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Reeling Steelers lose DB Polamalu longer

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu says his knee injury is worse than first thought and he may be out until Jan. 3.

"Hopefully by the (season finale) Miami game, I'll be ready to play," Polamalu told Tuesday's Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Polamalu strained the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in an 18-12 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. His injury leaves the reeling Steelers, who have lost five straight games, without their defensive spark plug -- Polamalu has helped the defense force 10 turnovers in the five games he has played.

The Tribune-Review said it's the second big injury to the Steelers' defense: Defensive end Aaron Smith went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in mid-October.

Player alleges attack by Florida coach

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The University of South Florida is investigating allegations that head football coach Jim Leavitt attacked one of his players, officials said.

Leavitt allegedly grabbed sophomore Joel Miller by the throat and hit him twice in the face Nov. 21 during halftime at the USF-University of Louisville game, Miller's father, Paul Miller, told FanHouse.com. Five witnesses confirmed the story, FanHouse reported.

Leavitt has denied the allegations, WTSP-TV, St. Petersburg, Fla. said in a story published Tuesday.

"It is untrue. I'm very disappointed that this has been written. It is so untrue," Leavitt told WTSP by phone during a recruiting trip.

The university is reviewing the allegations, USF spokesman Michael Hoad told WTSP in an e-mail.

"We're committed to ensuring due process for everyone involved," Hoad wrote. "To ensure fairness, the university doesn't comment during a review."

Male cheerleader booted after fight

COLUMBIA, Mo., Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A Missouri University male cheerleader who says he was assaulted by two female basketball players has been suspended from cheering, school officials say.

Missouri athletic department spokesman Chad Moller said Justin Short has been suspended indefinitely from the college's cheer squad for a "violation of team policies," the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune reported.

Amanda Hanneman and Jessra Johnson, the Tigers' two leading scorers, were arrested last week on suspicion of third-degree assault and though released are currently suspended from the team, the newspaper said.

Hanneman's mother told the Daily Tribune the players were coming to the aid of a female friend when they fought with Short early Friday morning. Short was allegedly left with a broken nose and an eye injury after the incident, which Betsy Hanneman said happened when Amanda Hanneman, Johnson and Short were celebrating an 83-34 victory over Texas Pan-American at Short's apartment.

Betsy Hanneman said Short's female roommate -- a close friend of the players -- complained of the noise, and Short allegedly responded angrily, saying he "had her down with his hand around her throat," at which point "Amanda popped him in the nose."

The newspaper said Short did not respond to requests for comment.

Poblete gives birth to premature boy

SAO PAULO, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Chilean Olympic weightlifter Elizabeth Poblete has given birth in Brazil to a 3-months premature boy and says she didn't know she was pregnant.

The O Globo Web site reported Poblete, 22, reported feeling unwell last Tuesday and the baby was born a short time later. Mother and child were transported to a Sao Paulo hospital.

O Globo said Poblete told hospital officials she did not have the resources to pay the bill. She was discharged but the infant remains in intensive care.

Poblete told doctors she did not know she was pregnant and Dr. Valdemir Resende told O Globo it's possible endorphins could have masked pregnancy symptoms.

Poblete named her son Eric Joseph. The baby, who was reported on ventilator, weighed in at 2 1/2 pounds and measured 12 inches. There was no mention in the report of the father.

The 5-foot-3, 165-pound Poblete competed in the Beijing Summer Games, finishing 12th in the 69-75kg division.