Posey to appeal one-game suspension
Celtics forward James Posey will appeal a one-game suspension imposed on him by the NBA yesterday for pleading no contest to reckless driving stemming from an incident in April, his agent said. Posey was arrested on drunken driving charges in Miami Beach while he was with the Heat. The NBA said Posey would serve the suspension, without pay, for the Celtics' regular-season opener against Washington. Posey pleaded no contest - neither an admission of guilt nor a proclamation of innocence - about one month ago because he didn't want the case to affect his opportunities in free agency, agent Mark Bartelstein said. "He wasn't driving," Bartelstein said. "This is a case where we need to make sure the NBA has all the information. Once they learn all the facts and what really happened, they will eliminate the suspension." . . . Rodrick Rhodes joined UMass-Amherst's staff as an assistant to Travis Ford . . . Damian Saunders, who played last season at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, signed to play at Duquesne . . . Tamika Catchings had 22 points and 11 rebounds to help the host Indiana Fever beat the Detroit Shock, 75-65, in Game 1 of the WNBA's Eastern Conference Finals.
Martínez might be ready to rejoin Mets
Pedro Martínez, who had surgery Oct. 5 to repair a torn rotator cuff, threw so well in a bullpen session that he may return to the Mets next week without making another minor league rehab start . . . Mark Mulder worked five innings in his fourth rehab start and could rejoin the Cardinals' rotation next week, a little more than one year after shoulder surgery. Meanwhile, the Cardinals acquired power-hitting Russell Branyan from the Phillies for a player to be named . . . The return of Cole Hamels to the Phillies' rotation has been postponed at least a week. The lefthander was scratched from his scheduled start tomorrow when he felt elbow discomfort during a bullpen session . . . Astros righthander Brandon Backe will start Tuesday in his first appearance in almost a year following elbow ligament replacement surgery . . . The Athletics lost three players for the remainder of the season - third baseman Eric Chavez (shoulder surgery), center fielder Mark Kotsay (back), and rookie outfielder Travis Buck (elbow) . . . Brewers rookie lefthander Manny Parra was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a broken left thumb . . . Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells will undergo an MRI following the season to determine whether he needs surgery on his sore left shoulder.
Revolution's Petkovic signing on hold
Defender Dusan Petkovic's signing with the Revolution has been postponed after he sustained a calf strain in training this week. Petkovic is not expected to resume training until next week. The Revolution signed midfielder Sainey Nyassi, a member of Gambia's Under-20 national team; waived forward Arsene Oka and midfielder Ryan Solle; and acquired FC Dallas's first-round supplemental draft choice next year for salary budget considerations. Nyassi's U-20 teammate, forward Abdoulie Ken Mansally, is expected to join the Revolution after receiving clearance from his former club in Gambia . . . Franchise scoring leader Patrick Marleau agreed to a two-year, $12.6 million contract extension with the San Jose Sharks, keeping the longtime captain with the club through 2010 . . . Gay Brewer, the 1967 Masters champion who won 11 times on the PGA Tour, died after a fight with lung cancer. He was 75. Obituary, Page B6 . . . Sherri Steinhauer topped the LPGA State Farm Classic leaderboard in Springfield, Ill., for the second straight day, shooting a 6-under-par 66 to move to 11-under 133. Christina Kim was second at 9 under after a 66. Annika Sorenstam is three back after a 65 . . . Texas suspended wide receiver Billy Pittman for three games after learning he broke NCAA amateurism rules by borrowing a friend's car this summer.
