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New York Giants release Plaxico Burress

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Staff and Wire Reports

The New York Giants released Plaxico Burress a little more than four months after the 31-year-old accidentally shot himself in the thigh with an unlicensed gun in a New York City nightclub.

“I am an optimist, and I believe most situations can be worked out,” General Manager Jerry Reese said in announcing the move. “We hung in there as long as we could in hopes that there could be a resolution to this situation other than the decision we made today to release Plaxico.”

Burress’ status had been uncertain since he shot himself Nov. 29 with a gun stuffed into his waistband.

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He faces a felony weapons charge that could put him in prison for at least 3 1/2 years if convicted.

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A federal bankruptcy judge in Newport News, Va., rejected suspended NFL star Michael Vick’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy.

Vick’s plan was based on the goal of returning to pro football after he is released from prison, but Judge Frank J. Santoro said there was no guarantee that would happen.

The judge suggested Vick start revising his plan by considering liquidating one of his two Virginia homes and three cars he had planned to keep.

TENNIS

Federer loses match, cool

Roger Federer slammed his racket to the concrete during a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 loss to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla., a stunning outburst from the five-time winner of the ATP Tour’s sportsmanship award.

He fell behind 2-love in the third set, and when he netted an easy shot in the next game, he mangled his racket with his most forceful forehand of the day.

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“I was just frustrated,” Federer said. “Didn’t feel great. It’s just a natural thing I did.”

No. 3-seeded Djokovic will play in the final Sunday against No. 4-seeded Andy Murray, who became the tournament’s first British finalist by beating No. 6 Juan Martin del Potro, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.

Top-ranked Serena Williams plays for a record sixth Key Biscayne title today against No. 11 Victoria Azarenka.

GOLF

Casey shares Houston lead

Paul Casey shot a two-under-par 70 for a share of the lead with Geoff Ogilvy and John Senden at eight under during the suspended second round of the Shell Houston Open in Humble, Texas.

Casey was one of only five players to complete two rounds Friday after high winds suspended play Thursday afternoon. The horns sounded at 7:43 p.m. Friday with 65 players on the course and 72 others scheduled to start their second rounds this morning.

HOCKEY

Wilson to coach U.S. men

Ron Wilson, former coach of the Ducks and current coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been appointed coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team for the Vancouver Games. A formal announcement about Wilson, who coached the U.S. team to a sixth-place finish at Nagano in 1998, will be made Monday by executives of USA Hockey.

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-- Helene Elliott

BASKETBALL

Word out on Hall finalists

Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer is set to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, according to a person familiar with the details.

Stringer, the third-winningest coach in women’s basketball, is among 16 finalists who include Michael Jordan, David Robinson, John Stockton and WNBA star Cynthia Cooper.

A news conference is scheduled for Monday in Detroit, site of the NCAA men’s Final Four. A person familiar with the arrangements confirmed Stringer’s selection Friday, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the class has not yet been announced.

MOTOR RACING

Reutimann wins pole

David Reutimann earned the pole for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Fort Worth on the 1 1/2 -mile, high-banked track with a lap of 190.517 mph. It was Reutimann’s second career pole in the No. 00 Toyota owned by Michael Waltrip. Season points leader Jeff Gordon will start on the outside of front row Sunday in the Samsung 500 after running a lap of 190.194 mph. Matt Kenseth will start third.

PASSINGS

Woods, played for Baylor

Former Baylor defensive back Kyle Woods, paralyzed from the neck down during a practice in 1979, has died. He was 49. Woods had a heart attack March 22 and never regained consciousness. He died Thursday at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, the university announced.

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