NFL heading to London, Toronto
PHOENIX, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- The National Football League will play a game in London next season and play in Toronto each of the next five years, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.
Goodell, in his annual state of the league speech Friday, said the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers would play a 2008 regular-season game in London, while the Buffalo Bills will have one of its games in Toronto each of the next five seasons.
The Chargers-Saints game was scheduled for Oct. 26 in London's Wembley Stadium, Last year, the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins played in London, with the Giants taking a 13-10 victory in a rain-drenched game.
No date was announced for the Bills' 2008 game in Toronto, but Goodell said the team would also play at least three preseason exhibitions in Toronto over the next five years.
The trip to Toronto is only a short hop of less than 100 miles over Lake Ontario for the Bills but the Chargers must travel about 5,500 miles to get to London.
Woods still leads at Dubai Desert Classic
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods survived windy conditions Friday and retained the lead halfway through the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
Woods shot a 1-under 71 in the second round and is at 8-under 136, one stroke ahead of Damien McGrane, who shot 3-under 69 on Friday and is at 7-under overall.
Defending tournament champion Henrik Stenson shot 2-under 70 in round two and is tied for third place with Thomas Levet, who carded a 71 Friday. They are at 6-under 138.
Stiff winds gusting to 30 mph blew up sandstorms throughout the day.
"It was a tough day all around," Woods said. "It's just the way it is. You have to be committed. You have to be patient. You can make a great swing, do everything right, get a gust and look like an idiot."
Woods played the first round without a bogey but didn't get past the first hole Friday before dropping a shot. He made that back on the par 5 third hole and used five pars and a birdie at No. 7 -- dropping a 25-foot putt -- to be 1-under at the turn.
Woods also bogeyed Nos.12 and 15 but closed fast with birdies at 16 and 18 for his 71.
NFL union head badmouths owners
PHOENIX, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- The head of the NFL players union says owners want to terminate the current collective bargaining agreement and he is exploring future legal options.
Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Association, said he feels the owners want the agreement to end by November 2008 and made his feelings known during a news conference at the Phoenix Convention Center before Sunday's Super Bowl.
"I wish I had a crystal ball to tell you what's going to happen," he said. "But I know at the end of the day whatever we agree to is going to be fair for the players. We're not going to agree to a deal that's not fair. We're not going to agree to a deal that rolls back the economics."
He said the topic will be a priority at the player representative meetings in March and the options being looked at from both sides include a strike, a lockout and an agreement extension.
Joachim Johansson retires from tennis
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Joachim Johansson, once ranked in the Top 10 in the world, Friday said he is retiring from competitive tennis because of a shoulder injury.
Johansson, 25, anchored his game to a powerful serve but shoulder problems have forced three surgeries since 2005.
"I can practice for a few weeks and play an individual tournament but after that my shoulder gets overworked forcing me to rest for a longer period of time," Johansson said. "Taking that into account it is hard for me to reach my objectives and for that reason it makes it impossible for me to continue my challenge."
Johansson won three tournaments in his career, including two in 2005. He was ranked No. 9 in February 2005 but is currently ranked 738. His best finish in a Grand Slam event came in 2004 when he advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Open.
He won nearly $1.5 million over a 7-year professional career.
Coaches join the fight against cancer
ATLANTA, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- U.S. college basketball coaches plan to wear sneakers along with the suits at games this weekend to show their support for the fight against cancer.
The National Association of Basketball Coaches said by wearing sneakers with business suits participating coaches can help to publicize that cancer is one of the nation's biggest health concerns.
"Cancer is a very important issue to me," said Indiana Coach Kelvin Sampson. "What we're doing here can save lives. We coaches cannot be selfish with our time. If each of us works within our community, we can collectively make a big impact toward building a cancer-free future."
The NABC and the American Cancer Society are joining to increase cancer awareness and raise funds to fight the disease through year-round educational efforts and fundraising activities.
Other coaches involved include Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Phil Martelli of Saint Joseph's.
The ACS also sponsors a golf Invitational in June and an event for coaches' wives at the Final Four.
