Rooney family making moves to retain Steelers

By Larry Stewart; Dan Arritt

July 8, 2008 12 AM PT

From Times Staff and Wire Reports

Pittsburgh Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney and his son, team President Art Rooney II, want to buy other family members’ shares to assure that one of the NFL’s most storied franchises does not leave Rooney control.

In a statement Monday, the team said some of Dan Rooney’s four brothers want to focus their business efforts on racetracks and other non-football interests. The brothers -- Art Jr., Timothy, Patrick and John -- all own an interest in the team as does another related family, the McGinleys, although it has only a small stake in the 75-year-old franchise.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has asked former commissioner Paul Tagliabue to represent the league in talks to reach an agreement on a separation of the gambling interests and the restructured ownership if part of the team is sold, according to the statement.

“For the past two years, the Rooney family has had discussions about a restructuring of the ownership of the Steelers in order to ensure compliance with the NFL ownership policies and the continuation of the Rooney family ownership and operation of the team,” the team said in the statement.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu pleaded guilty in Kirkland, Wash., to drunk driving and was sentenced to a day in jail and fines totaling $1,255.

A man says Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez of the Kansas City Chiefs kept him from choking to death at a Huntington Beach restaurant.

“Tony saved my life. There’s no doubt,” said Ken Hunter, a shipping company manager. “Tony came up behind me and gave me the Heimlich maneuver.”

Gonzalez was having dinner with his wife, brother and 5-week-old daughter at Capone’s restaurant Thursday night. Hunter, 45, was dining with his girlfriend at the next table when a piece of meat stuck in his throat.

Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann, former ESPN “SportsCenter” co-anchors, will be reunited on NBC’s “Football Night in America” studio show Sunday nights during the NFL season. NBC has hired Patrick as a third co-host on the show. He’ll join the lineup of host Bob Costas, co-hosts Cris Collinsworth and Olbermann, commentators Tiki Barber and Jerome Bettis and reporter Peter King.

James Brown, Phil Simms and Collinsworth will work on the revamped weekly show “Inside the NFL,” which has moved from HBO to Showtime and will air Wednesday nights during the season. The show will be produced by CBS Sports and NFL Films. Showtime is a subsidiary of CBS.

-- Larry Stewart

JURISPRUDENCE

Ex-Charger Foley gets $5.5 million to settle suit

Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Steve Foley agreed to settle his lawsuit for $5.5 million against a police officer who shot him two years ago, ending his football career.

Foley reached the agreement last week with the city of Coronado and Officer Aaron Mansker. Terms were not disclosed until Monday.

Foley was shot in his leg, hip and hand in September 2006. Mansker was off-duty when the shooting occurred. He tailed Foley’s car home from San Diego on suspicion the driver was drunk.

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Darrion Scott pleaded guilty to child endangerment for putting a plastic bag over the head of his 2-year-old son. Scott pleaded guilty to the gross misdemeanor as jury selection was scheduled to begin in his trial.

Scott’s attorney, Joe Friedberg, said the other charges would be dismissed when Scott is sentenced July 24.

Friedberg said Scott said he had no intent to injure the boy.

HOCKEY

Bertuzzi signs with Flames for $1.95 million

Free-agent forward Todd Bertuzzi signed a one-year, $1.95-million contract with the Calgary Flames. Bertuzzi had 14 goals and 26 assists last season for the Ducks, with whom he signed a two-year, $8-million contract last summer.

He was waived by Anaheim on June 27.

Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2011-12 season.

MISCELLANY

Knee pain knocks Nadal out of Cup

One day after winning the Wimbledon title for the first time, Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany, because of muscle pain above his right knee.

Nadal has played 47 matches since mid-March, winning six titles and reaching another final. He had fought knee problems since before last year’s Wimbledon tournament.

Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis was reinstated to the team after being suspended for about four months. The school never explained why Lewis was suspended in March, but Coach Bill Lynch said his star player did what was necessary to return to the team.

Louisville’s Trent Guy remained hospitalized, but Cardinals Coach Steve Kragthorpe said the wide receiver was in good spirits as he recovered from being shot in the back. Guy, 20, was shot outside a parking garage near a club early Saturday but was up and walking around at University Hospital following surgery to repair the wound.

He is expected to make a full recovery, though it is unclear when or if he could return to the team.

Former mixed-martial arts lightweight champion Alexandre Nogueira of Brazil has been suspended for a year and fined $2,500 after testing positive for the anabolic steroid boldenone following his World Extreme Cagefighting debut June 1 in Sacramento, the California State Athletic Commission announced.

In that fight, Nogueira (13-5-2) lost to Jose Aldo of Brazil by second-round technical knockout.

The Sparks signed guard Amber Jacobs, who was released this season by the Washington Mystics. Jacobs played her first four seasons in Minnesota.

-- Dan Arritt