Marion Jones pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about her use of steroids and her knowledge about a check-fraud scam.  Not only is Jones forced into early retirement also but she was asked to immediately return the Olympic medals she won while competing throughout her Olympic career. Jones won five medals at the 2000 Sydney Games -- three of them gold.  Jones is the biggest name to be brought down so far in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative scandal.  As for the check-fraud scheme, Jones also admitted to lying about her knowledge of former boyfriend, Tim Montgomery involvement in a scheme to cash millions of dollars worth of stolen or forged checks.  Jones' longtime agent Charles Wells , her former coach, Olympian Steve Riddick , and Montgomery have all been convicted in the scam. Prosecutors have requested that Jones serve a maximum of six months in prison. The maximum sentence on each count is five years and a $250,000 fine.   Home run king Barry Bonds also has been linked to BALCO, and a grand jury is still investigating whether he lied to federal investigators.  • "What I did here, I did for every working woman in America. That includes everyone who gets up and goes to work in the morning, everyone working in a corporate environment," said Anucha Browne Sanders after an end to a salacious three-week trial. The jury ordered the owners of the New York Knicks to pay $11.6 million to the former team executive who endured crude insults and unwanted advances from coach Isiah Thomas . The Jury also decided MSG and chairman James Dolan should pay for harassing and firing Browne Sanders from her $260,000-a-year job out of spite. The result: The Garden owes $6 million for condoning a hostile work environment and $2.6 million for retaliation. Dolan owes $3 million. Though Thomas is off the hook for any damages, he leaves the case with a tarnished image. Browne Sanders insisted her victory was more about sending a message than the money. • Justin Reed of the Houston Rockets was cleared of misdemeanor marijuana charges. Others submitted affidavits claiming the drugs, his attorney said. • Forward Shawne Williams of the Indiana Pacers was arrested on marijuana possession, the third incident in less than a year. • Linebacker Nick Barnett of the Green Bay Packers will be charged with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct stemming from his involvement in an altercation this past June. • Texas Longhorns senior safety Tyrell Gatewood was suspended indefinitely after his arrest on drug charges. • Suspended University of Montana cornerback Jimmy Wilson pleaded not guilty to a murder charge stemming from the shooting death of his aunt's 29-year-old boyfriend. Wilson is charged in the June 3 shooting death of Kevin I. Smoot in Lancaster. The player also faces a special allegation that he discharged the rifle. • A trademark lawsuit by tennis player Andre Agassi alleges that Target Corp . sold a sandal using his name without his permission. Agassi Enterprises Inc. claims it told Minneapolis-based Target in June that the sandals violated its trademark on the retired tennis player's name. On June 27, Target attorneys told Agassi Enterprises that it had removed the name from the sandals, according to the lawsuit. • University of Pittsburgh starting point guard Levance Fields was arrested for assaulting a police officer outside a nightclub according the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Fields was charged with one count each of aggravated assault, disarming a police officer, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness. • An appeals court ruled that Ohio State must pay the former men's basketball coach Jim O'Brien nearly $2.5 million that a lower court had awarded him. • John Todd Miller , former Tampa-area clinic operator was sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiring to provide muscle-building steroids to teenage inline skating champion Corey Gahan . • Seattle officials filed a lawsuit to keep the SuperSonics from leaving town, saying the team's profitability in much-maligned KeyArena "has less to do with KeyArena than perhaps the Sonics' ability to defend the high pick-and-roll." The lawsuit was filed in King County Superior Court just a few days after new Sonics chairman Clay Bennett issued a demand for arbitration, seeking to buy out the remainder of the team's lease unless an agreement on a new arena is reached by the end of next month. • Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson pleaded guilty to drug possession and driving under the influence, the Arizona Republic reported. Tyson faces up to six months in jail on the DUI charge but could also receive up to five years probation, according to the report. He will be sentenced on November 19. • Former Dallas Mavericks forward Roy Tarpley filed a federal lawsuit claiming the NBA and the team violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by refusing to reinstate him to the league. Tarpley, who was permanently banned from the NBA in 1995, claimed in his lawsuit that the league and the Mavericks discriminated against him on the basis of his disability as a recovering drug and alcohol abuser. • Random drug testing was ordered for Falcons QB Michael Vick after testing positive for marijuana. The new restrictions could include urine testing, the wearing of a sweat patch, a remote alcohol testing system or any form of prohibited substance screening or testing. Hudson's order also requires Vick to participate in inpatient or outpatient substance therapy and mental health counseling if the pretrial services officer or supervising officer deems it appropriate. Vick must pay for the treatment. • The NHL violated antitrust laws and is acting like "an illegal cartel" by monopolizing control of team promotions, Madison Square Garden claimed in a lawsuit. MSG, which owns the New York Rangers , said the NHL would begin fining the organization $100,000 per day if the company did not give the league complete control over the Rangers' Web site and other promotions. MSG asked that a judge order the league to stop limiting team promotions, and it also wants the court to clarify the boundaries of the league's rights. • A New York Jets season-ticket holder filed a class-action lawsuit against the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick for "deceiving customers." • University of South Carolina safety Emanuel Cook had a felony gun charge dismissed at a preliminary hearing. Richland County Magistrate Judge Nikki Hall ruled there was not enough probable cause for the case against Cook to go to a grand jury, said Lowell Bernstein, Cook's attorney. • Former University of Northern Colorado 's backup punter Mitch Cozad was sentenced to seven years in prison for stabbing a rival in what prosecutors said was a brutal attempt to take over the starter's role. • Tony Joiner , a senior captain and defensive leader of the Florida Gators , was arrested and charged with felony burglary, police said. Joiner was accused of pushing a heavy electric gate open to enter the lot in an attempt to retrieve his girlfriend's car, which was being held in lieu of a $76 towing bill, a police report said. • Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Jerramy Stevens was sentenced to 12 days in jail for his March arrest on drink driving, the Arizona Republic newspaper reported. • O.J. Simpson must hand over any of the disputed memorabilia items recently seized by Las Vegas authorities that are found to be legally his. Simpson must continue paying a civil judgment that found him liable for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman , a judge ruled. Any future royalties from a sports video game featuring Simpson also must be delivered to Goldman's father, Fred Goldman . This all stems from the fake Rolex Simpson was caught wearing during the time of his arrested. Goldman requested that the watch be seized. The Court hearing is set for November 8 for O.J. Simpson and the five other men accused of kidnapping and robbing two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint. • Allen Iverson has been sued for not showing up, this time to speak to his fans. Now, the promoter who tried to bring the "Answer" to Omaha wants one instead -- and about $44,000 in damages. Kermit Brashear , the lawyer for the promotion company that booked Iverson for the events, said they know nothing more than what Iverson's representatives told HYB Entertainment promoter Dave : that Iverson had a family emergency. • Jacksonville University running back Rudell Small was reinstated, one day after teammate Cecil Coltrane admitted planting more than 20 grams of marijuana in Small's dorm room. • Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry is in the middle of a lawsuit directed at the NFL to keep the league from using the results of a drug test to suspend him, Newsday reports. Henry claims that the NFL violated league substance abuse policy by not allowing his experts to be present for testing of his urine specimen, court papers stated. The NFL denied comment. •

