In Brief
GOLF
Storm threat halts play
at U.S. Women's Open
Cristie Kerr and amateur Amy Anderson were tied for the lead at 2 under par Thursday in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open in Colorado Springs, Colo., when play was called for the day because of thunderstorms in the area.
Kerr had three holes remaining and Anderson six when the sirens sounded, clearing the East Course at the Broadmoor.
Yani Tseng, trying to complete the career Grand Slam, was among the 72 players who hadn't begun their afternoon rounds when the bad weather hit. Defending champion Paula Creamer will also start her first round today.
Bishop Gorman High product Inbee Park, Ai Miyazato and Silvia Cavalleri were at 1 under when play was halted.
Of the 25 players who had completed their rounds, Kristy McPherson had the best score at 2-over 73.
Also: Kris Blanks birdied his final five holes to finish with an 8-under-par 63 and grab the first-round lead at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.
Blanks, who played the back nine first, rolled in a 25-foot putt on No. 5 to start his late run and capped it with an 11-footer to leave him alone at the top after Canadian rookie Matt McQuillan and veteran Davis Love III had held that spot much of the day with 64s.
Another late starter, Steve Marino, also came in with a 64. Mark Wilson, who has won twice on the tour this year, and Kyle Stanley were another stroke back, and Steve Stricker, seeking his third straight title in the tournament, was part of a large group at 66.
Lee Westwood and European Tour newcomer Mark Tullo of Chile shot 7-under 65s to share the lead after the first round of the Scottish Open in Inverness.
Westwood made six birdies and an eagle in the warm-up event before next week's British Open. A bogey at the 16th hole was his only setback.
With a win at the new links course at Castle Stuart, the second-ranked Westwood would regain the No. 1 ranking held by fellow Englishman Luke Donald.
Tullo, ranked No. 232 and in his first season on the tour, birdied his first four holes and five on the back nine to join Westwood atop the leaderboard.
Sixth-ranked Phil Mickelson posted a 1-over 73.
David Toms withrdrew from the British Open next week at Royal St. George's because of a hip injury.
He will be replaced by Simon Dyson of England.
BASKETBALL
NBA All-Star Williams
talking to Turkish team
Turkish team Besiktas said it is close to reaching a deal with locked out NBA All-Star guard Deron Williams.
Besiktas manager Murat Murtezaoglu told The Associated Press that talks are under way with the New Jersey Nets player and U.S. Olympian.
Coach Ergin Ataman told the state-run Anatolia news agency that a deal was close. He also told The New York Times that an agreement had been reached.
Jeff Schwartz, Williams' agent, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The Nets were not able to comment because the NBA has told teams not to comment on players during the lockout, which the owners initiated last week after the old collective bargaining agreement expired.
Also: The Reno Bighorns will be the NBA Development League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies, the league announced.
The Dakota Wizards, the Grizzlies' previous D-League affiliate, have been purchased by the Golden State Warriors.
The Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings are also affiliated with the Bighorns.
Washington added a familiar name in the Pacific Northwest to its 2011 recruiting class.
The Huskies announced that 6-foot-9-inch, 265-pound forward Shawn Kemp Jr. signed a scholarship agreement, becoming the sixth player for the Huskies' 2011 class. Kemp is the son of former Seattle SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp.
MISCELLANEOUS
Cowboys' Williams may
get ring back after all
Roy Williams' quest for the ring is apparently over.
A court hearing scheduled for today in Dallas was canceled in connection with a lawsuit filed by the Cowboys receiver over an engagement ring he allegedly mailed to Brooke Daniels, a former Miss Texas, in February as part of a marriage proposal.
Williams sued Daniels to retrieve the ring, and a hearing was slated for today. But court administrator Tina Gurule said the hearing had been canceled and was not rescheduled.
Gurule could not confirm if the ring, valued at $76,600, had been returned to Williams.
Daniels' father, Michael, told the Odessa (Texas) American he was returning the ring.
"I want to wash my hands of it," he said. "It's just a hassle. I'll take care of my daughter. I don't need him."
Also: With the hours dwindling until the deadline for Ohio State's response to NCAA allegations of improper benefits and a cover-up in the football program, athletic director Gene Smith said he's disappointed by "where we are" even as he's encouraged by the work of the school's compliance department.
Ohio State is on track to submit its reply today to NCAA charges of major violations that led to coach Jim Tressel's forced resignation and the departure of star quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
"I feel good about how we collaborated with the NCAA and about what you'll see in our response," Smith said. "But I am disappointed where we are" in terms of violations and possible sanctions.
Smith declined to address particulars about Ohio State's answer to the NCAA's 14-page cover letter and list of allegations, which were sent to the university in April. He said Ohio State had worked hard to answer all the questions stemming from charges that football players received cash and discounted tattoos from a local businessman and that Tressel had covered up his knowledge of the NCAA violations.
The Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League added Maurice Clarett to the active roster.
Clarett spent last season with the team, calling it a chance to rebuild his life. The former Ohio State star was suspended by the NCAA for taking improper inducements, failed to make it in the NFL, then spent 3½ years in prison for having a hidden gun and holding up two people outside a Columbus, Ohio, bar in 2006.
Clarett spent most of last season backing up Ahman Green as he got back into shape.
Serena Williams played her first sanctioned match in the United States in two years, helping lead the Washington Kastles of World Team Tennis to a 25-10 win over the Boston Lobsters in Washington.
The 13-time Grand Slam singles champion, who was sidelined for almost a year because of foot injuries and a pulmonary embolism, hadn't played a sanctioned match on U.S. soil since losing to Kim Clijsters in the 2009 U.S. Open semifinals.
Playing in the WTT's distinctive format, the 29-year-old Williams and doubles partner Rennae Stubbs opened the match with a 5-2 first set. In the fourth set, she and mixed doubles partner Leander Paes won, 5-1. Williams then closed out the match with a tiebreaker victory over Coco Vandeweghe in singles.
Sprinter Tyson Gay is expected to stop training for at least six weeks after undergoing right hip surgery in Vail, Colo.
Gay pulled out of the 100 meter preliminaries at the U.S. nationals last month with the injury, which has been bothering him since the beginning of the year.
Kentucky Derby long-shot winner Animal Kingdom is recuperating in Elkton, Md., after surgery to repair a slab fracture in his left hind leg.
The colt's ownership, Team Valor International, said Dr. Dean Richardson performed the surgery June 30 and inserted two screws to compress the hairline fracture that was discovered with a CAT scan. The surgery was done at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa.
