Briefs | Court witnesses link Mike Tyson to contract killing

Boxing

Ex-heavyweight champion is mentioned in testimony: Witnesses in a racketeering case in New York said ex-heavyweight champion Mike Tyson bankrolled an alleged murder scheme in his old neighborhood.

In closing arguments Monday at the trial of an alleged getaway driver in two slayings, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Haran reminded jurors the "evidence was that Mike Tyson put up $50,000 to kill" two men. Tyson, 42, issued a statement calling the accounts "totally untrue." He said he was "tired of people throwing my name around."

Yanez's status might be in jeopardy: USA Boxing officials reportedly told Luis Yanez, 19, a team captain from Duncanville, Texas, he was being removed from the Olympic team, citing violation of its athlete code of conduct.

NFL

Patriots' Andrews faces charges: Defensive back Willie Andrews, 24, of the New England Patriots was held without bail after allegedly pointing a handgun at his girlfriend's head.

Andrews was charged with illegal possession of a large-capacity firearm and assault with a dangerous weapon in Mansfield, Mass.

Arena football league

Wild-card round: In the playoff wild-card round, the Grand Rapids Rampage beat the host Arizona Rattlers 48-41 and the Cleveland Gladiators edged the visiting Orlando Predators 69-66.

College football

Kentucky coach Brooks avoids injury: Kentucky coach Rich Brooks avoided injury when a boat he was on capsized on the McKenzie River near Springfield, Ore. Brooks, 66, is a former Oregon coach.

Georgia Tech's Tarrant is charged with sexual assault: Georgia Tech cornerback Jerrard Tarrant, 19, has been charged with sexual assault and has been suspended from the team, pending the outcome of the case.

Rodriguez case: Mike Garrison, West Virginia University president, said in a deposition that former Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez was "very distraught" in a private meeting the night before he resigned and accepted the job as Michigan's coach, complaining about harsh public reaction to a lost shot at a national championship.

As part of the $4 million lawsuit the university has filed over a buyout clause in Rodriguez's contract, Garrison testified the two had a tense final meeting Dec. 15 — one in which the president admits he might have raised his voice.

WNBA

Warning for Brunson: Sacramento Monarchs forward Rebekkah Brunson, 26, received a warning for using asthma medication without getting the proper clearance from anti-doping authorities. It is her first alleged doping offense, and she accepted a public warning.

NHL

Tampa Bay, Malone reportedly have deal: Tampa Bay and forward Ryan Malone, 28, who played for Pittsburgh last season, reportedly have a seven-year, $31.5 million deal in place.

The league's period for signing free agents starts today at 9 a.m. PDT.

Soccer

Fiesta: Hoisting 69-year-old manager Luis Aragones in the air and singing "We Are the Champions," Spain's victorious players returned to Madrid to hundreds of thousands of joyous fans ready to celebrate the team's 1-0 victory over Germany in Sunday's Euro 2008 final in Vienna, Austria.

Xavi Hernandez of Spain was named the tournament's best player.

The final, televised by ABC, got a 3.1 overnight rating.

Wizards sign Wolff: Forward Josh Wolff, 31, agreed to a four-year contract with Kansas City of Major League Soccer.

Poker

High stakes: Professional Scotty Nguyen earned $1.99 million at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, topping a field of 148 players and emerging from a marathon final table with his fifth WSOP gold bracelet.

Nguyen, 45, beat out 23-year-old Michael DeMichele in H.O.R.S.E., a rotating-game tournament that cost $50,000 to enter — the steepest buy-in in WSOP history.

Horse racing

Heatseeker is retired: Heatseeker, a 5-year-old who won the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap in March, has been retired because of an injury to the suspensory ligament in his left-front leg, Daily Racing Form reported.

Seattle Times news services