Federal judge orders NFL to lift lockout
ST. PAUL, Minn., April 25 (UPI) -- A federal judge in St. Paul, Minn., ruled Monday NFL team owners must lift their lockout of players from training camps.
Judge Susan Nelson Monday granted a request by players for an injunction ordering an end to the lockout under U.S. antitrust laws, NFL.com reported.
Owners imposed the lockout after the league's collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association expired last month and negotiations to extend it broke down.
The union decertified itself and sought relief under antitrust regulations.
Nelson's ruling didn't include a stay, meaning the league must reopen the camps immediately. Owners were expected to seek an appeal of her decision with the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.
The ruling came five days after federally mediated negotiations Nelson had ordered were recessed for more than a month by U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan in Minneapolis.
NFL.com reported owners will seek a rapid response from the appellate court to avoid uncertainty over the status of the lockout ahead of the upcoming free agency season.
MLB names Schieffer to oversee Dodgers
NEW YORK, April 25 (UPI) -- Former Texas Rangers President J. Thomas Schieffer will oversee the finances of the Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced Monday.
Schieffer will be Selig's representative in overseeing the National League franchise, which has been thrown into financial turmoil due to the divorce battle between owner Frank McCourt and wife Jamie McCourt, who served as chief executive officer of the club until 2009.
"We are very fortunate to have someone of Tom Schieffer's stature monitor the operations of the Los Angeles Dodgers on behalf of Major League Baseball," Selig said in a statement. "Tom is a distinguished public servant who has represented the nation with excellence and has demonstrated extraordinary leadership throughout his career."
Schieffer was president of the Rangers from 1991-99 under an ownership group headed by former U.S. President George W. Bush.
He also served as the U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan during Bush's presidency.
Selig has told the Dodgers the league office must sign off on any expenditure of $5,000 or more, ESPN.com reported.
Lakers player jailed for hitting waitress
NEW ORLEANS, April 25 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Derrick Caracter was arrested and jailed for allegedly hitting a New Orleans waitress, police said Monday.
Caracter, 22, was in the city with the Lakers Sunday as they took on the New Orleans Hornets in a first-round playoff series.
Police spokeswoman Shereese Harper told The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune Caracter was charged with striking a waitress while drunk and disorderly at a downtown restaurant early Sunday.
The 6-foot-9 rookie back-up was taken into custody after he allegedly "started grabbing and pulling" a waitress, which prompted the manager to run outside and signal police for help.
Harper said Caracter refused to cooperate with a female officer and so was handcuffed, arrested and booked on misdemeanor charges of battery, public intoxication and resisting arrest.
The newspaper said the player was released from jail but it was unclear when his bond was posted.
The incident happened on an off-night between the two games the Lakers played against the Hornets in New Orleans.
49ers great Joe Perry dies at 84
SAN FRANCISCO, April 25 (UPI) -- Early San Francisco 49ers great Joe Perry died Monday of complications due to dementia at the age of 84, the team said.
Perry, a fullback who played 14 of his 16 professional seasons for San Francisco from 1948-1960 and in 1963, was nicknamed "The Jet" for his exceptional speed and remains the team's all-time leader in rushing yards (7,344) and rushing touchdowns (50).
Perry was named to the Pro Bowl three times (1952-54), was twice designated a first-team all-pro (1953-54) and was selected by United Press International as the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1954.
He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1969 and his No. 34 jersey was retired by the 49ers in 1971.
"I was deeply saddened to hear of Joe Perry's passing earlier today," 49ers owner and Co-Chairman John York said. "He was a dear friend to my family and me and to the entire 49ers organization. He was also an integral part of our rich history."
The Stephens, Ark., native is survived by his wife Donna, four children, a stepdaughter, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
