Vikings’ Pat Williams testifies
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings lineman Pat Williams echoed teammate Kevin Williams in telling a judge he didn’t know an over-the-
counter weight-loss supplement contained a substance banned by the NFL.
Pat Williams, a 13-year veteran, testified Wednesday he first took StarCaps when he was with the Buffalo Bills, where a trainer told him it was a legal supplement. Williams also said he checked out StarCaps online and “everything looked legal.”
The NFL is trying to suspend the Williamses for four games each for testing positive in 2008 for the banned substance bumetanide, a diuretic that can mask steroids. Neither player is accused of taking steroids.
Both the Williamses are suing the NFL, alleging it violated state labor laws in applying its anti-doping policy.
Wearing his right arm in a sling following elbow surgery, the 37-year-old Pat Williams testified he has high-blood pressure and gout, a painful joint inflammation. he said some of his medications are diuretics, which promote fluid loss, and that he took StarCaps for his gout.
Agents for the Williamses are expected to testify today.
Nuggets top Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS — Chauncey Billups scored 25 points in the Denver Nuggets’ 110-102 NBA victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, giving the Nuggets their fourth straight win.
Al Jefferson had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who lost their seventh straight game and 13th in the last 14. Minnesota has won once since Feb. 6. Corey Brewer scored 21 points and Kevin Love had 15 pooints and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves.
Carmelo Anthony added 19 points for Denver as coach George Karl watched from home while he undergoes treatment for neck and throat cancer.
Garciaparra retires
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Nomar Garciaparra signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday for the purpose of retiring in the uniform of his original team. Garciaparra announced he’s leaving baseball at 36 to become an ESPN analyst, ending a 14-year career in which he was a six-time All-Star and two-time batting champion.
Padres down Brewers
PEORIA, Ariz. — Sean Gallagher and Mat Latos each allowed a run over three innings, and Will Venable hit a three-run homer for San Diego’s split squad in a 5-4 win Wednesday over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Yovani Gallardo allowed three runs over three innings for Milwaukee, yielding the first-inning homer to Venable.
Crosby’s stick and glove found
TORONTO — The stick and glove Sidney Crosby used to give Canada its Olympic gold medal are back where they belong. Crosby’s missing gear was on its way to the Pittsburgh Penguins star on Wednesday. Hockey Canada said the gear was misplaced rather than stolen, with both items ending up in the wrong place in the process of packing and shipping equipment after the Olympic final.
Crosby’s stick was located in Toronto as part of a shipment heading to the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in St. Petersburg, Russia. The stick was being sent to the IIHF in the mistaken belief that it was not the game stick.
Jones signs with WNBA team
TULSA, Okla. — Former sprinter Marion Jones has signed the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock, hoping to launch a new career after losing five Olympic medals for using steroids and doing jail time for lying to federal prosecutors.
Before Jones, 34, became known as the world’s fastest woman, she was the starting point guard on North Carolina’s national championship team in 1994. she was drafted by Phoenix in 2003 but never played in the WNBA.
Vonn finishes second
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — With the arithmetic clearly in her favor, Lindsey Vonn is closing in on a third straight overall World Cup title after finishing second to Maria Riesch on Wednesday in the season’s final downhill. Three races remain and Vonn holds a commanding 225-point lead over Riesch.
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