Briefs: Griffin killed in fiery crash
Griffin killed in fiery crash: Former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Eddie Griffin died last week when his sport utility vehicle collided with a freight train in a fiery crash, the Harris County medical examiner's office said Tuesday. Investigators used dental records to identify Griffin, 25, who began his tumultuous pro career with the Houston Rockets in 2001. He was waived by the Timberwolves in March.
The five-year veteran, the No. 7 pick in the 2001 NBA draft, had battled alcohol problems since coming out of Seton Hall. Griffin was suspended by the league for five games in January for violating the anti-drug program. Houston police said in a report that the driver of the SUV ignored a railroad warning and went through a barrier before striking the moving train about 1:30 a.m. Friday. The driver's body was badly burned, and there was no identification.
Griffin had a series of suspensions, court dates and missed practices during his first two years in the NBA with Houston and New Jersey. He spent time in the Betty Ford Center for alcohol treatment in 2003-04.
Deng good: Bulls forward Luol Deng had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead Great Britain to an easy 77-52 victory over Slovakia on Tuesday in Birmingham, England. The game was the first of four European championship qualifiers for the British national team, which is trying to become one of two countries to move up from the B Division. Former University of Illinois center Robert Archibald added 14 points for England.
"It was fantastic. I was so proud to represent my country," Deng said. "This is like being in the NBA playoffs. Every game counts so much, and there is no room for error."
The first round of qualifying was held last year, before Deng was granted British citizenship. So England most likely will have to win its final three games of pool play against first-place Netherlands (Aug. 29), Albania (Sept. 1) and Belarus (Sept. 5) in order to advance to a four-team playoff. Qualifying for the next European championships would improve England's chances of being granted an automatic berth in the 2012 London Olympics.
-- Mike McGraw
NBA chooses investigator: The NBA has chosen former federal prosecutor Lawrence B. Pedowitz to oversee a review of its policies regarding gambling and its referees in the wake of the Tim Donaghy scandal. Pedowitz and his partners at the New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz will study the NBA's antigambling efforts, as well as the processes the league uses to hire, train and monitor its officials.
"There is nothing as important as the integrity of our game and the covenant we have with our fans," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement. "In order to preserve their trust, we will make every effort possible to ensure that our processes and procedures are the best they can be."
Canucks re-sign Linden:Trevor Linden has re-signed with the Vancouver Canucks, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $600,000. The 37-year-old Linden, who will be entering his 16th season with the Canucks, can earn an additional $350,000 in bonuses for games played. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound center, is the Canucks' career leader with 1,081 games played and 721 points.
New name needed: Continental Airlines Inc. has decided to opt out of its deal for its name to appear on the home of the NBA's New Jersey Nets and the NHL's New Jersey Devils, the arena's owner said. The Meadowlands building has been called Continental Airlines Arena for 12 years, but the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority said it is hunting for a new company to put its name on the building.
Taking bids on No. 756: Barry Bonds' record-breaking home run ball will be sold online, and fortunate fan Matt Murphy figures to be a half-million dollars richer.
The 21-year-old New York man said Tuesday he had no choice but to sell the ball -- several people told him he would be taxed on the souvenir just for holding on to it.
"It wasn't hard. It was simple math. I'm upset by the decision I had to make," Murphy said. "I wanted to keep it. I'm young. I don't have the bank account. … It would have cost me a lot more to keep it."
Bonds broke Hank Aaron's record of 755 with a shot into the right-field seats Aug. 7 against the Washington Nationals. Sotheby's/SCP Auctions will handle the sale beginning Aug. 28 and going through Sept. 15. The starting bid has not been determined, and auction officials estimated the ball would bring at least $500,000.
It's a wrap for Reynolds: Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds tied the major-league record for consecutive strikeouts by a non-pitcher Tuesday when he struck out swinging in the fourth inning of the Diamondback's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The mark had been set five times previously, most recently by Kansas City's Bo Jackson from September 16-19, 1988.
Reynolds struck out in his final at-bat Saturday in Atlanta, twice more on Sunday, four times against two Brewers pitchers Monday and twice against Milwaukee starter Dave Bush Tuesday night.
Davenport delayed: Lindsay Davenport's return to professional tennis was postponed when her doubles match at the Pilot Pen event was bumped because of rain. Davenport gave birth to her first child, Jagger Jonathan Leach, in June and has not played since last September. Davenport and doubles partner Lisa Raymond were rescheduled to play Cara Black and Liezel Huber this afternoon.