KEVIN R. CURTIS - Herald Correspondent | Posted: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 12:10 am
NFL
Lack of motive slows ruling on McNair girlfriend
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee's state medical examiner said Tuesday that investigators have been hesitant to conclude that Steve McNair's girlfriend killed the NFL star and herself because she didn't appear to have a motive, but that murder-suicide is the most likely scenario.
After the couple was discovered shot to death on Saturday, police were quick to label McNair's death a homicide. He had been shot twice in the head and twice in the chest, while 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi was dead from a single gunshot to the head. Under her body was a gun she had purchased less than two days before the killings.
Investigators were waiting on ballistics tests on the weapon before issuing a ruling on Kazemi's death, which medical examiner Bruce Levy said could come in the next few days. Kazemi's gun purchase, which was revealed on Monday, is a strong indication that she was responsible, he said.
"If we had known on Sunday about the gun I think we would have been very comfortable in ruling murder-suicide," he said. "I'll be very surprised now if they rule it isn't."
Levy said an apparent lack of motive by Kazemi has made investigators careful about exploring every possibility, including the unlikely scenario that a third party could have staged the scene. Their relationship lacked typical indicators of trouble -- such as concerned family members or police reports and protection orders.
"The thing we always hear is, 'We should have seen this coming,"' he said.
But Kazemi's family has said she was very happy.
"She just had it made, you know, (with) this guy taking care of everything," Kazemi's nephew Farzin Abdi said on Monday.
Levy said the 36-year-old McNair was shot in each temple and twice in the chest. Three of the shots were taken from a distance, but one of the shots to the temple came from just inches away.
The gun that killed Kazemi was in contact with her head when it discharged, he said.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said Monday McNair wasn't with Kazemi when she bought the semiautomatic pistol that was found at the scene. Police have declined to release the caliber of the gun or the name of the person who sold it to her. Aaron said the case may not be as neatly resolved as people would like.
"It may be we'll never know exactly why this happened," he said.
Much of what's known publicly about the affair comes from what Kazemi told her family: She was preparing to move in with McNair and believed he was going to divorce his wife, though no court records of divorce proceedings have surfaced.
Then early Thursday, Kazemi was arrested for DUI while driving a Cadillac Escalade that was registered in both of their names. McNair was with her but wasn't charged, and police allowed him to leave the scene. He later bailed her out. That night, Kazemi went alone to buy the handgun.
On Friday night and early Saturday morning, McNair was seen with friends in two Nashville bars. A witness said McNair arrived at a condominium he leased sometime between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Kazemi's car was already there. The couple had been dead for hours when McNair's friend Wayne Neeley, who leased the condo with him, found the bodies at around 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Horse Racing
Dutrow suspended 30 days
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Rick Dutrow has been suspended 30 days for violating doping rules. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission issued the suspension Tuesday, more than a year after tests revealed that Salute the Count had an excessive amount of Clenbuterol in his blood after finishing second in a race at Churchill Downs.
Clenbuterol allows horses to breathe easier while exercising. It's only legal at low dosages.
State racing stewards recommended a 15-day suspension, but KHRC executive director Lisa Underwood said the panel opted for a stiffer penalty because they felt that Dutrow was dragging out the process. Lawyer Frank Becker said Dutrow would probably appeal. Dutrow trained 2008 Derby winner Big Brown.
NBA
Hawks reach agreement with Bibby
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement to re-sign Mike Bibby to a three-year deal. Bibby's agent, David Falk, said Tuesday he has reached an "oral understanding" that will allow the Hawks to retain the point guard who has led the team to two straight playoff appearances.
"We've reached an agreement in principle that hopefully will be announced very soon," Falk said.
Bibby was an unrestricted free agent. Wednesday is the first day NBA free agents are allowed to sign contracts. Hawks general manager Rick Sund said Tuesday he could not comment on the status of the talks with Bibby.
Falk said the agreement is a good fit for both parties. Falk said the 31-year-old Bibby has enjoyed his time with Atlanta coach Mike Woodson, who has leaned on the 11-year veteran to lead a young team.
