Bonds says may return by September
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds said Tuesday there is a possibility he could return to the team in September.
Bonds said even if he isn't able to recover from a right knee injury by then, he will "definitely be in the 2006 lineup."
Bonds, a seven-time National League MVP, said his injury didn't look promising two weeks ago, but it's improved in the last 10 days.
"My strength and endurance have increased and my knee is feeling much better," Bonds said. "I have been playing catch and in the next few weeks I hope to be in the cage doing some hitting. There is a good possibility that I could be back in September with the team."
Bonds, 40, has had three operations on his right knee since late January, with the most recent procedure May 2, when fluid was drained.
Sixers' Green undergoes knee surgery
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Philadelphia 76ers guard Willie Green had arthroscopic left knee surgery Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala.
"Willie had a left knee ACL reconstruction and repair of a lateral meniscus tear," 76ers team physician Dr. Jack McPhilemy said in a release by the club. "The surgery went well. Willie is expected to begin rehab in a couple of days."
Green, a restricted free agent, injured his knee during a summer pickup game. He will be sidelined for six to nine months and could miss the entire 2005-06 season.
Last season, Green played in 57 games, averaging 7.7 points and 2.3 rebounds. In his two seasons with the Sixers, Green has averaged 7.3 points and 1.4 assists in 110 games.
Mets' Beltran decides against surgery
NEW YORK, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- New York Mets centerfielder Carlos Beltran, who suffered facial injuries in a head-to-head collision last week, decided Tuesday not to have surgery.
"I want to be out there with my teammates," Beltran said. "I feel good. I guess if it bothers me later on, I'll get (surgery) later on."
It is undetermined how soon Beltran will be back in action.
Beltran will be fitted with a protective mask to play in the field as well as a protective batting helmet.
Hewitt advances at Cincy tennis tournament
MASON, Ohio, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Lleyton Hewitt of Australia was a first-round winner Tuesday at the $2.45 million Western & Southern Financial Group Masters.
Hewitt, this year's Australian Open runner-up and last year's U.S. Open runner-up, defeated Russian Igor Andreev 6-3, 6-4.
A former world No. 1, Hewitt lost to American Andre Agassi in last year's final and to Spaniard Carlos Moya in the 2002 Cincinnati final.
American Robby Ginepri, who won at Indianapolis last month, beat French Open runner-up Mariano Puerta of Argentina 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.
In another upset, Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty defeated Swede Thomas Johansson 6-1, 7-5. Johansson was the 2002 Australian Open champion and reached the Wimbledon semifinals last month.
Mike Tyson faces new accusations
NEW YORK, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is facing new sex-related accusations, this time from a French woman.
Tyson was accused of grabbing the woman off an Italian dance floor, dragging her to his yacht in the Mediterranean and pummeling her when she refused to indulge in sex and drugs, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.
Tyson cooperated with police when they tracked him down on his yacht, the report said.
Florence Botoli, 33, a Cameroonian who lives in Nice, France, told police she was dancing with friends at a nightclub in Sardinia when Tyson grabbed her.
