Man dies in fall at Atlanta's Turner Field
ATLANTA, May 22 (UPI) -- A 25-year-old man died after falling over a railing at Atlanta's Turner Field during a game between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office said Justin Hayes, 25, of Cumming, Ga., was pronounced dead Wednesday night at Grady Memorial Hospital after he fell an estimated four levels in the stadium, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Police told the newspaper Hayes was apparently sliding on a handrail during the bottom of the eighth inning of the game when he fell. Witnesses said he hit concrete and metal railings.
Atlanta Police spokesman Ron Campbell said alcohol may have been involved in the incident, which is still under investigation, the Journal-Constitution said.
Sweden makes team tennis title series
DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 22 (UPI) -- Singles victories by Robin Soderling and Thomas Johansson boosted the Swedish team into the finals of the $2.34 million ATP World Team Championship in Germany.
Soderling defeated James Blake 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 and Johansson upended Bobby Reynolds 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 assuring the Swedes a win in the best-of-three Red Group series with the United States.
Both teams entered Thursday with 2-0 round-robin records, leaving the Sweden-U.S. pairing to decide the group winner.
Sweden, which last won the team title in 1995, heads into Saturday's finals but won't know its opponent until after Friday's Blue Group round-robin play ends. All four teams in that group entered Thursday tied 1-1.
Russia is ahead of Germany 1-0 after Igor Andreev defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-3 and David Ferrer put Spain up 1-0 over Italy with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Simone Bolelli.
The Blue Group teams have their second singles matches and a doubles match to go Friday before a final opponent for Sweden is determined.
Granato returns as Colorado Avalanche coach
DENVER, May 22 (UPI) -- Tony Granato, who earlier coached the team for parts of two seasons, has again been named the head coach of the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.
Granato was an assistant for the team last season under head coach Joel Quenneville, who was fired after the Avalanche went 44-31-7 and was swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the playoffs.
Granato coached Colorado for parts of two seasons from 2002-04, building a 72-33-17 record. The Avalanche made the playoffs both seasons under Granato. Overall, he has been with the team for six seasons.
Avalanche General Manager Francois Giguere said Thursday that Granato had gained "tremendous coaching experience" while behind the Colorado bench.
"I'm excited about this challenge," said Granato. "I know this team has a great mix of youth, experience, skill and speed. I'm looking forward to this new opportunity ahead."
Yankees' LaTroy Hawkins suspended
NEW YORK, May 22 (UPI) -- New York Yankees pitcher LaTroy Hawkins was given a three-game suspension for allegedly throwing at a batter during a game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The suspension was to have begun Thursday but Hawkins has appealed the disciplinary action, which includes an undisclosed fine.
In the sixth inning of Tuesday's game against Baltimore, pitches from Hawkins were far inside the plate and toward batter Luke Scott. The second pitch was high and inside -- about head level -- although Scott wasn't hit.
The home plate umpire immediately ejected Hawkins from the game. Both benches cleared in the incident but no punches were thrown.
American League officials ruled Hawkins intentionally threw at Scott and issued the suspension and fine.
Report: Federer likes French Open chances
PARIS, May 22 (UPI) -- Roger Federer, the world's top-ranked men's tennis player says he thinks he can end his futility at the French Open tennis tournament this year.
The third grand slam event this season starts Sunday on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
Federer, 26, told the Mail and Guardian newspaper Thursday he knows that in his 10th attempt to win the French he likely will have to beat clay-court specialist and world No. 2 Rafael Nadal of Spain.
"I'm pushing Rafa and I have the feeling I can beat him if I play the right way," Federer told the newspaper. "I feel like my defensive skills (on clay) are getting better and better."
Federer's clay-court record against Nadal is 1-8 -- and 5-2 on all other surfaces -- and last week, the Spaniard became only the third player since 1990 to win the three ATP Masters Series titles on clay -- Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg -- joining Gustavo Kuerten and Marcelo Rios.
