Hanescu ousts Starace in Bucharest

Bucharest, Romania (Sports Network) - Hometown favorite Victor Hanescu toppled third-seeded Italian Potito Starace in Friday's quarterfinal action at the $400,000 Romanian Open.
The Bucharest native Hanescu, a wild card this week, sent Starace packing with a 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 decision on the red clay at BNR Arenas.
The only seeded player still standing this week, No. 6 Frenchman Gilles Simon, avoided an upset by drilling American qualifier Hugo Armando 6-4, 6-2 on Day 5.
In other quarterfinal action, qualifier Gael Monfils drubbed fellow Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-4, 6-2 and Argentine Carlos Berlocq dismissed Russian qualifier Yuri Schukin 7-5, 6-3.
Saturday's semifinals will pit Simon against Berlocq and Hanescu versus Monfils.

Starace reaches Bucharest quarters

Bucharest, Romania (Sports Network) - Third-seeded Italian Potito Starace, the highest-remaining seed still standing this week, highlighted Thursday's second-round winners at the $400,000 Romanian Open.
Starace drove out veteran Romanian crowd favorite Andrei Pavel 6-3, 6-3 on the red clay at B.N.R. Arenas. The 33-year-old Pavel entered the draw as a wild card this week.
Another Romanian wild card did not disappoint the home crowd on Day 4, however, as Victor Hanescu knocked out eighth-seeded Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-3, 6-2 to reach Friday's quarterfinals, where he will meet Starace. Montanes was the Bucharest runner-up back in 2001...Full Story

Davydenko bows out in Beijing

Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Top-seeded Russian star Nikolay Davydenko came up a second-round loser Thursday at the $500,000 China Open.
Promising 18-year-old Croat Marin Cilic upended the U.S. Open semifinalist Davydenko in 6-3, 6-4 fashion on the hardcourts at Beijing Tennis Center. Davydenko has now dropped two of his last three matches, including a final four setback at the hands of Roger Federer in New York last week.
A pair of seeds moved into Friday's quarterfinals here, as No. 3 Spaniard Tommy Robredo rolled past South African Rik De Voest 6-2, 6-3 and No. 8 Russian Igor Kunitsyn held off American Kevin Kim 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
Another upset, albeit a mild one, occurred when German wild card Nicolas Kiefer cut down seventh-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4...Full Story

Raiders' Russell finally signs contract to end holdout

Alameda, CA (Sports Network) - Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall pick from this year's draft, finally ended his holdout by signing a six-year deal on Wednesday.
Although terms of the deal were not released, NFL.com is reporting that the contract will guarantee him $29 million and it could go up to $68 million with incentives.
The previous record for a rookie was when the Detroit Lions gave wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who was picked right behind Russell, a guaranteed $27.2 million. Last year's top pick Mario Williams, a defensive end on the Houston Texans, signed a guaranteed $26.5 million last season.
After a holdout that was the longest in two decades, Russell signed the contract and joined his team on the practice field.
Russell was chosen first overall on April 28, but he missed all of training camp, the Raiders' four preseason games and the regular season opener on Sunday, a 36-21 loss to Detroit, while holding out.
The 2007 Sugar Bowl MVP and a first team All-SEC performer as a senior, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Russell compiled a 25-4 record as a starter at LSU and was highly touted for his tremendous arm strength...Full Story

Rams place Pace on injured reserve, done for season

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - The St. Louis Rams have placed injured offensive tackle Orlando Pace on the reserve/injured list on Wednesday, ending his season.
Pace suffered a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder with just under two minutes to play in the first half of the Rams' 27-13 loss to Carolina on Sunday.
This is the second straight season that Pace has had his season cut short due to injury. Last year, he suffered a torn left tricep in November and along with a concussion he missed half of last season.
The seven-time Pro Bowler has been in the league for 11 seasons, all with St. Louis, and he has played in 144 games, starting all but four of them.
To shore up the offensive line, the team signed tackle Brandon Gorin. His last playing time was with New England in 2005 when he appeared in 11 games, including eight starts...Full Story

Hantuchova lands in Bali quarters

Bali, Indonesia (Sports Network) - Second-seeded Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova highlighted Wednesday's second-round winners at the $225,000 Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic.
Hantuchova handled Dutch wild card Elise Tamaela 7-5, 6-3 at the beautiful Grand Hyatt Bali.
A second-round upset came when Japanese qualifier Ayumi Morita mauled sixth- seeded German Martina Muller 6-4, 6-0. Morita will now appear in her first- ever WTA Tour quarterfinal, against Hantuchova.
One other second-round match saw Romanian Edina Gallovits ground Chinese qualifier Meng Yuan 6-2, 6-4, while one final opening-round bout had seventh- seeded Japanese Aiko Nakamura besting Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5...Full Story

