LOS ANGELES | Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and 'Dancing With the Stars' contestant Hines Ward was briefly detained at gunpoint Thursday in a mix-up over a reported stolen car, but he was released without being arrested, police said.
Ward and a female friend were stopped in her car at about 1:30 a.m. in North Hollywood because she had reported the car stolen April 19, Sgt. Maria Morrison said.
The two had left a restaurant, officer Sara Faden said.
Police took Ward out of the car at gunpoint and handcuffed him, Morrison said. Ward and the woman were released after she was able to prove the car was hers.
IN OTHER FOOTBALL NEWS
Former NFL lineman Gene Gossage, a member of the Philadelphia Eagles' 1960 NFL championship team, has died. He was 76.
Former NFL wide receiver Donald 'Reche' Caldwell faces a drug charge in the Tampa Bay area, where he is from.
tennis
Djokovic extends his torrid start
MADRID | Novak Djokovic extended his season-opening winning streak to 29 matches Thursday at the Madrid Open, equaling the best start in men's tennis in 25 years.
The Australian Open champion won all 21 of his first service points to defeat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1, 6-2 and advance to the quarterfinals. He was joined by fellow third-round winner Roger Federer and top-ranked Rafael Nadal, who advanced after opponent Juan Martin del Potro withdrew with a hip injury.
IN OTHER NEWS
Julia Goerges of Germany upset Caroline Wozniacki in a second straight tournament Thursday, ousting the top-ranked Dane 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the third round of the Madrid Open.
boxing
Mayweather faces more charges
LAS VEGAS | Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is facing new misdemeanor harassment charges accusing him of threatening two homeowner association security guards outside his Las Vegas home.
Mayweather already faces a September trial on a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from allegations that he poked a 21-year-old guard in the face during a separate argument in November.
courts
Judge dismisses EA from NCAA lawsuit
SAN FRANCISCO | A federal judge has dismissed video game maker Electronic Arts Inc. from a high-profile antitrust lawsuit challenging the NCAA's long-standing prohibition against paying student athletes for their performance.
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken on Monday refused to drop the bulk of the case, which accuses the NCAA and its marketing company of operating an illegal sports marketing monopoly.
The judge refused to dismiss the NCAA and Collegiate Licensing Co. from the lawsuit that seeks to become a class action representing thousands of former football and basketball players who say the NCAA illegally controls their images forever without compensation.
basketball
Shaq set to return to Celts for Game 3
WALTHAM, Mass. | Shaquille O'Neal is expected to play for the Boston Celtics in the playoffs for the first time in Game 3 against Miami.
Coach Doc Rivers said Thursday the center probably will return from a right calf injury Saturday night against the Heat, who leads the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-0.
IN OTHER NEWS
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors has won the Joe Dumars Trophy presented to the NBA player who best exemplifies sportsmanship.
Connecticut swingman Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, who was arrested on drug charges, plans to transfer, the school said Thursday.
UC Davis has hired former Bradley coach Jim Les to take over its men's basketball program.
golf
Haas off to hot start at Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. | Bill Haas made easy birdies on the par 5s and didn't run into any problems Thursday at the Wells Fargo Championship, matching the tournament record for low opening round with an 8-under 64.
Haas has a two-shot lead over Jonathan Byrd and Lucas Glover.
IN OTHER GOLF NEWS
Tom Lehman shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead Thursday in the first round of the Regions Tradition at Shoal Creek, the first Champions Tour major of the season.
Scottish rookie Scott Jamieson shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Spanish Open on Thursday.
in other news
Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee says he expects coach Bruce Boudreau to be back next season.
Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis can be on the ballot for a New Jersey state Senate primary after all. A federal appeals court in Philadelphia ruled Thursday the ballots should be printed with his name.
Pitcher Roy Oswalt returned Thursday to the Philadelphia Phillies, eight days after he left to be with his family in Weir, Miss., which was ravaged by tornadoes.
CAPTION(S):
Hines Ward
Djokovic
O'Neal
