Briefs | Hahnemann criticizes Reading teammates

Soccer

Ex-Seattle Pacific, Sounders keeper plays for relegated team in England: Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann criticized teammates for a lack of effort in failing to avoid relegation from the English Premier League.

Hahnemann, a former Seattle Pacific and Seattle Sounders keeper, helped the Royals reach the top league in England for the first time in their then-135-year history in 2006. He said some players are more to blame than others for the drop to the second-tier League Championship after two seasons in the Premier League.

"I think some people might not be as devastated as I am," the 35-year-old Hahnemann told BBC Radio on Tuesday. "It might be because of personal situations, with some guys leaving. But you have to play well to leave and I don't know if a lot of guys did themselves any favors."

Whitecaps beat Galaxy: The Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer 2-1 in an exhibition match before 37,104 in Edmonton, Alberta. Galaxy superstar David Beckham had an assist.

Zenit fans are warned: Fans of the Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia team have been warned against racist behavior at today's UEFA Cup final against the Glasgow Rangers of Scotland in Manchester, England.

Zenit fans were accused of racially abusing players from Olympique Marseille of France in March.

AS Roma fans are banned: Fans of AS Roma will be banned from a Serie A match at Catania this weekend because of fears they could incite riots.

College football

Rodriguez says he was pressured to sign West Virginia contract: Ex-West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said Gov. Joe Manchin and three members of the university's board of governors pressured him into signing a new contract before the start of the 2007 season, even though it had a $4 million buyout clause he didn't want.

Rodriguez, who left in December to take the Michigan job, made the comments in a deposition taken last month.

College athletics

Arizona State cuts three sports: Arizona State dropped its men's swimming, men's tennis and wrestling programs in an effort to save about $1 million per year.

Tennis

No. 1 Henin has been struggling: Top-ranked Justine Henin of Belgium is retiring from professional tennis, a source told a Belgian newspaper.

Henin, 25, will make an announcement today, Het Nieuwsblad reported.

Henin has been battling fatigue and not playing well lately. She has won 41 singles titles in her career, seven in major tournaments.

Auto racing

Crewman is released from hospital: Charles Buckman, a crewman for Dale Coyne Racing, has been released from a hospital four days after being struck by Danica Patrick's car during practice for the Indianapolis 500.

Cycling

Cavendish wins stage, Pellizotti keeps lead: Englishman Mark Cavendish of Team High Road won the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia, and Italian Franco Pellizotti of the Liquigas team retained the overall lead.

Horse racing

Storm Cat is pensioned: Standout sire Storm Cat, 25, has been retired from breeding because of declining fertility.

According to an official at Overbrook Farm near Lexington, Ky., Storm Cat impregnated three of 32 mares bred to him this year. The Blood-Horse reported Storm Cat "is represented by 160 stakes winners and the earners of $112 million" and had a stud fee of $500,000 from 2002 to 2007.

Gayego to run in Preakness: Arkansas Derby winner Gayego, 17th in the May 3 Kentucky Derby won by Big Brown, will run in Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore.

Boxing

Date set for Cotto-Margarito bout: Miguel Cotto's welterweight-unification title fight against Antonio Margarito will be July 26 in Las Vegas.

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