Armstrong says he may not enter Tour

October 15, 2008

Lance Armstrong, who agreed Monday to ride in next year's Giro d'Italia, said in an interview published in yesterday's edition of Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport that he may not go for an eighth Tour de France title after all. "Everyone knows its importance, but the problems that I have with the organizers, journalists, and fans could distract me from my mission - focusing the world's attention on the battle against cancer," Armstrong said in the report. The 37-year-old American has feuded for years with Tour de France officials over drug-testing issues, but Tour director Christian Prudhomme has said Armstrong and the Astana team will be allowed to race next year as long as they avoid doping problems . . . Third-place Tour de France finisher Bernhard Kohl will be dropped from the Silence-Lotto team after becoming the latest cyclist caught using the new blood booster CERA. The climbing specialist rode for Gerolsteiner this season.

Third base coach Bobby Meacham and special pitching instructor Rich Monteleone have been fired by the Yankees. Meacham spent six seasons as a player with the Yankees and was hired last November when Joe Girardi replaced Joe Torre as manager. Meacham had been Girardi's third base coach with Florida in 2006, then was first base coach with San Diego in 2007. Meacham, who took over from Larry Bowa, is close to Girardi, and his departure is a sign general manager Brian Cashman pushed for change following a third-place finish in the American League East . . . Jose Canseco was charged in federal court in San Diego with a misdemeanor offense of trying to bring a fertility drug across the border from Mexico last Thursday. The onetime Red Sox did not address the court during the appearance, which lasted about five minutes. He was charged with introduction into interstate commerce of a misbranded drug, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $1,000 fine . . . Paul Beeston returned to the Blue Jays as interim chief executive officer, and will work with outgoing president Paul Godfrey to hire a successor before the 2009 season. He said he'll talk to general manager J.P. Ricciardi about extending the contract of righthander A.J. Burnett, who won a career-high 18 games this season and can opt out of the final two years of his five-year, $55 million deal . . . Kevin Foster, who spent seven years in the majors, mostly with the Phillies and Cubs, died of cancer in Oklahoma City Saturday. He was 39. Obituary, C8.

Timberwolves point guard Sebastian Telfair has been suspended by the league for the first three games of the season as a result of pleading guilty to charges stemming from his arrest in April 2007 for carrying a loaded gun while a member of the Celtics. Telfair, who was traded to Minnesota as part of the Kevin Garnett deal, was sentenced last month to three years' probation. "I've talked to Sebastian about the incident. This is something that happened in the past, and he is looking forward to putting this behind him," Timberwolves vice president Kevin McHale said . . . Nets owner Bruce Ratner said plans for a new arena in Brooklyn will have to wait until at least 2011.

Holy Cross has suspended offensive lineman Michael McCabe, who has been accused by Worcester police of attacking a teammate - wide receiver Luke Chmielinski - in an argument Saturday night. He will remain suspended until the school's internal investigation is complete. McCabe and Stephen Kiely of Boston, who is accused of helping in the attack, appeared in court and entered no pleas to assault charges and were released on $1,000 cash bail. They are to return to court Oct. 24. A judge also ordered McCabe to stay away from campus and Chmielinski . . . Clemson interim coach Dabo Swinney, who fired offensive coordinator Rob Spence an hour after replacing Tommy Bowden, will take over the offense and call the plays . . . Ohio State defensive end Lawrence Wilson will undergo surgery for torn ligaments in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season . . . Miami running back Javarris James is expected to play Saturday against Duke after missing four games with a high left ankle sprain . . . Toledo wide receiver Nick Moore and defensive end Albertson Alexandre, who were arrested following an altercation outside of a Toledo bar hours after the Rockets beat Michigan last week, will not start in Saturday's game against Northern Illinois.

Rafael Nadal moved within two wins of clinching the year-end No. 1 ranking, defeating Ernests Gulbis, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, to reach the third round of the Madrid Masters. Next up for Nadal, the 2005 Madrid champion, will be 15th-ranked Richard Gasquet, who overcame 23 aces by Mardy Fish in a 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-3 victory. Gilles Simon defeated James Blake, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 . . . Islanders defenseman Radek Martinek will be out 4-6 weeks because of an upper-body injury sustained during a game last weekend . . . Sabres forward Jochen Hecht will miss two weeks after having surgery to repair an injured finger . . . Federal prosecutors urged a judge in San Francisco to send track coach Trevor Graham to prison for 10 months for lying to sports doping investigators while he pleaded for probation. Graham is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 21 . . . MIT has received a $1 million pledge from the Steinbrenner Foundation for construction of a new entrance to Steinbrenner Stadium, as well as lighting, seating, and a new press box. In 1977, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner and his sisters, Susan and Judith, made a contribution to MIT for the construction of the stadium in honor of their father, Henry G. Steinbrenner, who received a bachelor of science degree in naval architecture and engineering from the school in 1927.