Adam Jones reinstated by NFL
DALLAS, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones, who was suspended for all of last season for NFL personal conduct policy violations, was reinstated Thursday.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Jones, who used to go by the nickname "Pacman," following a series of incidents, including one at a strip club in Las Vegas. Since entering the NFL in 2005, Jones has been arrested six times.
The Tennessee Titans traded Jones to Dallas in April. In June, Goodell partially reinstated Jones so he could participate in practices and exhibition games. Thursday, the player was cleared for regular-season games.
"This is another step in the process," said Jones. "I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I understand my responsibilities to the Dallas Cowboys and the National Football League. Right now I just want to keep working hard so I can accomplish the goals that I have set for myself both on and off the field."
Jones, 24, was the seventh overall pick in 2005 and piled up 115 tackles, one sack and four interceptions in his first two seasons with the Titans. He also returned four punts for touchdowns.
Mickelson tops Skins Game field
INDIAN WELLS, Calif., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Phil Mickelson and two-time defending champion Stephen Ames will be among the golfers participating in the 2008 Skins Game.
K.J. Choi and Rocco Mediate will round out the field for this year's Skins Game, to be played Nov. 29-30 at Indian Wells, Calif. It is to be televised by ABC-TV.
The players will compete for a total purse of $1 million using the Skins format in which a golfer must win the hole outright to collect the kitty. If two or more golfers tie, the money carries over to the next hole.
Ames won last year's Skins Game with a birdie on the last hole that was worth $650,000. He won the 2006 event on the second playoff hole, which was worth $270,000, giving him a total take of $590,000.
Mickelson, the No. 2-rated player in the world, last played in the Skins Games in 2003, when he finished third with $170,000. He was second in 2002.
Choi and Mediate, who had a thrilling head-to-head battle with Tiger Woods for the U.S. Open title this year, haven't appeared in the Skins Game before.
Oregon quarterback out with knee injury
EUGENE, Ore., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Torn left knee ligaments and a subsequent surgery have sidelined Oregon quarterback Nate Costa for the 2008 season.
In a release on the Pac-10 school's Web site this week, Oregon officials said the Hilmar, Calif., redshirt sophomore suffered the injury in an Aug. 20 practice during a non-contact drill.
He was the Ducks' first team signal-caller when fall drills started earlier this month.
Last season, the Ducks were No. 2 in the nation when they lost star quarterback Dennis Dixon for the season to a similar injury on Nov. 15 against Arizona.
They finished with a three-game losing streak after an 8-1 start.
The Oregonian newspaper in Portland, Ore., reported that a second torn ligament was discovered by doctors on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 220-pound Costa sustained a torn ligament in the same knee last October and it originally was injured in high school.
Sophomore Justin Roper will be Oregon's starter when the Ducks open the 2008 Saturday night against Washington.
Warriors' guard has ankle surgery
OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis will miss 12 weeks after undergoing surgery on a torn left ankle ligament.
The 6-foot-3-inch shooting guard, one of the NBA's most improved players last season, was injured during a workout in Jackson, Miss., his hometown, last Thursday.
His surgery was performed Wednesday by Dr. Angus McBryde at the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center in Birmingham, Ala.
"This is obviously a temporary setback for our team, but fortunately it is not something that is season-ending," Coach Don Nelson told the Contra Costa Times. "On the positive side, we're dealing with a young kid who should recover nicely. I'm sure Monta will work hard during his rehabilitation."
The 22-year-old Ellis, who joined the Warriors straight out of Lanier High School in 2006, averaged a career-high 20.2 points last season.
The team said he will be cleared to begin on-court rehabilitation after the successful conclusion of a two-part rehab process.
Havret early leader at Scotland golf event
AUCHTERARDER, Scotland, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Frenchman Gregory Havret shot 5-under-par 68 Thursday and has a two-stroke lead through 18 holes at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Auchterarder, Scotland.
His round started with a bogey at the first hole, but was followed by six birdies, including three in a row (4-6).
Havret, a two-time winner on the European Tour, leads Gary Orr, Paul Broadhurst, and Christian Cevaer, who all shot 3-under 70.
The first round featured a stinging criticism of the Gleneagles golf course by the tour's former top-ranked player, Lee Westwood of England.
"You can't bring the Ryder Cup onto greens like this," Westwood told the Scotsman newspaper after an opening 1-under 72.
The Ryder Cup competition against the United States will be held in 2014.
Scotland's Marc Warren, the defending champion, opened with an even-par 73, good for a tie for 23rd place with 16 others. In 2007, Warren beat England's Simon Wakefield in a two-hole playoff.