 

 

Talking Sports

 

MLB officials reportedly want to have a blood test available starting next season to screen players for Human Growth Hormone (HGH). • LeBron James underwent Lasik eye surgery. The operation has improved James' vision to 20/15. • Yao Ming and Steve Nash gave basketball fans in China a treat. Yao and Nash teamed up to host a charity basketball game in Beijing. The Yao/Nash Charity Gala event featured an exhibition game between a team of NBA players led by Nash and the Chinese national team led by Yao. • A television writer and producer paid $10,200 for what an animal rights group said are notes from football star Michael Vick's speech apologizing for a dog fighting scandal. • Schools would be barred from cutting financial aid to athletes for any injury or medical condition, including pregnancy and eating disorders, under a proposal approved by an NCAA Division I panel. The measure will go to the Division I Management Council as an amendment to the NCAA bylaws later this fall. • Mike Tirico will take over part of Dan Patrick's old sports talk time slot on ESPN Radio . " The Mike Tirico Show " will debut Thursday from 1-3 p.m. EDT. • The NBA reinstated referee Joey Crawford five months after he was suspended indefinitely for "improper conduct and lack of professionalism." Crawford had been terminated for his behavior during a game between the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks on April 15. • A company that distributed human growth hormone to "well known athletes and entertainers" has agreed to pay a $10.5 million penalty and cooperate with ongoing law enforcement investigations, according to federal prosecutors. Under the terms of the agreement, Specialty Distribution Services Inc., a subsidiary of Express Scripts Inc., will not face prosecution for three years if it fully complies with terms of the agreement. • Kasey Kahne is the new beer man, picking up Budweiser as the primary sponsor for his No. 9 Dodge . • The Pittsburgh Penguins signed a lease committing the NHL team to its yet-to-be built $290 million arena until 2040. • Ed Wade was hired as the new Houston Astros ' general manager. Wade is replacing Tim Purpura , who was fired along with manager Phil Garner on August 27. • Riley Salmon made 16 kills and Reid Priddy added 14 to lead the United States to its third consecutive NORCECA men 's volleyball championship, a 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23 victory over Puerto Rico. Both teams qualified for the FIVB World Cup in November in Japan. · Former NBA coach and commentator Dick Versace will bid for the 18th Congressional District seat in central Illinois . • Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett recently returned to his native Texas to be closer to his family for the next phase of his recovery from a life-threatening spinal cord injury. • Tony DiCicco , who guided the US to 1999 Women's World Cup and 1996 Olympic crowns, was named coach of the Boston Breakers of the new US women's pro league to debut in 2009. • Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko is reportedly set to walk away from 63 million dollars remaining on his NBA contract. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Kirilenko said he is ready to leave the NBA and would most like to play in Moscow, his homeland. "I have never been unfair and I don't want to enjoy something that I don't deserve,” said Kirilenko. • Carl Edwards won the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover International Speedway . • Paul and Teri Fields of Michigan City, Indiana, named their son Wrigley Alexander Fields . Wrigley was born Sept. 12 at an Indiana hospital. • September 24 marked 50 anniversary of the Brooklyn Dodger's move to Los Angeles. · Sanya Richards , the American 400-meter runner won the World Athletics Final in 49.27 seconds to match her fastest time in the world this season. · Mark Cuban , owner of the NBA's Dallas Maverick , indicated on Fox Sports Radio that he was interested in buying the Chicago Cubs . • China will enter a team in Arizona Fall League , and it will be coached by former major leaguers Jim Lefebvre and Bruce Hurst . • The NFL will be working with the Drug Enforcement Administration to establish whether any of its players are linked to the massive steroid bust. The DEA revealed that it had made 124 arrests and seized 11.4 million steroid doses and 500 pounds of raw steroid powder as part of an 18-month international investigation dubbed " Operation Raw Deal ." • Two athletic department academic assistance employees have resigned and 23 Florida State University athletes were implicated in cheating on tests given over the Internet said school officials. • The ball Barry Bonds hit for his record-breaking 756th home run will be branded with an asterisk and sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Fashion designer Marc Ecko , who bought the ball in an online auction, set up a Web site for fans to vote on the ball's fate, and announced the decision to brand it won out over the other options -- sending it to Cooperstown unblemished or launching it into space. Ecko said he believed the vote to brand the ball showed people thought "this was shrouded in a chapter of baseball history that wasn't necessarily the clearest it could be." Bonds called Ecko "an idiot." The asterisk suggests that Bonds' record is tainted by alleged steroid use. Fans brought signs with asterisks on them to ballparks as he neared Aaron's hallowed mark. • If Gilbert Arenas has his way, the baseball Barry Bonds hit for his record-breaking 756th career homer will never be branded with an asterisk. For this reason, Arenas' wants to buy the ball. "I don't think he should mess up history like that," Arenas