Belichick releases statement on videotaping incident

Foxboro, MA (Sports Network) - New England head coach Bill Belichick released a statement on Wednesday concerning allegations that the Patriots stole signs and spied on the New York Jets this past Sunday.
"Earlier this week, I spoke with Commissioner [Roger] Goodell about a videotaping procedure during last Sunday's game and my interpretation of the rules. At this point, we have not been notified of the league's ruling. Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players. Following the league's decision, I will have further comment."
At his Wednesday press conference with the media, Belichick only fielded questions about the Pats upcoming game with the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night...Full Story

Buccaneers release WR Boston

Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released David Boston on Wednesday after reaching an injury settlement with the often-injured wide receiver.
The Buccaneers signed Boston in the offseason and he made the 53-man roster out of training camp. Prior to the season opener this past Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks though, Boston injured his foot during pregame warm-ups and did not play.
Boston was also with the Bucs during training camp last year, but was released prior to the start of the 2006 season.
The seven-year veteran has totaled 315 catches, 4,699 yards and 25 touchdowns in 75 career games. He was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 1999 draft by Arizona and enjoyed four productive seasons in the desert with the Cardinals. In 2001, he caught 98 balls for 1,598 yards and eight scores en route to a Pro Bowl appearance...Full Story

Don't forget about the Pistons

(Sports Network) - It has been a very quiet offseason for president of basketball operations Joe Dumars and the Detroit Pistons. However, the one move that the organization had to make during the summer was accomplished.
The Pistons, who have lost in the Eastern Conference finals two straight years, re-signed All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups to a lucrative, multi- year contract. Billups is the glue of the Pistons, and is the catalyst for everything that makes them successful.
Billups, who was the MVP of the 2004 NBA Finals, averaged 17.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and a team-best 7.2 assists in 70 games during the 2006-07 regular season. The 6-3 Billups, who has also spent time with Boston, Toronto, Denver and Minnesota during his 10-year career, has found a home in Detroit.
A two-time All-Star, Billups teams with Richard Hamilton to make up arguably the best backcourt in the NBA. By keeping Billups in the fold, Dumars has made sure that his squad will once again be one of the top teams in the East. The nucleus of Billups, Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace will try to get the Pistons back into the championship round for the first time since 2005, when San Antonio defeated Detroit in seven games to win the title...Full Story

Leafs' Bell suspended 15 regular-season games

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The National Hockey League suspended Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mark Bell for 15 regular-season games without pay on Wednesday for having engaged in and acknowledging conduct deemed to be dishonorable, prejudicial to or against the welfare of the league or the game of hockey.
The NHL originally suspended Bell indefinitely without pay on September 4 and placed him in the league's substance abuse program.
Bell pleaded no contest in August to hit-and-run charges and drunken driving, both charges coming from an incident in California last September, when Bell was a member of the San Jose Sharks. The 27-year-old will serve six months in jail next summer after the end of the season.
The upcoming season is now up in the air for Bell. He will remain in the league's substance abuse program until approval for his reinstatement is given by the NHL, the NHL players' union, and program doctors.
According to the suspension under By-Law 17, Bell's 15-game penalty will not begin until he receives the proper clearance by all three parties. Although he will not be allowed to play during the ban, Bell will be able to participate in practice and training sessions with the Maple Leafs.
"Playing in the National Hockey League is a privilege, and with that privilege comes a corresponding responsibility for exemplary conduct off the ice as well as on it," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. "Such conduct is a violation of our covenant with our fans, and to the game, and is prejudicial to the welfare of the league."
The Maple Leafs acquired Bell in a draft-day trade in June along with goaltender Vesa Toskala in exchange for three draft picks.
Bell has scored 83 goals and accrued 89 assists in 410 career games with the Sharks and Blackhawks. He finished with 11 goals and 10 assists in 71 games for the Sharks last season.

Andreev bounced in Bucharest

Bucharest, Romania (Sports Network) - Fifth-seeded and two-time runner-up Igor Andreev was among Wednesday's second-round losers at the $400,000 Romanian Open.
Frenchman Marc Gicquel dismissed the Russian Andreev in 6-4, 6-3 fashion on the red clay at B.N.R. Arenas. Andreev reached back-to-back finals here in 2004 and 2005.
Sixth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon avoided an upset by pasting Russian Evgeny Korolev 6-4, 6-2 on Day 3 here.
In other second-round action, American qualifier Hugo Armando erased Italian Andreas Seppi 6-0, 6-3 and French qualifier Gael Monfils topped Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello 6-4, 6-4. Armando will battle Simon in the quarterfinals, while Monfils will encounter his countryman Gicquel.
A pair of Romanian crowd favorites will take to the clay here on Thursday, as Victor Hanescu will face eighth-seeded Spaniard Albert Montanes and Andrei Pavel will take on third-seeded Italian Potito Starace.

