In Brief

BASEBALL

Rangers' Hamilton apologizes
for 'weak moment' of drinking

Texas Rangers outfielder and recovering drug addict Josh Hamilton said Friday he had a relapse that started with "three or four" drinks at a Dallas-area bar this week, apologizing for a "weak moment" and insisting he will try to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Hamilton, 30, said his actions "are mine that hurt a lot of people very close to me."

Hamilton was suspended for more than three years for drug and alcohol use while in the Tampa Bay organization. The former No. 1 overall draft pick missed the entire 2004 and 2005 seasons, but has become one of the best players in baseball on a team that has won the last two American League pennants. He was the AL Most Valuable Player in 2010.

But Hamilton this week had his second known alcohol-related relapse in three years. Both came during the offseason.

In January 2009, he drank to excess in a bar in Tempe, Ariz. Before that, Hamilton said he had been sober since Oct. 6, 2005.

Without being specific, Hamilton said his weak moment came for "personal reasons" with a family member.

Also: For the first time since he signed a new contract that will keep him in San Francisco through the 2013 season, Giants ace Tim Lincecum revealed his reasoning behind a shorter deal: He wants to keep his options open because he has "never been a guy who could make a plan four years from now."

The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, visiting San Francisco's AT&T Park, said he would "love to be a Giant my whole career."

He cautioned fans not to worry about his possible pending free agency -- both sides are keeping discussions open on a longer contract.

Right-hander Matt Garza agreed to a $9.5 million, one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, just before the scheduled start of a salary arbitration hearing. Garza was acquired from Tampa Bay in January 2011 and went 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA in his first season with the Cubs, when he made $5.95 million.

Pitcher Shaun Marcum and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a one-year contract worth $7.72 million. Marcum made $4.05 million last year, when he went 13-7 with a 3.54 ERA.

Reliever Matt Belisle and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a two-year contract that includes a mutual option for 2014. The 31-year-old right-hander was 10-4 with a 3.25 ERA last season.

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated pitcher Jeff Niemann in salary arbitration, improving clubs to 2-0 in decisions this year. Niemann will make $2.75 million instead of his request for $3.2 million. He was 11-7 with a 4.06 ERA in 23 starts last season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers asked a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge to disallow claims against the team filed by Bryan Stow, the San Francisco Giants fan nearly beaten to death outside Dodger Stadium last spring.

Stow and his family sued the Dodgers in California state court, then filed the claim with the federal court in July, weeks after owner Frank McCourt put the team in bankruptcy.

"The Stow claim is, when stripped to its core, based on the faulty premise that a landowner is an insurer of the safety of persons on its property," the Dodgers said in a 37-page motion.

Stow sustained a severe brain injury when he was attacked after the Dodgers' home opener against the Giants on March 31.

In other Dodgers news, the team agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Todd Coffey on a $1.3 million, one-year contract with a club option for 2013. Coffey was 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA in 69 games with Washington last season.

GOLF

Levin eagles No. 17, shoots 63
to take lead at Phoenix Open

Spencer Levin holed out from a greenside bunker for eagle on the par-4 17th and shot an 8-under-par 63 to take a three-stroke lead in the suspended second round of the Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Levin completed a first-round 65 in the morning and was at 14-under 128.

Harrison Frazar was 6 under for the round and 11 under overall with three holes left at TPC Scottsdale when play was suspended because of darkness.

Frost delayed the start for an hour for the second straight day.

Also: U.S. Open champion So Yeon Ryu shot an 11-under 61 to take a four-stroke lead after two rounds of the Australian Ladies Masters in Gold Coast, Australia.

Ryu, who had 12 birdies and a bogey, stood at 17-under 127. She leads Christel Boeljon of the Netherlands, who had a second-round 65.

European Tour officials reduced the Qatar Masters to 54 holes when they called off play after strong winds moved golf balls and blowing sand reduced visibility on several holes.

First-round leader Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano dropped two shots on his first five holes to fall to 4 under through seven. John Daly, who had yet to start his second round, was the clubhouse leader after his 5-under 67 on Thursday.