said. • The NFL made history last season with two black head coaches in the Super Bowl. A new university reports on diversity in sports claims the league also had a record number of minority assistant coaches. NFL teams had 165 minority assistants in 2006 -- a 200 percent increase from 1991, the oldest data researcher Richard Lapchick explains. • Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies struck out for the 196th time setting the single-season major league record. • A longtime critic of Rutgers University sports is being criticized over a newspaper article comment that university officials have branded as racist. At the end of a New York Times article about William C. Dowling 's failed efforts to get Rutgers to turn away from high-stakes athletics, the tenured English professor responded to arguments that athletic scholarships provide opportunity to low-income, minority students. "If you were giving the scholarship to an intellectually brilliant kid who happens to play a sport, that's fine," Dowling said. "But they give it to a functional illiterate who can't read a cereal box, and then make him spend 50 hours a week on physical skills. That's not opportunity. If you want to give financial help to minorities, go find the ones who are at the library after school." • LeBron James treated his appearance on the 'Saturday Night Live' season premiere like a fast break. The 22-year-old's humorous Nike ads, in which he plays four versions of himself, and his ESPYs co-hosting performance made Lorne Michaels believe James would do well on the show. • Paul Westhead is leaving the WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury to return to the NBA, accepting an assistant coach job with the Seattle SuperSonics . • SI.com reported that lead BALCO investigator Jeff Novitzky alleged that Shane Mosley began using BALCO designer steroids "the clear" and "the cream" as part of a doping regimen before a 2003 fight against Oscar De La Hoya • Major League Soccer has apparently settled on Seattle as its next expansion city, according to a report on SI.com. Citing an undisclosed source, the new franchise is targeted to begin play in the 2009 season. • Stanley Cup champion Ducks found themselves in a completely unfamiliar territory when they opened the NHL season against the Los Angeles Kings at London's the O2 Arena Saturday, September 29. The Kings beat the defending champs 4-1. • It was 50 years ago when the Polo Grounds Giants ' played their last home game in New York after 75 seasons at the Polo Grounds in Harlem NY, on Sept. 29, 1957 before moving to Pittsburgh and becoming the Pirates . • Only one of the remaining 49 pit bulls seized from a home owned by NFL quarterback Michael Vick at the outset of a dog fighting investigation should be euthanized, the others have placement potential. • Classes at the University of Memphis were canceled Monday after football player, Taylor Bradford , was fatally shot on campus. After the shooting, the 21-year-old junior crashed a car he was driving into a tree. Police said they had not determined whether he was shot before or after he started driving the vehicle. • A group that led a campaign to legalize marijuana possession in Denver is posting a billboard advertisement encouraging suspended running back Ricky Williams and the Denver Broncos to get together. • Phil Jackson hopes to reach a decision on his coaching future in the next four weeks. Jackson is in the final season of the three-year, $30 million contract he signed before the 2005-06 season with the LA Lakers . • The Atlanta Falcons will try to convince an arbitrator the team deserves a refund on up to $22 million in bonus money paid to quarterback Michael Vick . Attorneys representing the NFL Players Association will argue against the Falcons' claim. An expert in sports contracts said the Falcons face long odds in their effort to have bonus money returned to the team. The Falcons are expected to contend that Vick knew he was in violation of the contract when he signed the $130 million deal in December of 2004, and that he used proceeds from the deal to fund his dog fighting operation. • Aaron McKie , former NBA 6th man, joins 76ers staff as assistant coach • Michael Vick was attentive and inquisitive during an eight-hour class in empathy and animal protection at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals headquarters, a PETA spokesman. Trial date for suspended Falcons QB Vick on state dog fighting charges will be set on Nov. 27. • Doctors are following the playbook in treating Buffalo Bills football player Kevin Everett's severe spinal cord injury except in one notable regard: pumping icy cold saline into his veins to try to prevent further damage. Although the treatment is experimental, it is more science than science fiction, and also is being tried on stroke and brain injury patients. • A Rottweiler at the home of Cincinnati Bengalis cornerback Deltha O'Neal bit a woman and her 3-year-old son according to a story on the Cincinnati Enquirer's web site. According to the report, O'Neal drove both victims to Anderson Mercy Hospital following the incident, the Clermont County sheriff said. O'Neal, 30, apparently wasn't home when Jasmie Risco, 23, and her son were bitten on the legs and buttocks by the pet. O'Neal's relationship to the woman and child is unclear. • Less than a year ago, a soccer team made up of refugee children in an Atlanta suburb had to fight to find a field for practice. This season opener, Nike officials present the soccer team with a $100,000 donation of cash, green-and-yellow uniforms, and equipment. • Jim Tracy was fired as the Pittsburgh Pirates manager after posting a 133-189 record over two losing campaigns, including 68-94 this past season.

