Scott Rolen out a month with finger injury
SARASOTA, Fla., March 24 (UPI) -- Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Scott Rolen could be out the first month of the season after surgery to repair a break on the middle finger of his right hand.
Rolen, who suffered the injury Sunday during fielding drills before a spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies, had surgery Monday. A screw was inserted in the finger and a second surgical procedure to remove it is expected in about two weeks.
Rolen, a seven-time Gold Glove winner, was acquired from St. Louis in January. He had season-ending surgery on his left shoulder after playing in just 112 games last season when he hit .265 with eight homers and 58 RBI.
The injury means the Blue Jays are likely to start Marco Scutaro at third base until Rolen returns. Scutaro, was acquired from Oakland in November. He hit .260 with seven homers and 41 RBI in 104 games with the Athletics last season.
Villanova center out for rest of NCAA
VILLANOVA, Pa., March 24 (UPI) -- Villanova sophomore center Casiem Drummond, who broke his ankle in the Wildcats' 84-72 win over Siena Sunday, will miss the rest of the NCAA Tournament.
Drummond is scheduled to undergo surgery to insert a screw into his ankle on Tuesday.
"We are very disappointed for Casiem," said Villanova Coach Jay Wright. "He has struggled with injuries all season and now he has incurred a new one. We are proud of his toughness and commitment. We all will support him in overcoming this latest injury."
The 12th-seeded Wildcats will meet Midwest top seed Kansas in the Sweet 16 on Friday night after beating Clemson and Siena to reach the regional semifinals.
49ers lose draft pick on tampering charge
NEW YORK, March 24 (UPI) -- The NFL ruled Monday the San Francisco 49ers will have to forfeit their fifth-round pick in this year's draft after the Chicago Bears filed tampering charges.
The NFL said following a detailed investigation and a hearing, Commissioner Roger Goodell determined the 49ers violated the league's anti-tampering policy by contacting the agent for Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs during the 2007 season without the Bears' permission.
The Bears leveled tampering charges against the 49ers, then re-signed Briggs at the beginning of this year's free-agency signing period.
"The 49ers organization respects commissioner Goodell's ruling today, however, we do disagree with it," 49ers General Manager Scot McCloughan said. "This was not a malicious act."
The Bears and 49ers will switch third-round selections in the 2008 draft. Chicago will have the seventh selection of the third round and San Francisco will have the 12th pick of the same round.
Cheerleader in 'good condition' after fall
NORFOLK, Va., March 24 (UPI) -- A spokesman for a Norfolk, Va., hospital says a University of Georgia cheerleader who fell during a basketball game was in "good condition" Monday.
Christine Conley, who appeared to hit her head on the court after falling from the arms of a male cheerleader Sunday during the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, spent the night at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for observation, the Newport News (Va.) Daily Press reported Monday.
A hospital spokesman said the cheerleader was in "good condition" Monday morning.
The game, between Georgia and the University of Iowa, was delayed for 10 minutes after Conley fell hard on her back and appeared to hit her head on the floor. She was taken off the court by medical personnel.
