Phelps wants to swim with the card sharks
WINDSOR, Ont. -- After winning eight gold medals in Beijing, U.S. aquatic sensation Michael Phelps may be the greatest swimmer in history.But one thing he isn't is a "fish" -- poker parlance for a gambler who loses a lot of money -- say the card sharks who've bumped elbows with him in the wager room at Caesars Windsor.
Toronto Blue Jays starter A.J. Burnett pitches against the New York Yankees during the third inning of their American League baseball game in Toronto Tuesday. The right-hander (16-9) had a season-high 13 strikeouts in eight innings to lead the Jays past the Yankees 2-1 in dramatic fashion and within one game of New York for the third spot in the AL wild-card race. It was Burnett’s sixth straight win.
Between training sessions at Ann Arbor, Mich., where he prepared for the Olympics, Phelps frequently would cross the Detroit River -- in a vehicle -- to play Texas hold 'em in Windsor.
He was the talk of the poker room last week, where casino regulars referred to the 23-year-old phenom as "Phelpsie" while watching his races on wall-mounted flat-screen televisions.
Jamie Crawford, 23, from Kingsville, Ont., has seen Phelps in the card room several times over the past year and a half and has played with him on two occasions.
"He was telling me that he wants to see what he can do on the World Poker Tour after these Olympics. Another dream would be the World Series of Poker," Crawford said.
Ex-Canucks coach claims attack Bertuzzi's decision
VANCOUVER -- Former Vancouver Canucks coach Marc Crawford has filed court documents in Ontario Superior Court of Justice alleging Todd Bertuzzi was acting in "direct disobedience" when he sucker-punched then-Colorado Avalanche player Steve Moore from behind, the Toronto Star newspaper reported Tuesday.
Bertuzzi, who played last year for the Anaheim Ducks and signed to play with the Calgary Flames this season after his contract was bought out, attacked Moore on March 8, 2004, after a hit on Canucks star forward Markus Naslund in the NHL teams' previous meeting. Moore suffered broken vertebrae in his neck and claims his career was ended, according to court documents obtained by the Star.
Crawford said he was ordering Bertuzzi off the ice before the punch on Moore, according to his defence.
"After being directed to get off the ice, Bertuzzi was on his way back to the bench when, suddenly and without warning, he turned around and skated back in the direction of Moore... and attacked Moore," the Star reported.
Moore and his family have filed a $38-million lawsuit against Bertuzzi, Crawford and Orca Bay, the parent company of the Vancouver Canucks.
Bertuzzi has said in court filings that Crawford stressed to his team that Moore must "pay the price" for his hit on Naslund and that the coach "failed to exercise control over" his players."
-- Canwest News Service
Terry again chosen to captain England's soccer squad
WATFORD, England -- John Terry was named England's captain for the second time in two years on Tuesday.
Manager Fabio Capello tried out Steven Gerrard, former captain David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and Terry in the role in recent matches but settled on Chelsea captain Terry, as did previous coach Steve McClaren.
Terry's second turn as full-time captain starts today at Wembley in a friendly against the Czech Republic, which will be his 45th international.
The 27-year-old Terry seems to have impressed Capello with the way he rebounded from missing the penalty kick that could have won Chelsea the Champions League in May.
Capello tried him out as captain for a friendly against the United States less than two weeks after that shootout loss to Manchester United in Moscow, and Terry responded with a strong performance and the first goal in a 2-0 win.
"It showed the kind of character I am to the manager, to come back and bounce back from what had been a big disappointment to myself," Terry said.
-- The Associated Press
Yaz has another success with triple bypass surgery
BOSTON -- Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, the last player to hit for the Triple Crown, was resting comfortably Tuesday night after having triple bypass heart surgery.
Yastrzemski, who turns 69 on Friday, had the operation at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he underwent tests after experiencing chest pains in the morning, said his spokesman, Dick Gordon.
"He just got out of surgery, had his triple bypass and is resting comfortably," Gordon said at about 7:30 p.m. CT. "The operation was a success."
Yastrzemski's family said the triple bypass was "a complete success" in a statement released by the Red Sox.
The popular Yaz was an 18-time all-star and spent his entire career with the Boston Red Sox, taking over left field for Ted Williams in 1961 and playing through 1983.
In 1967, Yastrzemski helped revitalize the flagging franchise during the "Impossible Dream" season when the Red Sox went from ninth place in the 10-team AL in 1966 to the World Series, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
With calls of "Yaz" echoing around Fenway Park, he won the Triple Crown that year, hitting .326 with 44 home runs and 121 RBIs. Behind the AL MVP, the Red Sox won their first pennant since 1946, but lost the World Series in Game 7.
Yastrzemski was elected to the Hall on the first ballot in 1989.
-- The Associated Press
Steelers' Polamalu back after injuring hamstring
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu participated in a full practice for the first time this pre-season on Tuesday.
Polamalu was placed on the physically unable to perform list on the first day of training camp. He had injured his hamstring before arriving and has only worked out lightly on his own.
"I like the fact that they're taking it slow, because a hamstring is the kind of thing that you definitely don't want to have linger throughout the season," Polamalu said.
Polamalu made it through practice at the team's facility Tuesday "looking pretty good," coach Mike Tomlin said.
Neither Polamalu nor Tomlin would commit to his playing Saturday against Minnesota.
-- The Associated Press
NASCAR to issue penalties for cheats on Gibbs teams
NASCAR will wait another day before issuing penalties against Joe Gibbs Racing's Nationwide Series teams, which were caught trying to cheat during a post-race test last weekend.
The teams of Gibbs' No. 18 and No. 20 Toyotas deliberately attempted to mask the true horsepower in their engines after Saturday's race at Michigan International Speedway.
Inspectors found magnets under the gas pedals of both cars when they were sent to the chassis dyno for examination.
NASCAR traditionally hands out penalties from the previous week's races Tuesday, but NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said the decision was put off until today.
NASCAR vice-president of competition Robin Pemberton said Sunday the two teams put magnets a quarter-inch (half a centimetre) thick under the gas pedals on their cars in an attempt to hide how much horsepower the Gibbs motors still have even after a recent rule change.
The two cars have combined to win 14 of Toyota's 15 victories in 25 Nationwide races this season. To temper that domination, NASCAR last month ordered all Toyota teams to cut about 15 horsepower in their motors.
Tony Stewart finished third Saturday in the No. 20 in his final Nationwide race for JGR, and Joey Logano was seventh in the No. 18.
Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said he and his father, owner Joe Gibbs, had no prior knowledge of their crew members' intent. Father and son have promised an in-house investigation and penalties against those responsible beyond whatever NASCAR levies. J.D. Gibbs said Sunday the team probe could lead to some firings.
-- The Associated Press
Peyton comes to practice for first time since surgery
INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning proved Tuesday he can stand, walk and talk.
Next question: Will the two-time league MVP start in the Colts' season opener?
Manning made it to his first practice of the season Tuesday, then ended his self-imposed silence by saying he wanted to play in Indianapolis's first regular-season game Sept. 7 against Chicago -- although he couldn't provide a guarantee.
"As to when I'll be back on the practice field, that's still to be determined. Obviously, the sooner, the better for me. My goal is to be back for the first game," he said.
The Colts' franchise quarterback had been kept from public view since having surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee July 14. Team officials said he was staying away to reduce the risk of another infection.
Over the past couple of weeks, local radio talk shows have been filled with questions about whether Manning's knee was worse than originally diagnosed and whether he might miss the season opener -- or additional games.
-- The Associated Press
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