything goes well with his physical today, Williams will work in tandem with Ray Rice.
A former Pro Bowler, Williams rushed for a career-high 1,853 yards to lead the league in 2002.
Last season, Williams, 34, split time with Ronnie Brown in Miami and averaged 4.2 yards per carry. He gained 673 yards and scored two touchdowns.
• Joe Paterno was hospitalized and undergoing tests on his right arm and hip after a player ran into the 84-year-old coach during practice.
Paterno was admitted Sunday evening to Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Md., after he walked away from the collision with a receiver, the school said. Receiver Devon Smith was running a drill when he blindsided the Hall of Fame coach.
• The Carroll College football team is ranked first in the NAIA preseason coaches' poll for the sixth time since 2003.
The defending national champion Saints received all 14 votes in the Top 25 poll.
St. Xavier of Illinois is ranked second, followed by MidAmerica Nazarene and Saint Francis of Indiana. Dickinson State, a team Carroll plays on Oct. 8, is ranked seventh.
Baseball
Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino is appealing a three-game suspension imposed for his part in a weekend brawl at San Francisco.
Major League Baseball also fined Victorino an undisclosed amount on Monday. Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco and Giants pitcher Ramon Ramirez and catcher Eli Whiteside were fined in addition.
Victorino can continue to play until the appeal process is complete. The NL East-leading Phillies opened a series Monday night at Dodger Stadium.
The trouble broke out Friday night in the sixth inning after Ramirez hit Victorino in the lower back with a pitch. Victorino began walking toward the mound as the benches cleared. Victorino later pushed plate umpire Mike Muchlinski trying to get back into the fracas.
• The Detroit Tigers are keeping manager Jim Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski under contract beyond this year.
The team announced that Dombrowski has agreed to a four-year extension and Leyland is being retained through the 2012 season.
• Third baseman Chase Headley was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a broken left pinkie, leaving the punchless San Diego Padres without their most productive hitter.
San Diego also put reliever Ernesto Frieri on the 15-day DL with a strained lower back.
Basketball
Alex Meruelo vowed to do everything he can to bring a championship to Atlanta if his agreement to purchase a majority share of the NBA's Hawks is approved by the league.
Meruelo, the son of Cuban immigrants, would be the NBA's first Hispanic majority owner if the deal is approved.
The 48-year-old Meruelo will have controlling interest of more than 50 percent of the Hawks, who will remain in Atlanta. The deal also includes operating rights to Philips Arena.
Citing the NBA lockout and the fact the deal is pending, Meruelo would not discuss details of the agreement, including the purchase price.
- The Associated Press