Tennis

Citing hip, Roddick pulls out of Davis Cup

WIMBLEDON, England - Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick withdrew Monday from the U.S. Davis Cup team's quarterfinal at Croatia, citing a right hip flexor injury. The U.S. Tennis Association announced that Roddick wouldn't participate in this week's Davis Cup matches because he was hurt during his loss a day earlier to Roger Federer at the All England Club - a match that finished 16-14 in the longest fifth set in Grand Slam final history.

Roddick slipped and tumbled to the grass in the eighth game of the fourth set Sunday. He stayed down for a few moments, then rose, grimacing, and toweled off. The 26-year-old American would go on to play for more than another 1 › hours, finally succumbing when Federer broke him for the first time all match in the 77th and last game.

After the match, Roddick was asked whether he hurt himself in that fall, and he replied, "No. It was OK."

He is being replaced on the U.S. Davis Cup team by Mardy Fish, who reached the third round at Wimbledon. Roddick is ranked No. 6, while Fish is No. 23.

When he was asked to play Davis Cup, Fish pulled out of this week's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, R.I., where he was the tournament's top-seeded player. Roddick had played in 18 consecutive Davis Cup matches for the United States, helping the country with the 2007 title.

"Andy has been a stalwart for this team the past nine years, and his dedication to Davis Cup and his teammates is unquestioned," U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said.

Croatia hosts the U.S. on clay at Porec, Croatia, starting Friday.

Auto Racing

NASCAR asks court to put driver back on suspension

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - NASCAR asked a federal judge Monday to reverse the ruling that lifted driver Jeremy Mayfield's indefinite suspension for failing a random drug test. The motion filed in U.S. District Court asked Judge Graham Mullen to reverse the injunction he issued last Wednesday that cleared Mayfield to return to competition. NASCAR also filed notice of its intent to appeal to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.

Mayfield was suspended May 9 for a positive drug test, and NASCAR has identified the substance as methamphetamine. Despite his reinstatement, Mayfield did not attempt to qualify for Saturday night's event at Daytona International Speedway, and he is not on the preliminary entry list for this weekend's race at Chicago.

NASCAR in its filing disputed Mullen's conclusion that the chance of a false positive on Mayfield's drug test was "quite substantial," and contended that Mullen relied on facts "outside the record, including the purported existence of reliable hair sample tests and same-day tests for methamphetamine."

NASCAR said Mullen failed to properly consider the reliability of assessments by Mayfield employees that the driver did not ingest methamphetamine; the sophistication and sensitivity of NASCAR-commissioned Aegis Laboratories drug-testing procedures that prevent false positives; and an affidavit from a Mayfield expert that found the level of methamphetamine in Mayfield's sample would make him a chronic user.

Mayfield attorney Bill Diehl argued to Mullen that Mayfield shows none of the physical characteristics of a chronic meth user, and if he tested positive at the levels NASCAR claimed, Mayfield would be "either a walking zombie or he's dead."

NASCAR also questioned in its filing Mullen's belief that Mayfield can be tested daily, including hair samples, to see if he is a safety risk.

"The Court improperly decided without the benefit of any evidence in the record that a reliable and accurate same-day test for methamphetamine exists which can ensure Mayfield's drug-free participation in upcoming NASCAR events," court documents state, adding there is no evidence a hair test for methamphetamine exists.

"Mayfield continues to pose a threat to public safety, thereby warranting NASCAR's immediate appeal of this Court's decision."

Mayfield, who could not find a full-time ride following his 2006 firing from Evernham Motorsports, started his own team this season and qualified for five of the first 11 races. He was randomly drug-tested May 1 at Richmond International Speedway, and suspended eight days later. He's missed eight straight races since his suspension, and his team has not traveled to the last six events.

He's repeatedly blamed the positive test on the combined use of Adderall for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Claritin-D for allergies, but that theory has been rejected by NASCAR's drug testing administrator.

UVU Baseball

Junior competitive camp set

Utah Valley University baseball has announced the addition of a Junior Competitive Camp for 3-6 graders along with the Senior Competitive Camp for 9-12 graders. The new junior camp will be held July 16-17 at Brent Brown Ballpark at UVU from 9 a.m. to noon. Cost for this camp is $85.

