Benson accused of intoxicated boating

Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson failed a sobriety test while operating a 30-foot boat, then resisted arrest before being hit with pepper spray and dragged ashore by officers. Benson faces charges of boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest after the incident Saturday night on Lake Travis, a Travis County (Texas) Sheriff's Department spokesman said. Benson was released from jail yesterday on a $14,500 bond. The charges are class B misdemeanors, each punishable by up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. Benson was operating the boat with 15 passengers aboard when he was stopped by a Lower Colorado River Authority officer for a random safety inspection. He failed a field sobriety test on the officer's boat and was uncooperative when the officer tried to take him ashore, the authority said. The officer had to use pepper spray to subdue Benson. He then refused to leave the officer's boat and authorities had to drag him to a car to be taken to the Travis County jail, the authority said. Bears officials said general manager Jerry Angelo was out of town and unavailable to comment. Benson was sentenced to eight days in jail in 2003 for a misdemeanor trespassing charge after forcing his way into an apartment to look for a reported stolen TV. In 2002, misdemeanor drug and alcohol charges against him were dropped . . . Washington Redskins second-round draft pick Fred Davis did not show up for minicamp practice, having overslept on just his third day in the NFL.

Simon Ferguson beat Tuukka Rask at 6:30 of overtime as the host Portland Pirates topped the Providence Bruins, 3-2, to even the AHL Atlantic Division finals at two games apiece. It was Portland's second straight overtime victory. Zach Hamill, the Bruins' first-round pick in last year's NHL draft, scored his first postseason goal to pull the P-Bruins within a goal (2-1) late in the first period. Petteri Nokelainen set up T.J. Trevelyan's tying goal in the second period, but Jean-Sebastien Aubin (33 saves) shut out Providence the rest of the way. Rask stopped 21 shots for Providence, which will try to regain the series lead tomorrow night at Portland . . . Phil Kessel continued to prove it's easier to score when you're not sitting in the press box, netting a hat trick to lift the United States (2-0) to a 5-1 win over Slovenia (0-2) at the world championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Kessel scored three goals for the Bruins in the final three games of their first-round loss to the Canadiens after he was held out of the lineup for three games. Bruin Tim Thomas had an easy night, stopping 11 shots for the US, which is tied with Canada atop Group B. The US and Canada will face off tomorrow. Earlier in Halifax, Rick Nash scored twice and linemate Dany Heatley added a goal and three assists for Canada (2-0) in its 7-0 rout of Latvia (0-2). In Quebec, former Bruin Sergei Zinoviev scored and set up Alexei Morozov's overtime winner as Russia (2-0) earned a 5-4 victory over the Czech Republic (1-1) and took sole possession of first place in Group D. Patrik Elias scored three power-play goals for the Czechs . . . New York Rangers forward Sean Avery was released from a hospital five days after suffering a season-ending spleen injury in a playoff game.

Struggling Ian Kennedy was sent to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre by the Yankees. The Yankees promised patience with their young pitchers this season, but Kennedy was demoted after going 0-2 with an 8.37 ERA in six games . . . Anthony Reyes was demoted to the minor leagues by the Cardinals after sputtering in a relief role with a 5.27 ERA . . . The Tigers recalled lefthander Dontrelle Willis (hyperextended right knee) from his minor league rehabilitation assignment. Willis, who slightly aggravated his knee while fielding a ground ball Friday, will throw on the side later in the week . . . The Royals' John Bale, on the DL with a tight shoulder, broke his pitching hand punching a door at the team's hotel Friday.

Rafael Nadal won his fourth straight Barcelona Open title with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 victory over David Ferrer in the final. Nadal's 21st straight win at the tournament improved his record to 20-1 in clay court finals, including 4-0 at Barcelona. The Spaniard has won 103 of his last 104 matches on clay . . . Fernando Gonzalez won the BMW Open in Munich by beating Simone Bolelli, 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 . . . Vera Zvonareva won her sixth career WTA title by beating Victoria Azarenka, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, in the Prague Open final.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking the suspension of Eight Belles's jockey after the filly had to be euthanized following her second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Gabriel Saez was riding Eight Belles when she broke both front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire. PETA faxed a letter to Kentucky's racing authority claiming the filly was "doubtlessly injured before the finish" and asked that Saez be suspended while Eight Belles's death is investigated . . . Jacob Peterson and Facundo Erpen scored to lift the host Colorado Rapids over D.C. United, 2-0, in MLS . . . Real Madrid needed late goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Arjen Robben to beat Osasuna, 2-1, in the Spanish league to clinch its 31st title. Bayern Munich clinched its 21st German title after a 0-0 tie at VfL Wolfsburg . . . Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo apologized for his encounter a week ago with cross-dressing prostitutes, calling it the biggest mistake of his life. The AC Milan striker said he wasn't aware the prostitutes were cross-dressers until he got to a motel with them and that he didn't have sex with them . . . Jamaican Usain Bolt ran the second fastest 100 meters ever (9.76 seconds) at the Jamaica International Invitational in Kingston. Bolt's time Saturday was .02 seconds off Asafa Powell's world record . . . Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the checkered flag within reach for the first time in two years, but collided with Kyle Busch a little more than 2 miles from the finish and Clint Bowyer took advantage to win Saturday's NASCAR event in Richmond.