Briefs | Golf: GM, Tiger will part after nine years

Golf

GM will end endorsement deal with Woods: General Motors is bailing out on Tiger Woods.

Woods, a global icon in sports with his 14 major championships, has been carrying the Buick logo on his golf bag for the last nine years and still had one year left on his contract.

But General Motors was looking to cut costs and hoard cash while trying to survive the worst sales downturn in a quarter-century. And it said Monday the world's No. 1 golfer wanted more time for himself, especially with a second child on the way.

"Timing is everything," said Larry Peck, golf marketing manager for Buick. "We've had such a great partnership with Tiger. It's hard for us to walk away from that. But this frees up time for him. And it sure frees up a lot of money for us."

The endorsement deal, believed to be worth at least $7 million a year, was to expire at the end of 2009.

Baseball

Bonds has three minor charges dismissed: Three charges against Barry Bonds were dismissed Monday by a federal judge who left intact most of the indictment alleging he lied to a grand jury when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds, baseball's home run king, is scheduled for a March 2 trial. He had faced 14 counts of making false declarations to a grand jury investigating steroid use in sports and one count of obstruction of justice.

His lawyers had asked U.S. District Judge Susan Illston to dismiss 10 of the lying charges, claiming he was asked unclear questions in front of the grand jury in 2003. Illston ruled Monday to dismiss three charges and consolidate or rewrite another two.

Illston's action does not change the fundamentals of the case, nor would it have much of an effect on any sentence handed down, should Bonds be convicted.

Houston gets minor-league pitcher: The Houston Astros acquired minor league pitcher Tyler Lumsden from the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named or cash.

Skiing

Bloom hopes to revive career: His NFL experience didn't go as planned. Still, Jeremy Bloom isn't through looking for mountains to climb.

Cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers this summer, the two-time Olympian announced plans to start working out with the U.S. ski team, the first step toward possibly reviving his freestyle skiing career in time for the Vancouver Games.

This week, he'll attend the team's annual fall camp to evaluate how he feels.

"I'm open to wherever that decision may take me," the 26-year-old Bloom said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Hockey

Vancouver's Luongo out at least a week: Roberto Luongo has a strained groin muscle and the Vancouver Canucks' star goalie is expected to be sidelined at least a week — maybe longer.

Roy's son faces discipline: Another son of hockey great Patrick Roy is facing disciplinary action for his on-ice behavior.

Frederick Roy was suspended 15 games Monday by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for high-sticking during the Quebec Remparts' game against the Montreal Juniors on Friday.

During a timeout, Roy, a forward with the Remparts, struck Montreal defenseman Vincent Bourgeois in the mouth. The action comes eight months after Jonathan Roy was suspended seven games for attacking a goalie.

Claude Lemieux attempts comeback: Claude Lemieux, 43, has signed a tryout contract with the San Jose Sharks in hopes of returning to the NHL after a five-year absence.

Swimming

Australian D'Arcy pleads guilty in swim attack: Nick D'Arcy pleaded guilty to assaulting a fellow swimmer in a nightclub, an attack that cost him a spot on Australia's Olympic team.

D'Arcy was not in court, where his lawyer entered the guilty plea. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 20.

The 21-year-old D'Arcy was charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm on former swimmer Simon Cowley in March, hours after D'Arcy won a place at the Beijing Games.

Cycling

Kohl banned for two years after saying he used EPO: Austrian cyclist Bernhard Kohl was banned for two years by the national anti-doping agency on Monday for using the blood booster CERA at this year's Tour de France.

Kohl, who finished third in the Tour and won the polka-dot jersey for best climber, admitted he used the drug, the latest version of the endurance-boosting hormone EPO.

Contador has surgery: Alberto Contador, the 2007 Tour de France champion, underwent surgery for a deviated septum and is expected to be at training camp this weekend to meet new teammate Lance Armstrong.

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