Limited spots still remain for the senior camp, which will be held July 20-22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Senior Competitive Camp is designed to give serious athletes the instruction and information needed to compete at a high level. Cost for this camp is $250. To register for either camp, go to UtahValleyBaseball.com or for more information, e-mail baseball@uvu.edu.

Also, the popular annual Fall Camp will begin again in September with registration beginning Aug. 1 at UtahValleyBaseball.com.

Golf

Report: LPGA players asking for Bivens' resignation

ORLANDO, Fla. - A meeting last week of more than a dozen players has resulted in a letter sent to the LPGA Tour's board urging that commissioner Carolyn Bivens resign, according to a published report.

Golfweek Magazine reported Monday that key players stated in the letter the LPGA Tour's woes cannot be blamed on a poor economy, and they said the tour should find a new leader to rebuild relationships with longtime sponsors. The magazine cited a player who had received a copy of the letter.

Among those at the meeting last week in Toledo, Ohio., were Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel and Natalie Gulbis, among the most prominent players in women's golf. Golfweek said players in favor of Bivens' resignation attached their names, although it didn't say how many signed it.

LPGA spokesman David Higdon did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

∫ Mickelson's mother diagnosed with breast cancer: Six weeks after Phil Mickelson announced his wife had breast cancer, his mother was diagnosed with the disease and is to have surgery later this week.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on its Web site that Mary Mickelson discovered she had breast cancer last week. She is to have surgery Friday at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the same hospital where Mickelson's wife, Amy, had surgery last Wednesday.

Mickelson's sister, Tina, told the newspaper she wanted to make her mother's condition know so she could receive the same outpouring of support and prayers that meant so much to Amy Mickelson.

Mickelson has not spoken publicly since the U.S. Open where he was a runner-up for a record fifth time.

His parents live in the same San Diego house where they raised their three children. Mary Mickelson was honored in 1998 as "Mother of the Year" by the San Diego chapter of the March of Dimes. She said at the time, "I don't know if I've done anything extra than other mothers. We've always been involved and have just been there."

Mickelson said at Bethpage Black that it was "highly unlikely" he would play the British Open, and said his schedule the rest of the year depended on his wife's battle with cancer.

Tennis

Second-highest Wimbledon final ratings since 2000

NEW YORK - The marathon Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick has the second-highest television ratings since 2000.

NBC said Monday that the 4 hour, 16 minute match drew a 4.2 overnight rating and 12 share. Only 2008's epic Federer-Rafael Nadal final had a higher rating in the last eight years. That one got a 4.6/12 after rain caused it to run later into the day, when more people are watching.

Federer won the fifth set 16-14 on Sunday to set the record for most Grand Slam singles titles in men's tennis history.

Ratings represent the percentage of all households with televisions tuned into a program, and shares represent the percentage of all homes with TVs in use at the time. Overnight ratings measure the nation's largest markets.

Figure Skating

Former skating champ Bobek charged in meth bust

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Former figure skating champion Nicole Bobek has been charged with being part of a northern New Jersey drug ring.

The 31-year-old Bobek made her first court appearance Monday by video from the Hudson County Jail. Bobek, who has homes in New York and Jupiter, Fla., was arrested in Florida last week. She is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Hudson County.

Attorney Sam DeLuca entered a not guilty plea for Bobek. She was held on $200,000 bail and faces up to 10 years in prison if she's convicted. A telephone call to DeLuca's office rang unanswered Monday afternoon.

Prosecutor Edward DeFazio says 20 people have been arrested in connection with the ring.

Bobek won the women's U.S. figure skating title in 1995.

Prep Football

Man pleads not guilty to killing Iowa coach

PARKERSBURG, Iowa - The man accused of killing an Iowa high school football coach has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

Coach Ed Thomas was fatally shot on June 24 in a weight room in front of about 20 students at Aplington-Parkersburg High School in northeast Iowa.

Twenty-four-year-old Mark Becker, a former player, pleaded not guilty in a written plea on Thursday.

Online court records show that Becker demanded a speedy trial, which means he will have to stand trial within 90 days. No trial date was immediately set.

Becker remains in the Cerro Gordo County jail on $1 million cash bond.

Thomas coached for 34 years in the community about 80 miles northeast of Des Moines and had guided several players to the NFL.