In Brief

BOXING

Hunter reaches finals
in Olympic Boxing Trials

Las Vegas heavyweight Michael Hunter continued his march toward a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, advancing to the finals with a 23-8 victory over Jordan Shimmell on Wednesday at the Olympic Boxing Trials in Mobile, Ala.

"I'm staying relaxed," Hunter said. "I was able to establish my jab early, and then I was able to work off the jab, and that opened a lot of doors for me."

Hunter, the 2011 national Golden Gloves champion, has won all three of his fights. He will face the winner of today's challengers bracket final between Shimmell and Joseph Williams on Friday for the gold medal. Williams eliminated Steve Geffrard, 19-15.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

UNLV receiver Payne to
miss start of fall camp

UNLV standout wide receiver Phillip Payne will miss at least the beginning of fall football camp because of an unspecified injury.

Rebels coach Bobby Hauck said via text message he didn't know how long Payne would be out but would provide more information early next week. UNLV opens camp Tuesday at Rebel Park.

Payne, a senior from Western High School, caught 40 passes for 689 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Also: Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly reinstated Michael Floyd to the team, four months after the star wide receiver was arrested for drunken driving.

Floyd, who has caught more touchdown passes than any other player in Notre Dame's storied history, said he has been to counseling, has changed his circle of friends and will stay in a residence hall instead of moving off campus.

Oregon State flanker James Rodgers was cleared to practice in a "limited fashion" after two knee surgeries.

The Humanitarian Bowl has become "The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl." The Idaho Potato Commission signed a six-year naming rights deal to sponsor the game, running through 2016.

pro basketball

Drug charges dropped, but Walker not off hook

An Arizona prosecutor has dismissed charges against a former NBA player who was arrested on drug charges, but that doesn't mean he's off the hook.

Deputy Mohave County Attorney Greg McPhillips said he'll reconsider bringing charges against Samaki Walker once laboratory analysis gives him a better idea what types of drugs were found in his 2002 Mercedes-Benz during a routine traffic stop in Kingman on July 28.

A state Department of Public Safety officer said the 35-year-old Woodland Hills, Calif., resident was eating marijuana as he approached the vehicle after the stop at 11:30 p.m. The officer noted in a report that about 10 grams of marijuana were found in the vehicle along with prescription pills and eight vials of liquid steroids or human growth hormones.

McPhillips said he needs to know more about the 268 pills and the steroids before he knows whether and which criminal charges might be appropriate. A narcotic task force commander said Walker told officers that the steroids are legal where he plays basketball overseas.

Kingman defense attorney Billy Sipe said he will represent Walker on the Arizona matter and that his client is free to play for his team in Syria once the season begins in October.

Also: Video game makers are bracing for an extended NBA lockout by focusing on former players who made the league popular in hopes of taking the attention away from the impact labor strife will have on their product.