Report: NBA fines Eddie Jordan
NEW YORK, May 24 (UPI) -- An NBA spokesman has confirmed that Washington Wizards Coach Eddie Jordan was fined $25,000 for criticizing game officials last month.
Jordan publicly lambasted officials after the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Wizards, 97-96, in Game Three of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series on April 28.
The Washington Post reported Wednesday the fine was assessed the day after the game, but was never confirmed until Tuesday by NBA spokesman Tim Frank.
"The NBA does not always announce fines," Frank told the newspaper. "Jordan is one of several individuals who have been hit with fines for criticizing referees during this year's playoffs."
"I'm not going to get fined for saying what's obvious," Jordan told the newspaper on April 29 before the fine was levied. "Everybody sees it (but) the truth is the truth."
Neither Jordan nor the team has commented on or verified the fine.
Cleveland beat Washington in six games to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where the Cavs lost to Detroit in seven games.
Top-seed Schnyder loses at Strasbourg
STRASBOURG, France, May 24 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland Wednesday was among the losers in the second round of the Strasbourg International Tennis Tournament in France.
Schnyder was beaten by unseeded Martina Muller of Germany, 6-4, 6-3.
Also losing were third-seeded Nathalie Dechy and fifth-seeded Marion Bartoli, both crowd favorites and natives of France.
No. 2 seed Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic topped unseeded Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland, 6-3, 6-2; defending champion and No. 4 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain beat unseeded Aiko Nakamura of Japan, 6-1, 6-0 and seventh-seeded Jie Zheng of China was ousted by unseeded and 2005 runner-up Marta Domachowska of Poland, 6-4, 6-4.
Eighth-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia-Montenegro beat Poland's Marta Domachowska, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 and, in a match of non-seeds, China's Shuai Peng topped Julia Schruff of Germany, 7-5, 6-3.
The eventual tournament champion will receive $28,000.
Britain opposes EU soccer regulation
LONDON, May 24 (UPI) -- The European Union has proposed taking control of European soccer with salary caps and a payroll tax, which is not sitting well in Britain.
A 165-page report was released Tuesday in Brussels, and much of it was seen as an affront to Britain's Premiership division, The Telegraph reported.
Among other EU-wide changes that would affect Britain are regulations on player trades, as well as "fit-and-proper-person test" for senior figures in the game, from club owners and managers to referees, the newspaper said.
The report said radical action is needed to tackle the problems caused by corruption, soaring wages and the growing influence of a small number of wealthy European clubs.
Bengals' Palmer rips Steelers, others
CINCINNATI, May 24 (UPI) -- Injured Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer says the rivalry between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh is so intense, he wants the Steelers to lose every game.
In a May 21 Sports Illustrated cover story, Palmer passes on his criticism of the team he was playing when he suffered a severe injury last season, speaks about a doctor's hasty prognosis and criticizes a pundit who said his career would never be the same.
Palmer said he hates the reigning Super Bowl champion Steelers, the team that beat his Bengals in a Jan. 8 playoff game in which Palmer tore his leg muscles.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Palmer said he doesn't hate the Steelers players because he's jealous of their success.
He said the emotional interview was the first time he was asked such deep questions.
He said his original surgeon shouldn't have called his injury "potentially career-ending," calling Dr. Lonnie Paulos, "a doctor who likes to hear himself talk."
Palmer said he would prove all his critics wrong, train hard and be back to play this year.
Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush mulls run at NFL helm
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 24 (UPI) -- Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has expressed interest in becoming the next NFL commissioner when his final term as governor expires in January, a report said.
The league has a search committee working on finding a replacement for Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who has been held the top spot since 1989. Tagliabue announced his decision to retire in March with a July 31 move-out, but has indicated his willingness to stay on past that date, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported.
Bush acknowledged Tuesday he discussed the job during a recent meeting with Patrick Rooney Sr., brother of Dan Rooney, who owns the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers and co-chairs the NFL's search committee.
However, Bush said he doubted the league would hold out until January for him, the newspaper said.
Among others who have publicly spoken of wanting the job is U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the report said.
Banished NFL players going to Canada
TORONTO, May 24 (UPI) -- The Canadian Football League, which has no mandatory drug testing, has become a haven for those seeking another chance after failing the NFL's drug tests.
The Toronto Argonauts, for example, hold the CFL rights for Rickey Williams, the Miami Dolphins star running back who failed four NFL drug tests, The New York Times reports. The Canadian team's roster has a total of 14 former NFL Draft choices.
"Maybe we have had more high-profile players than other teams, and maybe it has shed a little more media attention our way," Greg Mohns, the Argonauts' director of player personnel, told the newspaper. "But this league has always been about giving guys a second chance."
One player told the Times that without the CFL, he would probably be working a warehouse job or even doing something illegal. He now earns about $50,000 per season, has five children and is thankful for the chance to rebuild his life.
In the case of Rickey Williams, the Argonauts feel he would make them an instant favorite to win the league's championship, the Grey Cup, the report said.
Some in the Canadian media have criticized CFL teams for signing players with substance abuse problems.
