LA's Brad Penny likely out for season
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Right-hander Brad Penny of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are battling for the National League West title, apparently is sidelined for the rest of the season.
Dodgers' trainer Stan Johnson said Friday Penny has pain caused by irritation to a nerve in his upper right arm.
Penny asked to be taken out of a game in the fourth inning Wednesday against the San Diego Padres.
"He probably stretched the musculocutaneous nerve, which controls movement of the bicep tendon," Johnson said.
He said the injury could take two to three months to heal.
"We have to let it heal on its own," the trainer said. "When he starts throwing again, it will be with a slow, meticulous throwing program, and with enough rest in there he'll be fine."
The Dodgers led the National League West by 1 1/2 games over San Francisco entering Friday's schedule.
Penny, who has a 9-10 record this season with the Florida Marlins and Dodgers, was on the disabled list in August with an arm problem. He has a 1-2 mark since joining the Los Angeles club.
Murphy fired as Rockets' broadcaster
HOUSTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Former NBA star Calvin Murphy, who faces trial on charges of sexually abusing five of his daughters, was fired Friday as the Houston Rockets TV analyst.
"This was a decision based on the best interests of all parties," Tad Brown of the Rockets said in a report in the Houston Chronicle.
"Calvin has had a long relationship with the Rockets and we feel his energies need to be focused on dealing with his legal matters," said Brown, senior vice president of sales, marketing and broadcasting. "We appreciate all that he has done during his years as a player and a broadcaster for the organization."
Murphy, 55, a guard in his playing days, has been an analyst for the team for 14 years. He had been granted a leave of absence from his broadcasting duties with the Rockets after he was indicted in July on charges of sexually abusing his daughters more than a decade ago. Murphy said he is innocent and that the charges resulted from a family conflict over money.
Murphy has fathered 14 children with nine women.
He played for the Rockets for 13 years and was named to the NBA Hall of Fame.
Price, McDowell lead English golf
MILTON KEYNES, England, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Phillip Price and Graeme McDowell shared the halfway lead in the Heritage tournament in England Friday at 9-under-par 135.
Price shot a 67 and McDowell a 68 in the second round at the Woburn Golf and Country Club.
Patrik Sjoland and Henrik Stenson were tied for third place at 136. Simon Wakefield, Bary Lane and Mark Foster were at 138.
"I made three bogeys and bounced back from them all pretty quickly, which is always very satisfying," McDowell said.
Among players missing the cut -- at 1-over 145 -- were Colin Montgomerie and Ian Poulter, both members of Europe's Ryder Cup team.
Ricky Williams ordered to repay Dolphins
DAVIE, Fla., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams was ordered Friday to repay the team more than $8.6 million.
The money was for incentives and a signing bonus, an arbitrator said.
The arbitrator, Richard Bloch, said the team was owed the money because Williams, who retired shortly before training camp, violated the terms of his contract.
Williams, who has filed official retirement papers, rushed for a total of 3,225 yards and 25 touchdowns in his five NFL seasons, two with the Dolphins and the other three with the New Orleans Saints.
