NFL retirees' lawsuit tossed
MINNEAPOLIS, May 30 (UPI) -- A lawsuit filed by retired players against the NFL Players Association has been dismissed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.
U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson said the collective bargaining agreement between NFL owners and the players provided former NFL players with significant and increased benefits.
A group of retired players, led by former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Carl Eller, had argued former players lost money in the new CBA. The former players also said the players' union didn't have authority to negotiate with the league in regards to pensions and other benefits for retired players.
Nelson, however, said the NFLPA didn't act illegally in the negotiations.
"(T)here can be no dispute that a better package of benefits was in fact obtained for the retired players in the 2011 CBA as compared to those in the former CBA," Nelson wrote. "No jury could reasonably find that the active players did not do better by the retired players in the 2011 CBA."
The NFLPA issued a statement praising Nelson's decision.
"We are pleased with the decision by the court, which affirms the NFLPA's tireless commitment to supporting all former NFL players," the union said Wednesday.
Cleveland's Hafner to have knee surgery
CLEVELAND, May 30 (UPI) -- Cleveland designated hitter Travis Hafner will have surgery on his right knee and will miss more than a month of the schedule, Indians officials said.
Hafner has been diagnosed with a damaged meniscus in his right knee and is to have surgery Thursday, the team said. He is expected to be out 4-6 weeks and was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 24.
Hafner, 34, has spent 10 of his 11 major-league seasons with Cleveland. He is hitting .242 with six home runs and 23 runs batted in this season. He's a career .279 hitter with 195 home runs.
The Indians called up pitcher Scott Barnes from Triple-A Columbus to take Hafner's spot on the roster. This is the first time Barnes, 24, will be on a major-league roster. He's 0-2 with a 3.81 earned run average in 11 appearances with Columbus this year.
Georgia's Donte Williams charged with pot
ATHENS, Ga., May 30 (UPI) -- University of Georgia starting forward Donte Williams could face a suspension next season after being charged with marijuana possession, the school says.
Williams and a friend were arrested Friday at Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta after a police officer noticed a strong smell of marijuana from their car, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. Police said both admitted they had been smoking marijuana earlier but denied a small quantity of the drug found in the vehicle belonged to them.
Both were released after they were processed.
If the charges hold, Georgia Athletic Association rules would mandate a three game suspension next season, the newspaper said. Under university rules, Williams could also be put on probation for 12 months, have to go through a drug awareness program and be subjected to drug testing, university officials said.
Williams, a 6-foot-2 junior, has played in 62 of 65 games with the Bulldogs during his two years at the university. He started all 32 games last year and averaged 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Federer picks up record win at French Open
PARIS, May 30 (UPI) -- Roger Federer collected a record 234th Grand Slam match victory in advancing Wednesday to the third round of the French Open.
Federer, No. 3 in the world, defeated Adrian Ungur 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 for a win that allowed him to pass Jimmy Connors for the most major-tournament match wins in the Open Era.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic posted a 6-0, 6-4, 6-4 win over Blaz Kavcic in his second-round match Wednesday. Djokovic saw just three break points -- all in the second set -- in the match.
Djokovic has won his last 23 Grand Slam matches, with his most recent major-tournament loss coming last year in the French Open semifinals to Federer.
On the women's side Wednesday, No. 1-ranked Victoria Azarenka dropped just two games and Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Venus Williams in second-round play.
Azarenka, who struggled in her first-round match, rolled over Dinah Pfizenmaier 6-1, 6-1. She had just nine winners but also just 11 unforced errors. Pfizenmaier matched the nine winners but hampered herself with 29 unforced errors.
Radwanska, seeded third, took out Williams 6-2, 6-3, closing the match with her fifth service break. Radwanska had just six unforced errors Wednesday while Williams had 33. Radwanska won half the points when Williams served.