 

 

 

Sports Biz

 

A group trying to bring a WNBA team to Colorado, but hadn't found enough interest from investors to continue pursuing a team for 2008. • University of Memphis basketball coach John Calipari and Chinese Basketball Association officials have struck a deal that could boost China awareness of US college teams, the New York Times reported. The deal includes Calipari, a former NBA coach of the New Jersey Nets , overseeing a set of camps and clinics across China for the next five years. • Adidas became the third sponsor of the 2012 London Olympics in a deal worth more than $201 million. Adidas becomes the official sportswear partner for the games and also will provide clothing for the 70,000 volunteers and officials. The deal also covers sponsorship for clothing and equipment used by British athletes for the 2008 Beijing Games, the 2010 Vancouver Games and 2012 London Games. • The NBA announced the establishment of NBA China to be headed by the outgoing boss of Microsoft's China operations , Tim Chen , in a move seen as a first step toward an eventual NBA-managed Chinese domestic league. • Mercedes-Benz will end its sponsorship of the men's ATP tennis tour when the current three-year contract expires at the end of 2008. The company has been one of the main sponsors of the ATP since 1996. The German carmaker wants to shift its focus to golf, equestrian and soccer, as well as fashion and lifestyle. • Nationwide Insurance to sponsor NASCAR's No. 2 series beginning in 2008, The Associated Press has learned. Nationwide will replace Anheuser-Busch, which has sponsored the second-tier Busch Series for 26 seasons but said earlier this year it would end its entitlement deal at the conclusion of this season. The deal with Nationwide is estimated to be seven years at $10 million a year, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who requested anonymity because the deal had yet to be completed. A-B was paying roughly the same amount, and NASCAR initially had sought an increase in the price of the series. • The ATP , governing body of men's tennis, announced a new-look calendar and significant extra investment for the 2009 season. Ten cities will host revamped "500" series events which are currently one tier below the nine Masters Series tournaments. The Masters Series events will become known as "1000" tournaments, offering 1,000 rankings points to the winners. The "500" series offers 500 points. Prize money for the "500" series will rise to $20.7 million, an increase of 118 percent on the same events in 2008. The ATP said the revamp would bring $200 million worth of facility improvements at the tournaments. •