Seve Ballesteros' health worsens
PEDRENA, Spain, May 6 (UPI) -- The family of cancer-stricken Spainish golf star Seve Ballesteros says his health is quickly worsening.
Ballesteros, 54, underwent several surgeries and chemotherapy treatments for a cancerous brain tumor and last year he said his health was getting better.
But his family said on the golfer's Web site Friday his health is failing.
"The family will inform accordingly about any change in his health condition and takes this opportunity of thanking everyone for the support that both Seve and his own family have been receiving during all this time," a message said.
Ballesteros was once ranked No. 1 in the world. His many championships around the world included two Masters titles and three at the British Open.
Last May, the golfer said he was 90 percent recovered following four operations on the tumor. He also underwent several rounds of chemotherapy.
"Now I am perfect, I can do any kind of sport, running, swimming, rowing and I am also hitting golf shots," Ballesteros said then.
Family members said updates on the golfer's condition would be posted on his Web site at: www.seveballesteros.com.
Uncle Mo out of Kentucky Derby
LOUISVILLE, Ky., May 6 (UPI) -- Uncle Mo has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs officials said Friday.
The Indian Charlie colt, last year's Breeders' Cup winner and 2-year-old champion, suffered his first career loss in the Wood Memorial last month and later was found to have a gastro-intestinal tract infection. He was treated with antibiotics but owner Mike Repole said he would not run the colt if he wasn't fully recovered.
Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher had a team of three veterinarians examine Uncle Mo and said their decision would be based on the medical evaluation.
The decision to scratch reduces the field for Saturday's $2 million Kentucky Derby to 19 horses. Dialed In, winner of the Florida Derby, was the 4-1 morning-line favorite.
Austrian Stefan Koubek retires from tennis
VIENNA, May 6 (UPI) -- Austria's Stefan Koubek, a three-time winner on the ATP Tour, says he is retiring from competitive tennis.
Koubek, 34, a left-hander who was ranked No. 20 in the world a decade ago, is now No. 261 on the list.
"I wanted to play Roland Garros [in the French Open] and Wimbledon one more time but I won't make it," Koubek said.
"Once you've decided to quit, you lose your motivation."
Koubek, who also was a three-time runnerup on the ATP tour, played on many Austrian Davis Cup teams.
PITTSBURGH, May 6 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward said he thought Los Angeles police were joking when they handcuffed him during a traffic stop this week.
"I thought I was being 'Punk'd,'" Ward told WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh. "I realized I wasn't when police ordered me to the ground and handcuffed me."
The LAPD wasn't kidding. Officers apparently thought the car Ward and some friends were in had been stolen and swarmed to the scene in the Hollywood area with guns drawn.
Ward, a contestant on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," was not formally arrested in the incident early Thursday and his agent, Andrew Ree, told WTAE: "There's no story. It's over."
A police spokesman said the car had indeed been reported stolen last month but the owner had found it parked in another location and neglected to tell police. The spokesman said standard police procedure when stopping a suspected stolen vehicle is to have guns at the ready and secure all occupants with cuffs.
