Revolution's Warren out for season

October 9, 2008

Revolution backup goaltender Doug Warren has been placed on the injured list yesterday and will miss the remainder of the season because of an elbow injury. The 27-year-old hyperextended his right elbow during practice Sept. 16. Warren played in three games for the Revolution this year, posting a 2.09 goals-against average while earning a win and a tie . . . The United States national soccer team climbed seven spots to 21st in the October FIFA rankings as it prepares for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Cuba. The ranking is the highest since June for the Americans, who had dropped to 31st in August, matching their low since 1997.

Rhode Island senior quarterback Derek Cassidy and UMass-Dartmouth senior tailback J.T. Harold were awarded this week's Gold Helmets from the New England Football Writers. The 6-foot-3-inch, 210-pound Cassidy throttled state rival Brown with a career-high five touchdown passes in a 37-13 Governor's Cup win, completing 25 of his 37 attempts for 298 yards. An Austin Prep graduate from Andover, the 5-9, 185-pound Harold rushed for 187 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries in a 51-20 New England Football Conference win over MIT . . . Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville fired offensive coordinator Tony Franklin just seven games into his tenure, pulling the plug after the Tigers' rocky attempt to adapt to his spread offense. The 20th-ranked Tigers (4-2) have struggled offensively after entering as favorites to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division . . . Southern Cal quarterback Mark Sanchez, who suffered a bone bruise in his left knee against Oregon last Saturday, did some work in practice, giving the Trojans hope he'll be able to play against Arizona State Saturday . . . East Carolina suspended receiver Jamar Bryant indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of team policy. Bryant, who has 19 catches for 216 yards and three touchdowns, will miss Saturday's game at Virginia.

Wizards center Brendan Haywood will have surgery at a date yet to be determined for a torn ligament in his right wrist, and it is not clear how much of the regular season he will miss. Haywood was hurt during training camp and the team said it wouldn't have a timetable for his return until after the surgery. The Wizards also announced that forward Antawn Jamison has a bruised right knee and is expected to be ready for the season opener . . . The Cavaliers released center Lance Allred, the first legally deaf player in the NBA . . . Celtics great Larry Bird has settled a lawsuit brought in Indianapolis against a couple he claimed used his name without permission to promote a bed-and-breakfast in his hometown, French Lick, Ind. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed because both sides signed a confidentiality agreement. . . . North Carolina senior Marcus Ginyard will miss eight weeks after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot, robbing the Tar Heels of their do-everything swingman who started every game last season.

Blackhawks left wing Ben Eager has been suspended for three games without pay by the NHL for swinging his stick at Stars left wing Sean Avery during a game last Thursday. Eager was sitting on the bench in the third period when he swung his stick in the direction of Avery, who was on the ice. Eager was assessed a match penalty for attempt to injure and will miss the Blackhawks' first three regular-season games, beginning tomorrow night against the Rangers . . . The San Jose Sharks assigned former Bruins defenseman Kyle McLaren to Worcester (AHL) after no NHL teams claimed the 12-year veteran on waivers. McLaren, who spent the past 4 1/2 seasons with the Sharks, was waived Tuesday in a move to create salary-cap room. The oft-injured veteran is due to make $2.5 million this season . . . The Canucks sent former University of New Hampshire forward Jason Krog to Manitoba (AHL).

The International Cycling Union is relaxing its rules to allow seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong to make his comeback at the Tour Down Under in Australia Jan. 20-25. A strict application of testing rules would not have allowed the 37-year-old Texan to compete until Feb. 1, six months after he filed paperwork with the US Anti-Doping Agency. But the ICU said Armstrong could return early because its drug-testing standards have improved since the rule was drawn up four years ago . . . Evander Holyfield has accepted an offer to challenge 7-foot Nikolai Valuev (49-1, 34 KOs) for his World Boxing Association heavyweight title, the former four-time champion told ESPN.com. Holyfield (42-9-2, 27 KOs), who turns 46 Oct. 19, said his attorney is reviewing a contract for a fight Dec. 20 in either Germany or Switzerland . . . Churchill Downs will host the Breeders' Cup for a seventh time Nov. 5-6, 2010, the event's first trip to the track since the Cup expanded to a two-day format in 2007.