Briefs | Maria Sharapova, WTA Tour reach compromise

Tennis

Sharapova does photo shoot: Maria Sharapova reached a compromise with the WTA Tour and completed a promotional photo shoot before the Italian Open began Monday in Rome.

Sharapova, a Russian who is ranked second in the world, had been opposed to the shoot because she does not like distractions before tournaments, and claimed the WTA threatened to fine her more than $300,000 if she declined.

Sunday's photo shoot to build publicity for the WTA Tour Championships was cut to 90 minutes from several hours, the 21-year-old Sharapova said.

Track and field

Powell recovers from chest injury: Jamaican Asafa Powell, the world-record holder at 100 meters (9.74 seconds), resumed training after missing time with a chest injury, and should be ready for this year's Beijing Olympics.

Bekele to compete in Oregon: World champion Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia will compete in the 10,000 meters June 8 in the Nike Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore. It will be Bekele's first race in the United States.

College football

Florida defensive lineman is shot: Matt Patchan, a defensive lineman who enrolled at Florida in January and participated in spring drills, was shot late Friday night at a park in Brandon, Fla.

"He was a bystander and shot in the left shoulder and is expected to fully recover in three weeks," Gators coach Urban Meyer said.

College basketball

Hoosiers contact NCAA: Indiana officials told the NCAA the school's self-imposed penalties should be enough to keep the NCAA from having to punish the Hoosiers for improper phone calls made by Kelvin Sampson before he resigned as coach. Sampson is a former Washington State coach.

Coach Tom Crean inherited recruiting restrictions on phone calls and the loss of a scholarship for the 2008-09 season. Crean is limited to 10 off-campus recruiting days before July 31.

Panel recommends change in goaltending rule: An NCAA committee has recommended changing the goaltending rule so a ball that is completely above the rim and has already hit the backboard could not be touched, regardless of whether it is on an upward or downward flight.

Previously, only a ball on a downward flight after touching the backboard was subject to a goaltending call.

"This change better defines and discerns the act of goaltending," said Western Washington coach Brad Jackson, chairman of the NCAA men's basketball rules committee.

The proposed rule needs approval from the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which meets next month.

Sailing

America's Cup will be in March at the earliest: The America's Cup showdown between two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland and BMW Oracle Racing of the United States can't begin for at least 10 months, the New York State Supreme Court ruled.

The court ruling is a victory for Alinghi. BMW Oracle Racing felt it had the right, as challenger of record, to hold the best-of-three series in October, but Alinghi argued it wouldn't be able to build a boat in time.

Cycling

WADA spends to help fight appeal by Landis: The World Anti-Doping Agency has spent about $1.3 million helping fight the appeal by Floyd Landis of a decision stripping him of the 2006 Tour de France title for a doping offense, WADA President John Fahey said.

Bennati takes third stage of Giro: Italian Daniele Bennati of the Liquigas team won the third stage of the 21-stage Giro d'Italia in a sprint finish in Milazzo, Sicily. Teammate Franco Pellizotti kept the overall lead.

Horse racing

Preakness prospects: Saturday's Preakness at Pimlico in Baltimore lost a possible starter in Harlem Rocker but might gain one: Gayego, 17th in the Kentucky Derby won by Big Brown.

Media

Storm alert: ESPN will add Hannah Storm to its "SportsCenter" lineup, beginning Aug. 11.

Seattle Times news services