Gonzalez, Baghdatis reach Beijing QFs

Beijing, China (Sports Network) - Australian Open runner-up Fernando Gonzalez and last year's Beijing champion Marcos Baghdatis were among Wednesday's second-round winners at the $500,000 China Open.
The second-seeded Gonzalez blew past fellow Chilean Paul Capdeville 6-1, 6-2, while a fifth-seeded Baghdatis, of Cyprus, brushed aside Serbian Boris Pashanski 6-4, 6-4. The 2006 Aussie Open runner-up Baghdatis has won his last seven matches here in Beijing, including a title bout victory over Croatian Mario Ancic a year ago.
Gonzalez will battle sixth-seeded Korean Hyung-Taik Lee in the quarterfinals here on Friday, while Baghdatis will face fourth-seeded Croat Ivan Ljubicic.
In other second-round action, Ljubicic leveled Serbian Viktor Troicki 6-1, 6-1 and Lee handled German Bjorn Phau 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 on the hardcourts at the Beijing Tennis Center...Full Story

Bengals Get Some Breaks, Outlast Ravens

(Sports Network) - The offense of the Baltimore Ravens tried its best to give Cincinnati a win in its opener Monday night.
When that failed, the officials effectively tried to gift wrap the victory for them.
That didn't work either, but when Ravens tight end Todd Heap failed to hold a rocket of a pass from backup quarterback Kyle Boller in the waning moments, the Bengals had finally been coerced into accepting a 27-20 win that helped kick off their season at 1-0.
Despite committing five turnovers in the game's first three-plus quarters, Baltimore found itself clinging to a 20-19 lead after Ed Reed returned a punt 63 yards for a surprisingly easy touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
The Bengals rebounded, cashing in that fifth turnover, an interception by end Robert Geathers, into a touchdown pass from Carson Palmer to T.J. Houshmandzadeh to give Marvin Lewis' club the lead back...Full Story

Browns deal Frye to Seattle

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Browns have reportedly traded quarterback Charlie Frye to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported the Seahawks actually made a pair of trades on Tuesday with both involving undisclosed draft choices. The Seahawks also dealt defensive end Bryce Fisher to Tennessee.
Frye became the first Browns QB to start consecutive opening days since Kelly Holcomb in 2002-03, but he was pulled after a 4-of-10 start for 34 yards with one interception in a 34-7 home loss to Pittsburgh in the season opener on Sunday.
Derek Anderson came on to complete 13-of-28 passes for 184 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Anderson (793 passing yards, 5 TD, 8 INT) appeared in five games last season, including one in which he rallied Cleveland for an overtime win over the Chiefs...Full Story

Federer will play in Davis Cup playoff this month

London, England (Sports Network) - Roger Federer has decided to play Davis Cup for Switzerland this month.
The Swiss will face the Czech Republic in a playoff on an indoor carpet in Prague from September 21-23, with the winner joining next year's 16-team World Group.
Federer had said that he would not play Davis Cup this year so he could concentrate on his top-ranking status and the Grand Slams. He won three of the four majors this year and was the runner-up at the French Open.
The 26-year-old Federer will be joined on the Swiss team by Stanislas Wawrinka, Michael Lammer and Yves Allegro. The formidable Czechs will counter with Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek, Lukas Dlouhy and Martin Damm.
Federer captured his fourth straight U.S. Open title last week, giving him 12 major titles for his brilliant career.

Almagro, Volandri bow out in Bucharest

Bucharest, Romania (Sports Network) - Top seeds Nicolas Almagro and Filippo Volandri were a pair of upset victims Tuesday at the $400,000 Romanian Open.
Almagro gave way to Italian Simone Bolelli, and an elbow injury, as the Spaniard retired from their match. Almagro won the first set 6-4 and was trailing 1-5 in the second when he called it quits.
The 2006 Bucharest runner-up Volandri was sent packing by French qualifier Gael Monfils 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) on the red clay at B.N.R. Arena. The Italian Volandri lost to Austrian Jurgen Melzer in last year's finale here.
Another Day-2 upset occurred when Argentine Carlos Berlocq knocked out seventh-seeded Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 7-6 (7-5), 6-1...Full Story

Davenport returns with a win in Bali

Bali, Indonesia (Sports Network) - Playing her first singles tennis since last year, former world No. 1 American Lindsay Davenport was an easy opening- round winner Tuesday at the $225,000 Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic.
An unseeded Davenport rolled past fifth-seeded Greek Eleni Daniilidou 6-2, 6-2 at the beautiful Grand Hyatt Bali. Davenport is now 2-0 lifetime against Daniilidou, with the other victory coming on a hardcourt in Los Angeles five years ago.
The 31-year-old Davenport is a three-time major titlist and captured this Bali event in 2005.
Davenport gave birth to her first child, a son named Jagger, back in June, and played her first WTA Tour tennis of any kind by making a doubles appearance in New Haven three weeks ago. Her last singles match came in China last September.
Up next for the big American will be her qualifier countrywoman Julie Ditty, who whipped Czech Hana Sromova 6-2, 6-1 on Day 2 here...Full Story