Boston's Bedard served before big game
BOSTON, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Red Sox pitcher Erik Bedard was served with legal papers hours before he took the mound in a key game in Boston Tuesday, the New York Post reported.
The newspaper quoted the man who served the papers on Bedard at Fenway Park, lifelong Yankees fan Tom Cabral, as saying he did so on behalf ex-girlfriend Courtney Roberts, who is suing the Red Sox left-hander for child support.
"The Red Sox were very cooperative," Cabral told the newspaper. "They asked me if I could serve these tomorrow because he was starting tonight. My position was, my client wants it served today, and that's what I have to do."
Bedard started against the Baltimore Orioles as the Red Sox battled to maintain their 2-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League wild-card race.
"When I walked in I was like, I'm a Yankees fan, but I'm not trying to (give you a hard time)," Cabral told the newspaper. "I told him that and said, sorry, I've got to do this.
"But he said it was no problem. I handed him the copies of all the documents and he signed them."
Rangers' Staal: Still getting headaches
NEW YORK, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal said Tuesday he's still getting headaches after suffering a concussion last season.
Staal, speaking to the media for first time about his post-concussion syndrome, said although he has been "steadily improving" since the summer, he still suffers from headaches that last as long as 5 hours after workouts, ESPN New York reported.
"I feel no symptoms if I don't do anything. If I sit on the couch all day I don't get any headache," Staal said. "If I push myself really hard, later in the day, more often than not, I'll get a headache."
Staal sustained the concussion Feb. 22 on a hit delivered by his brother, Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Staal.
The star blueliner is being held out of scrimmages in the Rangers' training camp and will miss at least the team's three North American exhibition games this month, the broadcaster said.
Neither he nor Rangers Coach John Tortorella was willing to guarantee he would be ready for New York's Oct. 7 season opener.
Ravens sign Haloti Ngata to 5-year deal
BALTIMORE, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Ravens announced Tuesday they have signed all-pro defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to a new five-year contract.
The Ravens in February put the non-exclusive franchise tag on the two-time Pro Bowl selection, which was scheduled to expire Tuesday.
The terms of the contract weren't announced, but multiple reports indicated it was worth $61 million, with $40 million due over the first two years.
If so, it would make Ngata the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
"This is a great feeling, and I can't explain how many different emotions I have," Ngata said. "What I want to do now is continue to get better every year and help the team get better. Our goal is to win Super Bowls, and I want to do my best to help us make that happen."
The No. 12 overall pick of the 2006 draft racked up 63 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks last season, with 257 tackles, 12 sacks and three interceptions in his career.
Byfuglien charged with drunken boating
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien was charged Tuesday in Minneapolis with boating while intoxicated and three other misdemeanor counts.
Byfuglien, 26, also faces a gross misdemeanor charge for refusing to submit to blood or alcohol testing stemming from an Aug. 31 incident in which he was arrested on a Twin Cities-area lake by Hennepin County Sheriff's deputies, the Star Tribune reported.
The other charges include piloting a boat with no navigational lights illuminated and having an insufficient number of personal flotation devices available.
Authorities said a preliminary breath test at the scene showed Byfuglien's level of intoxication was less than the legal limit but that he showed signs of impairment.
Authorities also alleged Byfuglien appeared to be under the influence of an unnamed controlled substance at the time of his arrest.
Ben Hankinson, Byfuglien's agent, told the newspaper the star defenseman "has a clean record and has never been charged with anything. He's a high-character kid. It's a bad situation he's going through. In the end, everything will be fine."
The incident could complicate the Minneapolis native's ability to enter Canada as the Jets prepare for their first season in Winnipeg after relocating from Atlanta.
