sports in brief

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jun 12, 2008

Local & state: Kansas golfer Powers qualifies for U.S. Open

University of Kansas golfer Emily Powers has qualified for the U.S. Women's Open. Powers will participate in the tournament as an amateur. The tournament takes place at the Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn. June 26-29. Last year, Powers led the team in scoring average at 75.53. She was KU's top finisher in eight of 11 tournaments, as well as an All-Big 12 selection.

Wichita State's Rob Musgrave and Anthony Capra have been named to the 2008 Pro-Line Athletic/NCBWA Division I All-America Team. Musgrave, a Sante Fe Trail product, finished his senior year with a 12-1 record and a 2.51 ERA.

Football: Smith stays freshin New Orleans with new deal

New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith has signed a contract extension that will make him one of the NFL's highest-paid defensive players.

Smith signed a six-year deal worth about $70 million, according to a person familiar with the deal who requested anonymity because the terms had not been made public. The deal makes Smith the NFL's third-highest paid defensive end, behind Minnesota's Jared Allen and Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney.

Plaxico Burress isn't going to practice with the New York Giants until the Super Bowl champions give him a new contract.

Burress reported to the Giants' mandatory minicamp Wednesday but refused to work out because he wasn't happy with the way contract negotiations are progressing between the team and agent Drew Rosenhaus.

LeCharles Bentley's career with his hometown Browns amounted to nothing more than a couple incomplete practice sessions.

The center asked for and received his release from the Cleveland Browns on Wednesday, nearly two years after he suffered a major knee injury at the start of his first training camp with the team.

Jason Peters, a Pro Bowl left tackle for the Buffalo Bills, will be fined for missing the start of the team's three-day mandatory minicamp, and teammates said his absence might be due to a contract dispute.

Jonathan Ogden will announce his retirement Thursday, ending a stellar career with the Baltimore Ravens in which the left offensive tackle garnered 11 Pro Bowl invitations and a Super Bowl ring.

Freddie Fairchild, the Arkansas linebacker arrested in March on misdemeanor charges of battery and false imprisonment, has been dismissed from the football team, coach Bobby Petrino said Wednesday.

John Rauch, the former Georgia quarterback who coached the Oakland Raiders to a berth in the second Super Bowl, died Tuesday at his home in Oldsmar, Fla. He was 80.

Basketball: Indiana returns just two after latest departure

Freshman guard Jordan Crawford has quit the Indiana basketball team, leaving the Hoosiers facing possible NCAA sanctions with just two players returning from last season.

Crawford started eight games as a freshman and averaged 9.7 points for the Hoosiers, whose roster has been depleted with transfers and dismissals since last spring's departure of Kelvin Sampson.

Rajon Rondo, point guard for the Boston Celtics, skipped practice Wednesday because of a left ankle bone bruise.

Rondo says he'll continue to get treatment on the ankle, and he expects to play in Game 4 of the NBA finals. He rolled his ankle in Tuesday night against the Lakers.

The SuperSonics' NBA Developmental League affiliate was moved to Tulsa on Wednesday, in the midst of the team's bid to relocate to Oklahoma City.

The NBA announced an expansion and realignment of the minor league circuit, including a change that will associate the Sonics with the Tulsa 66ers instead of the Boise Stampede.

Tulsa will continue to serve as the minor league club for the Milwaukee Bucks, but no longer will be linked to the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.

Auto racing: Petty sells team after 58 years of ownership

Petty Enterprises has sold majority ownership to the equity firm of Boston Ventures. Under the deal announced Wednesday, NASCAR's most storied race team gives up control of an organization that has been family run since 1949.

Mauricia Grant filed a $225 million suit against NASCAR, alleging racial discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliatory termination. NASCAR chairman Brian France said the filing was the first NASCAR learned of her claims, and that she never reported the claims to her supervisors.

General: Red Wings coach rewarded with three-year deal

The Red Wings say they have agreed to a three-year contract extension with coach Mike Babcock, who led Detroit to a title in his third season. In his tenure, they have twice had the most points in the regular season.

Cristiano Ronaldo's first goal for Portugal since October was the winner in a 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic on Wednesday, moving the Portuguese into the quarterfinals of the European Championship.

From staff and wire reports