LOCAL COLLEGES

CSN baseball team goes 1-1;
Daley pitches two-hitter in win

The College of Southern Nevada baseball team split two games at Morse Stadium.

In its first game, CSN got a complete-game two-hitter from A.J. Daley in a 9-1 victory over Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College. Daley (2-0) struck out five and walked two. Jack LaMarca went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

The Coyotes lost to Pima Community College (Ariz.) 6-5 in 13 innings in their second game. After giving up a run in the top of the 13th, CSN (4-3) loaded the bases in the bottom half but couldn't score.

Chad Whiteaker went 3-for-5 with a double and one RBI for the Coyotes, Chevas Numata was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI, and Quinnton Mack finished 2-for-6 and had an RBI in the 11th that tied the score at 5.

Also: The College of Southern Nevada softball team went 0-3 in the Great Western Shootout in Yuma, Ariz.

CSN (4-6) lost to El Paso (Texas) Community College 8-4, Eastern Arizona 9-2 and Yavapai College (Ariz.), 2-0. Yavapai is ranked No. 1 in the nation and the defending national champion.

The UNLV men's tennis team won five of six singles matches in straight sets, led by Alex Bull's 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 2 singles, and beat UC Riverside 6-1 in its home opener at Fertitta Tennis Complex.

The Rebels improved to 2-2 in dual match play.

Amanda Bingson won the weight throw with a heave of 62 feet, 6½ inches, and teammate Danielle Rios placed third with a mark of 60-0¼ on the first day of the New Mexico Classic indoor track and field meet in Albuquerque, N.M.

Lauren Petersen placed third in the 5,000 meters with a time of 18 minutes, 51.41 seconds, and the distance medley team took third in 12:08.72.

MISCELLANEOUS

Irsay's love-hate relationship
with Manning takes new turns

The simmering spat between Peyton Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay has taken two more odd twists.

Shortly after the surgeon for Manning sent out a statement Thursday night saying the Indianapolis quarterback had been cleared to play, Irsay responded on Twitter: "Peyton has not passed our physical nor has he been cleared to play for The Indianapolis Colts."

It was a terse statement that suggested Manning might have yet worn out his welcome in Indianapolis.

Then for the second straight Friday, Irsay tried to patch things up.

"Peyton Manning, Jim Irsay and the entire Colts family remain close and unified as we continue to work through all the options that relate to his future with the Colts," the owner said in a statement later in the day.

Also: Former Dallas Cowboys and Colts offensive lineman Kurt Vollers was sentenced to 2½ years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater sentenced Vollers in federal court in Dallas, almost two years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to sell more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. He could have received a 40-year prison term.

Chapel Hill police said the son of new Jacksonville Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey is among three former North Carolina athletes arrested for possession of cocaine.

Police said Shane Michael Mularkey was among the three arrested. The 21-year-old Mularkey played in all 13 football games for the Tar Heels in 2009, but school spokesman Kevin Best said he left the team after the 2010 season.

A Jaguars spokesman said the team is aware of the arrest, adding that it is a personal matter and that Mike Mularkey has no comment at this time.

Pittsburgh will join the Atlantic Coast Conference's Coastal Division in football, the league announced.

When the Panthers actually begin playing in the ACC remains unknown, but athletic director Steve Pederson isn't ready to shut the door on 2012.

John Terry was removed as England captain as he awaits trial for racial abuse, but the Chelsea defender will remain eligible to play for the national team at the European Championship.

The English Football Association said Terry would be stripped of the captaincy "until the allegations against him are resolved."

"(The board) collectively decided it is in the interests of all parties that John has the responsibilities of captaincy removed at this time," the FA said. "This decision has been taken due to the higher profile nature of the England captaincy, on and off the pitch, and the additional demands and requirements expected of the captain leading into and during a tournament.

"The FA board can confirm that he has not been excluded from the squad."

Police say IndyCar driver Marco Andretti drove through the broken gate of a Pennsylvania municipal parking garage instead of paying a fee.

Bethlehem police initially said Andretti was among three men who pushed the exit gate and left without paying. Bethlehem police Lt. Mark DiLuzio told the paper later the matter is still under investigation.