UPI NewsTrack Sports

Super Bowl footballs to be authenticated

SANTA ANA, Calif., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Footballs used in the upcoming Super Bowl game will be marked with synthetic DNA to foil memorabilia counterfeiting, company officials say.

The sports memorabilia authentication company PSA/DNA Authentication Services of Santa Ana, Calif., said in a release Tuesday more than 100 Super Bowl footballs will be "tagged" with a specially prepared synthetic DNA ink that leaves an invisible-to-the-naked-eye security mark.

The company said the game's sideline pylons and even the coin used for the coin toss will also be marked with a synthetic DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) strand that can be seen only when illuminated by a specific laser frequency.

"The DNA ink has an astronomical 1-in-33 trillion chance of being accurately reproduced by counterfeiters," said PSA/DNA President Joe Orlando.

He explained that the collectors' value of any game-used Super Bowl item can vary significantly depending on the importance of the specific item.

"For example, was the particular football caught for a touchdown or used for a game-winning field goal?" he said, asserting such authentication is possible with the DNA ink.

Freeney 'questionable' for Super Bowl

MIAMI, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney said Tuesday he is unsure whether his right ankle injury will allow him to play in Sunday's Super Bowl.

The Colts officially have Freeney listed as "questionable" for Super Bowl XLIV, in which Indianapolis goes against the New Orleans Saints, as he receives daily treatment for a "low, third-degree ankle injury."

Freeney will probably miss each of the Colts' practice sessions this week.

"I'm doing everything, trying to find the best thing to get (my ankle) feeling as good as possible," Freeney said during Tuesday's media day interviews in Miami. "There's pain there. I'm just dealing with it."

Freeney, a five-time Pro Bowl selection over his eight-year NFL career, injured his ankle in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship Game. He had 13 1/2 sacks in 14 regular-season games this past season. He was selected to the NFL All-Decade Team, which was announced Sunday.

Hospital sued in Dwight White's death

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Negligence by a Pittsburgh hospital led to the 2008 death of former Steelers player Dwight White, a lawsuit alleges.

A lawyer representing White's family filed suit Monday against University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital, UPMC Health System and three UPMC doctors alleging negligence and miscommunication led to the famed defensive end's death, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The newspaper said family lawyer Art Schwarzwaelder claims White was healthy before he had back surgery May 12, 2008. He died less than a month later at age 58, the attorney said.

The suit claims White's condition after the operation worsened until his wife took him to an emergency room, where he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot in the lung. He died shortly after being transferred to the intensive care unit at UPMC Presbyterian.

White, who was a key part of the Steelers' legendary Steel Curtain defense, played with the team from 1971 to 1980, helping to produce four Super Bowl championships. The Post-Gazette said at the time of his death, he was the senior managing director of public finance for Mesirow Financial's Pittsburgh office.

Former Cowboy's wife found dead

BURLESON, Texas, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- The wife of former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek was found dead Tuesday morning, Texas authorities said.

The Tarrant County, Texas, Medical Examiner said LeAnne Novacek, 45, was pronounced dead in the bedroom of a Burleson, Texas, home, the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported.

A police spokesman told the the newspaper said the death appeared to be the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Sally Ellertson, spokeswoman for the city of Burleson, told the Star Telegram that police had responded to a reported "medical emergency, possible suicide," at the home.

Jay Novacek collected three Super Bowl championship rings in a 12-year career with the Cowboys (1990-1996) and the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals (1985-1990). The newspaper said he earned five Pro Bowls with the Cowboys before a back injury forced him to retire in 1997.