Shipp exits draft to return to UCLA
LOS ANGELES, June 10 (UPI) -- UCLA guard Josh Shipp has withdrawn his name from the NBA draft to return for his senior season with the Bruins.
Shipp, who did not hire an agent prior to declaring for the draft in late April, took his name out of consideration for the June 26 selection process, UCLA Coach Ben Howland said Tuesday.
"Josh has been an integral part of our three Final Four runs and I am really excited that he is coming back for his senior year," Howland said.
UCLA advanced to its third consecutive Final Four in the NCAA Tournament this past season. The Bruins lost to Memphis in the national semifinal in 2008 and to Florida the previous two seasons, in the semifinals in 2007 and the championship game in 2006.
"I wanted to come back and make another run for the championship," Shipp said. "We've been close three times and a goal of mine is to win the NCAA championship."
Braves pitcher has shoulder surgery
ATLANTA, June 10 (UPI) -- Atlanta Braves veteran pitcher John Smoltz had arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his right shoulder.
It is unclear if or when the 41-year-old could return to the majors. He will begin a rehabilitation regimen in the next few days.
Smoltz, the 1996 Cy Young winner, was 3-2 with a 2.57 earned run average in six games, five of which were starts.
The only pitcher in major league history with at least 200 wins and 150 saves, Smoltz spent the first 12 years of his career as a starter. He missed the entire 2000 season after undergoing elbow surgery, then returned in 2001 and spent most of the year as a closer. Smoltz had 154 saves from 2001 through 2004 before returning to the rotation for the 2005 campaign.
Smoltz a regular-season record of 210-147. Earlier this year, he became the 16th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts. He is the winningest pitcher in post-season history with a record of 15-4.
Anaheim trades Bergeron to Minnesota
ANAHEIM, Calif., June 10 (UPI) -- The Anaheim Ducks traded defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron to the Minnesota Wild Monday for a third-round pick in the upcoming NHL draft.
Bergeron, 27, began last season with the New York Islanders, but was sent to Anaheim before the trade deadline. In 55 games last season, he had nine goals and 10 assists.
Over five seasons in the NHL, Bergeron had 48 goals and 80 assists in 267 games. He began his career with Edmonton in the 2002-03 season and played there until being traded to the Islanders during the 2006-07 season.
The NHL draft will be held June 20.
Kinlenko wins; Peer, Cibulkova bow out
BARCELONA, Spain, June 10 (UPI) -- Second-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko won but top-seeded Israeli Shahar Peer and third-seeded Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova lost Tuesday at the Barcelona KIA.
Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives knocked out Peer in 7-5, 6-2. The match was tied at 5-5 in the opening set on Monday when play was called due to darkness..
Kirilenko was leading Lilia Osterloh 6-0, 2-0 when the American retired. Cibulkova lost to France's Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-5 when as the Slovakian quit the match.
Fourth-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova beat Spanish qualifier Leticia Costas 6-2, 6-1; sixth-seeded Italian Sara Errani defeated Spaniard Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-3, 6-2; and Russian qualifier Ekaterina Ivanova upset eighth-seeded Italian Tathiana Garbin 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
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