Sorenstam to leave competitive golf
CLIFTON, N.J., May 13 (UPI) -- Annika Sorenstam, who has won 72 tournaments and more than $22 million in 15 years on the LPGA, Tuesday said she was leaving the tour after this season.
In an announcement on her Web site, Sorenstam wrote, "It is time for me to try and achieve more in other facets of life, and in the years to come I will be committed to getting married, starting a family, growing the game of golf, giving back to others, and the expansion of the ANNIKA brand of businesses …"
Sorenstam is coming off a win Sunday at the LPGA's Michelob ULTRA Open in Williamsburg, Va., for her 72nd tour victory. She also had won 16 international tournaments.
"I still love the competition and winning tournaments, but the daily demands and amount of time required to stay near the top have become more than I desire," Sorenstam's statement said.
Sorenstam, 37, has won 10 women's major golf tournaments and been the sport's player of the year eight times, most recently in 2005. Her total winnings of $22,081,560 is an LPGA record.
Horford leads NBA all-rookie team
NEW YORK, May 13 (UPI) -- Atlanta Hawks forward-center Al Horford was a unanimous selection to the NBA's all-rookie team, the league said Tuesday.
Horford finished second to Seattle swingman Kevin Durant in the overall rookie-of-the year voting, but piled up 58 points in balloting for the all-rookie first team. Durant was right behind with 57 points.
The 30 NBA coaches voted for the all-rookie team with a first-team vote worth 2 points and a second-team mention worth 1. Coaches couldn't vote for their own players.
Joining Horford and Durant on the first team were Houston's Luis Scola, the Los Angeles Clippers' Al Thornton and Seattle's Jeff Green.
The all-rookie second team is made up of Toronto's Jamario Moon, Memphis's Juan Carlos Navarro, Philadelphia's Thaddeus Young, Detroit's Rodney Stuckey and Houston's Carl Landry.
'No new sanctions' expected against Pats
NEW YORK, May 13 (UPI) -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he didn't expect further sanctions against the New England Patriots following a meeting with a former team employee.
Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh spoke with Goodell for more than three hours Tuesday regarding the team's videotaping practices.
Goodell last year fined New England Coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the team $250,000 and took a 2008 first-round draft choice from the Patriots after the team was turned in for recording opposing coaches' signals.
Goodell said the tapes Walsh provided covered six games in 2000-02 but none related to the St. Louis Rams' walk-through prior to Super Bowl XXXVI.
"The fundamental information that Matt provided was consistent with what we disciplined the Patriots for last fall," Goodell said.
"I don't anticipate any further sanctions. What we heard and saw was fundamentally consistent with what we already knew."
Goodell said there were two possible violations by the Patriots revealed at the meeting but neither is considered serious. Walsh indicated there was a player on injured reserve who practiced in violation of NFL rules and that a few Patriots players illegally scalped their Super Bowl tickets.
D'Antoni takes over New York Knicks
NEW YORK, May 13 (UPI) -- Mike D'Antoni, three years removed as NBA coach of the year while leading the Phoenix Suns, was formally introduced Tuesday as coach of the New York Knicks.
D'Antoni had spoken with both the Knicks and Chicago Bulls about coaching vacancies before agreeing to a deal with New York. The New York Post said the contract was worth $24 million over four years.
"It was time for me to move on," D'Antoni said of leaving the Suns. "I couldn't think of a better place to coach than New York."
D'Antoni coached the Suns for more than four seasons and built a 253-136 regular-season record. He was voted the NBA coach of the year after the 2004-05 season. But their playoff record was 26-25 under D'Antoni.
In New York he replaces Isaiah Thomas, who had the team go 56-108 over two seasons.
"Mike D'Antoni is the right man to build this team," Knicks President Donnie Walsh said. "Mike is a proven winner in this league. We will work together to build this team to be competitive and bring excitement back to Madison Square Garden."
IOC gives $1 million for China quake aid
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, May 13 (UPI) -- The International Olympic Committee said Tuesday it was giving $1 million to relief and recovery efforts related to the earthquake that hit China.
More than 12,000 people are known to have died and thousands of others are missing and believed buried in rubble. The 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Monday was centered near Mianyang in Sichuan province, southwest of Beijing. Strong aftershocks Tuesday were felt in the region.
The 2008 Summer Games are set for Beijing in August.
"I feel deeply for those affected and join in solidarity with the people of China," said IOC President Jacques Rogge. "This appears to be a major disaster, the scale of which is only just becoming apparent. We send our deepest felt condolences to the victims and their families."
The IOC, in a release, said its donation would be channeled through the Beijing Games organizing committee to "distribute support to the appropriate relief organizations."