• AP Source: Pistons, Johnson end coaching talks: Avery Johnson won't be joining the Detroit Pistons as head coach.
"I looked at it, I was interested in it, but I was only interested in it if we could agree on a vision for the team going forward," Johnson told ESPN, where he is a studio analyst.
A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the two sides failed to agree on the length of a contract and the salary. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private.
The Pistons have instead narrowed their coaching search to Cavaliers assistant John Kuester and Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, the person said.
The Pistons fired Michael Curry as coach last week after one year on the bench. Curry's replacement -- Detroit's fifth coach in nine seasons -- has a host of roster decisions to make.
Ben Gordon, who signed a five-year contract worth $50-plus million after playing for the Bulls, is part of a potential three-guard rotation with Rip Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey. Charlie Villanueva, newly arrived from Milwaukee, will make at least $35 million and should be able to start for a team that will likely be without both Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess.
Auto Racing
Waltrip to scale back to make room for Truex
CORNELIUS, N.C. -- Two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip will scale back to a partial schedule to make room for Martin Truex Jr. to join the team in 2010. Truex will leave Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing at the end of the year to drive the No. 56 Toyota, which he drove into the Michael Waltrip Racing shop Tuesday to announce his hiring. Truex received a thunderous ovation from the MWR employees on the shop floor, as well as about 100 fans Waltrip allowed to watch the announcement from an overhead balcony.
"Welcome aboard, brother," Waltrip told his new hire.
Waltrip will keep his No. 55, but run a partial schedule. He said he'd race in at least four races -- maybe as many as 12 -- and longtime sponsor NAPA was committed to sponsoring him in next season's Daytona 500.
NAPA will be Truex's primary sponsor, and the auto parts distributor is already supporting Ryan Truex, his younger brother, who signed earlier this year as a development driver for Waltrip.
But signing Truex wasn't a slam-dunk for Waltrip, who had to first come to terms with giving up his seat and then convince a top free agent to sign with his race team. MWR had a disastrous 2007 debut, when Waltrip was ensnared in a cheating scandal at the season-opening Daytona 500 to start a season of embarrassing struggles.
Tennis
French tennis player banned for betting found dead
PARIS -- French tennis player Mathieu Montcourt, who was recently banned for betting on matches, has died. He was 24.
The French tennis federation said Tuesday that Montcourt died overnight but the cause of death is not yet known, and an autopsy will be conducted.
French media reported the 119th-ranked Montcourt was found dead by his girlfriend in the stairwell of his Paris apartment. In May, Montcourt was handed a five-week ban and fined $12,000 for betting on other matches. That ban took effect Monday.
"It is with great sadness that the French tennis federation has learned of the sudden death of Mathieu Montcourt," the French tennis federation said. "Mathieu was an enthusiastic young man, passionate, very endearing, and extremely appreciated for his kindness and politeness."
Four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal grew up playing against Montcourt on the junior circuit.
"This morning I woke up with one of the worst news anyone can receive," Nadal said on his Web site. "I heard about the death of our friend Mathieu Montcourt. I am still under shock for this. I can't believe it."
Soccer
Michael Bradley suspended for 3 matches
WASHINGTON -- A confrontation with a referee following the United States' upset victory over Spain has earned midfielder Michael Bradley a three-game suspension, although the penalty is unlikely to affect qualifying for next year's World Cup.
Bradley, son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley, was sent off in the 87th minute for a lunging tackle in the 2-0 victory over Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals in South Africa last month. Michael Bradley then confronted Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda in the tunnel after the game, drawing the suspension announced Tuesday by soccer governing body FIFA.
FIFA said Bradley breached its disciplinary code "by committing acts of misconduct against opponents and match officials."
"Obviously, the emotions after a game like that with a decision like that are high," Bob Bradley said Tuesday after the final practice session for Wednesday's CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Honduras. "This is typically the way FIFA handles those things."
The red card he received for the foul meant Bradley was automatically suspended for the Confederations Cup final. He's serving the next two games of the suspension during the ongoing Gold Cup -- even though he's not on the roster because the team is using mostly younger players to get the veterans a break.