JUPITER, Fla. (AP) - The St. Louis Cardinals were unable to
hammer out a new contract with first baseman Albert Pujols
(POO'-hohlz) before his Wednesday deadline. The nine-time All-Star
could become a free agent this November after rejecting a deal
believed to be worth around $200 over eight years. Pujols is second
to Stan Musial on the team's all-time list with 408 home runs, 849
extra-base hits and 1,230 RBI, and is tied with Musial for fourth
with a .331 average.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from
the back of the pack for Sunday's Daytona 500 after wrecking his
primary race car in practice. Hendrick Motorsports pulled out his
backup car following the crash, causing Earnhardt to forfeit the
pole he earned in last Sunday's qualifying.
UNDATED (AP) - Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance
Armstrong has told The Associated Press he has ended his cycling
career. The decision ends a comeback effort that failed to produce
an eighth title or diminish talk that performance-enhancing drugs
helped his career. He came out of a four-year retirement in 2009
and finished 23rd in last year's Tour de France.
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Richard
Seymour has accepted a two-year, $30 million contract that includes
$22.5 million in guaranteed money. The deal allows Oakland to avoid
using a franchise tag on Seymour for a second straight season.
SI.com first reported the contract, saying Seymour would be paid
$15 million each of the next two years with $7.5 million in 2012
guaranteed in a bonus.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The Charlotte Bobcats have removed the
interim tag from coach Paul Silas, giving him a one-year extension
that will keep him with the team at least through the 2011-12
season. The Bobcats are 15-13 under Silas after opening the season
9-19 under Larry Brown.
