UPI NewsTrack Sports

LeBeau, Little finalists for NFL hall

CANTON, Ohio, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Cornerback Dick LeBeau and running back Floyd Little have been named finalists for election into the NFL Hall of Fame's 2010 class.

They will join 15 still-to-be-named modern-era candidates on a list of finalists and their recommendations were made by the hall's Seniors Committee.

LeBeau played from 1959 to 1972 and Little from 1967 to 1975.

LeBeau, defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, played 14 seasons for the Detroit Lions after being drafted in 1959 by Cleveland. He had 62 career pass interceptions, returning three for touchdowns.

Little, a five-time Pro Bowl pick with the Denver Broncos, compiled 12,000 all-purpose yards -- 6,323 yards on 1,641 career carries, 2,418 yards on 215 receptions, 893 yards on 81 punt returns and 2,523 yards on 104 kickoff returns.

His 1,133 yards in 1971 made him the first Denver running back ever to gain more than 1,000 rushing yards in a single season.

"This is the best news I've had since I retired," Little said Tuesday.

Williams sisters buy into Miami Dolphins

DAVIE, Fla., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Women's tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams have officially become limited partners in the NFL's Miami Dolphins franchise.

No dollar figure or percentage were disclosed.

They became the first female African-Americans to hold an ownership stake in an NFL team when Dolphins majority owner Stephen Ross announced the move Tuesday.

"They have a total passion for winning, business, and philanthropy and are passionate Miami Dolphin fans," Ross said at news conference.

"We are just really excited to be a part of such a wonderful franchise, and Venus and I love the Dolphins," Serena said.

The tennis superstar siblings, who are full-time residents of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and natives of Lynwood, Calif., have combined for $50 million in earnings with 62 singles titles, nine grand slam doubles victories and five Olympic medals. It wasn't disclosed how much they invested in the Dolphins or the percentage they now hold.

They joined singer/entertainers Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez this year in expanding Miami's multi-cultural ownership organization.

Mine That Bird to miss Travers Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Mine That Bird, the long-shot winner of the Kentucky Derby, won't run in this weekend's Travers Stakes to allow more recovery time from a recent surgery.

Mine That Bird had throat surgery Aug. 18 and, while the procedure was considered successful and the horse had a workout Tuesday, trainer Chip Woolley said the decision was made "to err on the side of caution."

"We've decided to … pass this race up and aim down the road to the Breeders' Cup," Woolley said. "There's one little spot underneath the epiglottis pushing up just a tiny bit and after studying and looking at it, we're going to hold off and make sure the horse is OK and not take any chances with the rest of his career."

While Mine That Bird is out of Saturday's $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the 3-year-old gelding is scheduled to run Sept. 7 in the $2 million All America Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico.

The Breeders' Cup Classic, a $5 million race, is Nov. 7 in California.

Mine That Bird won the Kentucky Derby after going off at 50-1. The horse has earned nearly $1.9 million in six races this year.

Report: FIU won't play Tar Heels

MIAMI, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Florida International officials are backing out of a basketball game against national champion North Carolina, the Miami Herald said.

The contest at Chapel Hill Nov. 9 is slated to be a part of the 12-team Coaches versus Cancer tournament classic this winter, but FIU thought it was supposed face Ohio State.

An e-mail from the Gazelle Group, the tournament's sponsor, to FIU assistant coach Anthony Anderson, obtained by the newspaper Tuesday, said because of scheduling conflicts, the Golden Panthers needed to switch their first-round opponent to UNC.

Athletic Director Pete Garcia told the newspaper if FIU does not play Ohio State then it will play somebody else.

"I had no idea (about the change)," new FIU Coach Isiah Thomas said. "No one contacted me or our athletic director, no one. Maybe in 2010, 2011 we can play North Carolina, but not this year."