Briefs | Cycling: North Bend's Thomas Peterson wins Tour of California stage

Cycling

Armstrong is involved in second-stage spill: Texan Lance Armstrong took a spill when he got tangled with a motorcycle, and still moved up a spot in the overall standings at the Tour of California after a rainy and crash-filled second stage.

Thomas Peterson of North Bend won the 115.9-mile stage from Sausalito to Santa Cruz in 5 hours, 6 minutes, 20 seconds. Peterson, 22, competes for the Garmin-Slipstream team. He missed his starting time in Saturday's prologue and finished last; he is 23rd overall.

Two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer, who rides for the Astana team, was second to Peterson in the stage and took the overall lead.

Astana rider Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner making a comeback after announcing his retirement in 2005, had his mishap about 80 miles into the stage.

"A motorcycle for the photographer from the race crashed right in front of me," Armstrong said. "Unfortunate, but it could have been worse. I don't feel too bad, hip is a little banged up but overall a great day."

Armstrong received a spare bike from a team car and finished 13th in the stage to be fourth in the overall standings.

College football

Threet says he has been given his release from Michigan: Michigan quarterback Steven Threet says he has been given his release from the school and plans to transfer. Threet said in a statement Monday he does not yet know where he will continue his college career.

Threet enrolled early at Georgia Tech in 2007 but transferred to Michigan before fall camp. He started eight games for the 3-9 Wolverines in 2008, completing 102 of 210 passes for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns.

Southern Miss standout is charged with firing weapon: Running back Damion Fletcher, who is Southern Mississippi's all-time rushing leader at 4,287 yards in three seasons, is charged with firing at least one gunshot while at an apartment complex, and another player faces a marijuana-possession charge.

Hattiesburg police spokesman Synarus Green said Fletcher, 21, was charged with discharging a firearm. Green said offensive lineman Brennan Houston, 22, was booked on a marijuana-possession charge, stemming from the same incident. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Soccer

Red Bulls sign Angel to multiyear extension: Juan Pablo Angel, 33, has signed a multiyear contract extension with the New York Red Bulls. Angel is the team's career scoring leader, with 33 goals in 47 matches.

Seattle Sounders FC hosts the Red Bulls in its inaugural match March 19.

Arsenal reaches fifth round of FA Cup: Eduardo da Silva scored twice in his return to Arsenal after a nearly one-year layoff caused by a broken leg, leading the Gunners over Cardiff 4-0 and into the fifth round of England's FA Cup.

Women's Professional Soccer completes contract with U.S. national-team players: The Women's Professional Soccer league completed its contract with members of the U.S. national team, about six weeks ahead of the start of the league's first season.

The average salary for players will be about $32,000 a season and includes compensation for on-field play and for off-field commercial and marketing appearances.

Tennis

Dubai event risks sanctions over visa denial: The $2 million Dubai Tennis Championships tournament risks being struck from the calendar after the United Arab Emirates refused a visa to Israeli player Shahar Peer. WTA Tour chairman Larry Scott said barring Peer threatens the principle that sports and politics should not mix.

Scott said the WTA will consider what "types of sanctions are going to be deemed to be appropriate in light of what has happened, including whether or not the tournament has a slot on the calendar next year."

To protest, Tennis Channel will not televise the event.

The 45th-ranked Peer said she was disappointed she can't play in the tournament.

Nadal says he should be back in time for Davis Cup: A leg injury could force Rafael Nadal to skip the next ATP Tour tournament, which is in Dubai, but the top-ranked player in the world said he should be back in time to play for Spain in the first round of the Davis Cup.

Defending champion Spain plays Serbia in a Davis Cup match that starts March 6.

Horse racing

Filly Evita Argentina wins San Vicente; Gallant Son finishes sixth: Evita Argentina made a last-to-first move to become the first filly since 1947 to win the Grade II San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Evita Argentina, trained by John Sadler and ridden by Garrett Gomez, ran 7 furlongs in 1 minute, 24-1/5 seconds and paid $6.60 to win as the favorite in the $150,000 race. In 68 runnings of the San Vicente, three fillies have triumphed.

Gallant Son, who won three stakes races at Emerald Downs in Auburn last year, went off at 11-1 and finished sixth of 10. Gallant Son, trained by Frank Lucarelli and ridden by Leslie Mawing, is owned by Chris and Diane Randall of Bellevue.

Old Fashioned prevails: Old Fashioned ($3 to win) took the Grade III Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Old Fashioned, trained by Larry Jones and ridden by Ramon Dominguez, ran a mile in 1:37-2/5 in the $250,000 race. The colt is 4 for 4 in his career.

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