Thursday's sports briefs

February 11, 2011 at 6:23AM

Negotiations to prevent an NFL lockout took a bad turn Thursday with the cancellation of the second day of a planned two-day bargaining session.

"We wish we were negotiating today," NFL Players Association spokesman George Atallah said. "That's all I can say."

Three weeks remain before the collective bargaining agreement expires March 3, and the sides may be getting farther apart. Wednesday's meeting in Washington broke down well before its scheduled close. The owners came close to walking out after the players rejected their proposal to double spending credits to $2 billion. They were also frustrated by a proposal by players to eliminate spending credits and simply split revenue down the middle.

Neither Atallah nor NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith would comment on why Thursday's session was called off.

BASEBALL

Indians sign Cabrera to play second

Free-agent infielder Orlando Cabrera and Cleveland reached a deal that likely will put him at second base for the Indians.

Cabrera, 36, has been a full-time shortstop in the majors for the past decade.

Cabrera played last season for the NL Central champion Cincinnati Reds. He has reached the playoffs for the past four years and six of the past seven, including stints with the Twins, White Sox and Angels.

Rangers, Hamilton strike two-year deal

• AL MVP Josh Hamilton and the Texas Rangers made certain he won't go to arbitration, agreeing on a two-year, $24 million contract that covers his last two years of eligibility.

• The Los Angeles Angels defeated pitcher Jered Weaver in salary arbitration. Weaver, 28, will get a raise from $4,265,000 to $7,365,000 instead of his request for $8.8 million. He was 13-12 with a 3.01 ERA last season.

Prosecutors trim Bonds indictment

Federal prosecutors cut the number of felony charges Barry Bonds faces from 11 to five. Major League Baseball's home run leader still faces the same punishment he always has, but the paring of the charges reflects the likelihood that his personal trainer will remain unwilling to testify against his former client. The dropped charges involved evidence from trainer Greg Anderson's records.

GOLF

Seven under leads at Pebble Beach

Steve Marino and D.A. Points shared the lead in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am despite shooting different scores in entirely different atmospheres.

Marino birdied his last two holes for a 7-under 65 at Spyglass Hill in a relatively quiet round. Points played at Monterey Peninsula before the largest crowds, mainly because that's where the celebrities played. Points, who had Bill Murray as his amateur partner, shot a 7-under 63.

One shot behind was Alex Cejka, who began his round by holing his second shot on the par-5 10th at Monterey Peninsula. It was the first time a player started a PGA Tour round with an albatross since at least 1982.

McIlroy ahead in Dubai

Rory McIlroy upstaged the world's top three golfers with a 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead at the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates. He's four shots ahead of No. 1 Lee Westwood and No. 2 Martin Kaymer and six ahead of No. 3 Tiger Woods. Sergio Garcia and Thomas Aiken are tied for second with 67s.

SKIING

Vonn, Riesch still uncertain

Lindsey Vonn and Maria Riesch are doubtful to compete in the super-combined on Friday, leaving the title up for grabs at the world championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Vonn is still struggling with a head injury following last week's training crash. The two-time world champion from Burnsville said she will compete in the downhill leg for practice but is likely to skip the slalom part Friday.

Riesch, the Olympic super-combined champion, has a fever and skipped Thursday's final downhill training. She will decide Friday whether to race.

AROUND THE HORN

NFL: Demaryius Thomas, a wide receiver who was Denver's top draft choice last year, tore an Achilles' tendon during an offseason workout and will be out for at least six months.

College hockey: University of North Dakota player Danny Kristo was discharged from Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he has been since suffering frostbite to toes on his right foot Jan. 30.

NEWS SERVICES

about the writer

about the writer

More from Sports

See More
card image

Houston made the Twins pay for their inability to get a hit with a runner in scoring position all weekend, walking off with an extra-inning victory on a long fly ball that Willi Castro couldn’t catch.

card image