NFL players to fight digital dating abuse
NEW YORK, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The National Football League Players Association has joined Family Violence Prevention Fund to stop digital dating abuse, the union said Thursday.
The NFLPA and the FVPF have launched a national public service advertising campaign designed to help teens recognize online dating abuse and prevent it from happening with e-cards called "That's Not Cool."
The campaign invites teens to create their own "Callout Cards" that can be used to raise awareness of teen dating abuse and win cool prizes, with the grand prize winner receiving a trip to Washington to attend players' gala later this year.
The groups estimate nearly 70,000 Web site visitors each month, mostly teens, send e-cards to their friends and dating partners.
The campaign focuses on teens ages 13-18 and will run until March 15.
"We are hopeful that the support of our players will bring additional awareness to this very critical issue," Teri Patterson, special counsel to the NFLPA's executive director, said.
Cubs re-sign reliever Carlos Marmol
CHICAGO, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The Chicago Cubs re-signed reliever Carlos Marmol Thursday with a one-year, $2.125 million contract, thus avoiding salary arbitration.
The deal makes shortstop Ryan Theriot the lone Cub left in the arbitration process.
The Cubs have not gone to an arbitration hearing since 1993 with first baseman Mark Grace.
Marmol, 27, made $575,000 in 2009, but had sought $2.5 million.
The Cubs were offering $1.75 million.
Last season, Marmol, primarily a middle reliever, went 11-for-11 in save chances when he assumed the closer's role in mid-August, replacing Kevin Gregg.
His lone weakness was 65 walks in 74 innings.
He compiled 93 strikeouts and finished with a 2-4 record.
The 2007 all-star has a 14-16 career record with 3.42 ERA, 200 walks and 362 strikeouts in 307 2/3 innings.
Cilic leads Zagreb winners
ZAGREB, Croatia, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Marin Cilic topped Daniel Koellerer 6-2, 6-1, during Thursday's second round at the Zagreb Indoors tennis tournament in Zagreb, Croatia.
The defending champion, a native of Croatia, joined fellow Croat Ivo Karlovic in Friday's quarterfinals, but countryman Ivan Ljubicic lost 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 7-6 (7-5) to little-known Slovakian Lukas Lacko.
The 6-foot-10 Karlovic was a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-8) winner over Frenchman Alexandre Sidorenko.
Elsewhere, unseeded Philipp Petzschner downed sixth-seeded and fellow German Benjamin Becker 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (8-6), and Germany's Michael Berrer beat Croatia's Petar Jelenic 6-4, 6-3.
Friday's quarters are Jurgen Melzer-Illya Marchenko, Viktor Troicki-Berrer, Petzschner-Lacko, and Cilic-Karlovic.
The eventual champion earns a $95,500 winner's check.
Apple Blossom purse depends on 2009 champs
HOT SPRINGS, Ark., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Oaklawn President Charles J. Cella has increased the purse for the Apple Blossom horse race to $5 million if fillies Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta enter.
Rachel Alexandra, the reigning champion at the Preakness, was 2009 Horse of the Year, while Zenyatta became the first female to win the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park last November.
Rachel Alexandra was undefeated in eight races in 2009 with earnings of more than $2.7 million.
Zenyatta is 14-0 and has earned more than $5.4 million.
She was 4 years old in 2008 when she won the Apple Blossom race.
"We have always pursued a goal of bringing the world's best racing to Arkansas," Cella said at a news conference. "That gives us the opportunity to fulfill the promises we continually make to our fans, our horsemen and all of our supporters."
