LONDON (AP) - Opening ceremonies for the London Olympics get under way later today (4 p.m. EDT). The only event of the day is archery after soccer took center stage yesterday. Reigning World Cup champions Spain played one man short due to a red card and lost to Japan, Britain played to a 1-1 tie against Senegal and Brazil scored three first-half goals before downing Egypt 3-2.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A hearing in federal court for suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma wrapped up yesterday without an immediate decision about whether he can temporarily return to work. Vilma is trying to persuade U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan to impose a temporary restraining order while his lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell proceeds. Vilma has been suspended for the entire upcoming season after the NFL determined he was part of a team bounty to injure opposing players.
UNDATED (AP) - The NHL Players Association made a number of presentations to owners yesterday, although the union says it is awaiting specific financial information from the owners before submitting a counterproposal. Player pensions, length of training camp and ice conditions were the topics of this round, as the two sides agreed to continue negotiations toward a new collective bargaining agreement on Monday at the league offices in New York. The current agreement ends on Sept. 15.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - NASCAR officials are mulling the elimination of the top-35 rule to put the focus back on speed in qualifying. Since 2005, the top 35 in points have been guaranteed provisional starting spots at the next race, which has sometimes eliminated faster cars from starting the race. The rule was designed to make sure full-time teams with big-name drivers and big sponsors did not miss the race, but that could change next season.
UNDATED (AP) - Scott Piercy fired an 8-under-par 62 to take a one-shot lead over Greg Owen and William McGirt through one round of the PGA's Canadian Open. Bernhard Langer's (LAHN'-gurz) 6-under 64 has him one stroke ahead of Mark McNulty after 18 holes of the Senior British Open. And Stacy Lewis was two shots better than Hee Young Park heading into the second round of the Evian Masters in France.
