Bengals star tight end Dan Ross dies
ATKINSON, N.H., May 17 (UPI) -- Former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Dan Ross has died at the age of 49 after he collapsed while jogging.
The Bengals Web site reports Ross died Tuesday night at his home in New Hampshire. The Boston Herald said he died at Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill, Mass.
Bengals President Mike Brown released a statement that read: "Dan was a special person. He was held in high regard by everyone around here. It is stunning news that he is gone so prematurely."
Ross's record of 68 catches in a season hasn't been broken at his alma matter, Northeastern University in Boston, where his jersey is retired.
He was a member of College Football Hall of Fame class of 2004.
The Bengals picked Ross in the second round of the 1979 NFL Draft.
Ross set a record for the team in 1981 with 71 catches and also gained 910 yards and five touchdowns.
His 263 career catches is No. 13 on the Bengals' all-time reception list.
Ross was selected to the 1983 Pro Bowl and set a record with 11 receptions in the Super Bowl XVI.
Chargers sign deal with San Diego
SAN DIEGO, May 17 (UPI) -- The San Diego Chargers and the city have agreed to a lease amendment allowing the football team to seek a stadium deal elsewhere in the county.
The City Council approved the change early this month after Mayor Jerry Sanders informed the city doesn't have the resources for a new stadium, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.
"We're excited about the prospect of exploring options in the county," said Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani. "We will meet with anyone and everyone who is interested in finding a publicly acceptable solution."
He said the team will conduct a comprehensive review of what pieces of land might be available in the county.
Two San Diego County supervisors have won approval from their colleagues to discuss a new stadium with the Chargers, if the team wants to negotiate, the newspaper reported. They stressed the county is not committing any money for now.
The newspaper said the mayors of San Antonio and Las Vegas also have expressed an interest in bringing the Chargers to their cities. Los Angeles and Anaheim also are seeking a National Football League franchise.
'66 World Cup jersey on auction block
LONDON, May 17 (UPI) -- A British soccer team jersey from the 1966 World Cup will be auctioned at Christie's in London June 27 and is expected to bring in nearly $38,000.
The No. 2 jersey belonged to George Cohen before he swapped it with West German winger Lothar Emmerich after Britain's 4-2 victory, the Mirror reports. Emmerich died in 2003.
Christie's sports memorabilia director David Convery said the jersey will get a top price because of the fanfare over World Cup soccer right now, despite rips in the shirt. The 2006 World Cup opens in Berlin next month.
Bad tickets sold for soccer championship
PARIS, May 17 (UPI) -- European soccer officials are looking into an online scam in which thousands of dollars of fake tickets were purchased for the Champions League final.
Arsenal fans wanting to watch their team play against Barcelona in Wednesday's championship game have reportedly been bilked for tickets on various Web sites.
Paul Jones told Sky News he wanted to take his son to the game as a reward for good grades. He spent more than $1,000 on a pair of tickets and has neither received them nor a refund.
Sky News tested the rumors by purchasing more than $2,000 worth of tickets from the Online Ticket Shop. The tickets never arrived and attempts to contact the company, which takes in $6.6 million annually, were unsuccessful.
The Union of European Football Associations said it will investigate.
Meanwhile 21,000 actual tickets for the game were purchased by Arsenal fans.
100-meter world record changed to tie
MONTE CARLO, Monaco, May 17 (UPI) -- The world's track and field governing body in Monte Carlo, Monaco, has ruled Justin Gatlin's May 12, 100-meter run didn't set a world record but only tied it.
Gatlin's original recorded sprint time at the Super Grand Prix Meeting in Doha, Qatar, was listed as 9.76 seconds.
The International Association of Athletics Federation announced Wednesday Gatlin's time was actually 9.766 and accidentally rounded down instead of up.
Gatlin now shares the 100-meter world record of 9.77, set by Jamaican Asafa Powell in 2005.
Federer apologizes at Hamburg
HAMBURG, Germany, May 17 (UPI) -- Roger Federer has apologized for missing this week's ATP Tournament at Hamburg, Germany.
He decided on Tuesday to skip the Hamburg Masters Series tennis tournament because of fatigue.
"I am exhausted and have no energy left to do well here," he told the crowd. "It makes no sense to lose in the first round here. I love this tournament, it means a lot to me."
Federer played a near six-hour match Sunday when he was beaten by Rafael Nadal in five sets in the final of the Italian Masters at Rome. He won the Hamburg event in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
The native of Switzerland has a 39-3 record this season, with all three losses coming against Nadal in finals at Rome, Dubai and Monte Carlo.
The event also is without Andy Roddick.
French Open withdrawals continue
PARIS, May 17 (UPI) -- Because of injuries and withdrawals, the French Open will be lacking many marquee names when it starts May 29.
Among men not scheduled to play are Mark Philippoussis (knee), Taylor Dent (back surgery), and Gustavo Kuerten (hip).
On the women's side, Lindsay Davenport pulled out Tuesday, joining Serena Williams.
"I'm very disappointed, but unfortunately, following my back injury, I haven't recovered all my physical strength," Davenport, who has been suffering from lower back strain since she lost the Wimbledon final to Venus Williams last season, said in a statement. "I am working hard to come back as quickly as possible to the court."
"It is very sad that I will miss Roland Garros," Kuerten said. "But I will be working hard these next weeks and I expect to be competing again in July."
WBO featherweight champ may lose title
BELFAST, Northern Ireland, May 17 (UPI) -- World Boxing Organization featherweight champion Scott Harrison could be stripped of his title for pulling out of a Northern Ireland bout, a report said.
The Glasgow man, who has held the title since October 2002, was to face Gairy St. Clair of Guyana in Saturday's title fight in Belfast.
Harrison has been arrested twice in three weeks and cited personal and health reasons for pulling out.
In April, police arrested Harrison on resisting arrest charges in a Glasgow pub incident. Last weekend, he was arrested in Balloch, Scotland, on suspicion of possessing drugs
Promoter Frank Warren said he's "disgusted."
"He isn't injured. His problems are clearly mental ones and legal ones," Warren told The Scotsman. "Scott has four fights left on his contract with Sports Network, but that is now in the hands of my lawyer."
However, manager Frank Maloney said now is not the time to crucify Harrison.
"Scott is very upset and I would go as far as to say I don't think he realizes what is going on at the moment," Maloney said.
