Stars skills camps begin
BASKETBALL
Stars camps begin: The Spokane Stars weekly basketball skills camps begin this Sunday at The Fitness Center, corner Evergreen and Sprague in Spokane Valley.
The Level 1 (kindergarten through fourth grade) camp is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Level 2 (grades 5-7) is from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and Level 3 (grades 8-12) is from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
The camps run each Sunday through early December.
The first four Sundays, coaches and players from the following women's basketball teams will be on hand for instruction - Sept. 8 (Whitworth), Sept. 15 (Eastern Washington), Sept. 22 (Gonzaga) and Sept. 29 (Washington State).
On the other Sundays, the camps will be coached by Ron Adams, director of the Spokane Stars AAU basketball program, and assistant coaches including Coeur d'Alene High senior and University of San Diego commit Sydney Williams.
Cost is $20 per session.
Information: Ron Adams, (509) 499-1112, www.spokanestars.org, rpete07@msn.com
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Information: 664-8176, Ext. 2019
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relies on leverage and his long arms to blow past offensive tackles. That's the way Dumervil collected an NFL-leading 17 sacks in 2009.
And Dumervil knows Clady quite well, too, how the 6-foot-6, 315-pound left tackle uses his quick feet to thwart rushers. Clady, from Boise State, is coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he allowed just one sack.
It's an intriguing matchup, one that's going to take some getting used to for offensive coordinator Adam Gase.
"Just seeing (Dumervil) with a different team, it's weird to watch because I'm just used to seeing him in our uniform," Gase said. "He's a good player and we'll be ready for him."
Williams playing for fallen teammate: As KyleWilliams suits up for his first game in more than nine months, he will pull his No. 10 San Francisco 49ers jersey over a new No. 81 tattoo on his inner left forearm honoring a former teammate.
Williams added the fresh ink during the offseason as a tribute to an Arizona State teammate, Tyrice Thompson, who died Feb. 2 from injuries suffered when he was stabbed Jan. 27 while working at a popular Scottsdale, Ariz., nightclub. Williams will play in Thompson's honor this year - the fourth-year pro's return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that required surgery and ended his 2012 season in late November.
"He was family to everybody," Williams said. "He's a guy I played with at ASU, and kind of like a big brother to me. When he was here (alive) he was always looking over me and there for me, always sharing wisdom."
Now that he is healthy at last, the 25-year-old Williams has a chance to be San Francisco's No. 2 wide receiver opposite Anquan Boldin. Williams also will handle some kick return duties for the NFC champions.
Williams, Colin Kaepernick and Co. open the season Sunday at home against Green Bay in a rematch of the NFC divisional playoffs last January at Candlestick Park won 45-31 by the 49ers.
"KyleWilliams, we feel like we know what Kyle can do and we've been a little bit cautious there," coach Jim Harbaugh said of pushing him too hard early.
Hanging up in Williams' locker is a regular reminder of his dear friend - the program from the late 27-year-old's service - Tyrice Allen Thompson. April 2, 1985, to Feb. 2, 2013.
The former tight end and wide receiver died a day before Williams and the 49ers lost the Super Bowl to Baltimore in New Orleans. Thompson was stabbed five times in the back, hip and arm after an early morning altercation at Martini Ranch near Scottsdale's hip Old Town neighborhood, and only a few miles from Williams' high school.
Ian MacDonald of Tempe is accused in Thompson's killing and faces a charge of second-degree murder.
Miller among 20 suspended players: Denver All-Pro linebacker Von Miller is among 20 NFL players suspended for the beginning of the NFL season.
Miller will be out for six games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He will miss Thursday night's opener between Super Bowl champion Baltimore and the Broncos.
The league wanted a longer penalty for the third-year linebacker, but the sides agreed to less than half the season. It will cost Miller about $800,000.
"I made mistakes and my suspension has hurt my team, Broncos fans, and myself," Miller said when the agreement was reached last month. "I am especially sorry for the effect of my bad decisions on others. I will not make the same mistakes about adhering to the policy in the future. "
Two players are suspended for eight games: Ravens defensive back Asa Jackson and Cincinnati defensive end DeQuin Evans, under the performance-enhancing drugs policy.
None of the 20 players has been suspended for violating the personal conduct policy, although Jets running back Mike Goodson was arrested in New Jersey in May on drugs and weapons charges and will miss four games for substance abuse. His case was sent to a grand jury.
Also suspended under the substance abuse policy for four games each were: Jacksonville receiver Justin Blackmon, Indianapolis receiver LaVon Brazill, Washington linebacker Rob Jackson, Arizona linebacker Daryl Washington, and Baltimore safety Christian Thompson.
Cushing signs contract extension: Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing has signed a six-year contract extension.
A person familiar with negotiations confirmed the deal Tuesday night. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not made an announcement.
The deal is worth $55.6 million, with $21 million guaranteed.
Cushing was in the last year of the deal he signed as a rookie in 2009. The 26-year-old linebacker returned to the field this summer after sustaining a season-ending knee injury in Week 5 of last season.