Warner Apologizes for Remarks Regarding His Benching

Quarterback Kurt Warner angered St. Louis Ram Coach Mike Martz when he said on Super Bowl Sunday that religious beliefs might have contributed to his benching last season.

Warner was quoted in a story published on www.baptistpress.com as saying: “I actually had coaches say I was reading the Bible too much and it was taking away from my play. It was OK when we were winning, but now I was [messing] this thing up? People were saying I had lost my job because of my faith.”

Martz was stunned by Warner’s comments.

“That’s so far off the wall, it’s incomprehensible,” he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I can’t imagine Kurt saying that. Nothing could be further from the truth. If he said that, it’s a bald-faced lie. I’m just tired of dealing with this type of behavior.”

The two-time NFL MVP apologized Thursday.

“It was my intention to give an inspirational message about keeping the faith and fighting through adversity,” Warner said.

A reputed gang member was sentenced to multiple terms of life in prison Thursday in Pasadena for the drive-by shooting that wounded Cincinnati Bengal cornerback Dennis Weathersby.

Juan Serna, 26, of Baldwin Park, was found guilty of attempting to murder Weathersby and a second man.

Weathersby was getting into his car April 20, 2003, when several alleged gang members in a white sport utility vehicle drove up and opened fire at him near his hometown of Duarte, authorities said.

Weathersby and his friend were allegedly mistaken for rival gang members.

The San Jose SaberCats used Chuck Reed’s interception return for a touchdown as the spark in a 58-43 victory over the Detroit Fury in the opener of the Arena Football League season at Detroit.

Baseball

The New York Mets signed right-hander Scott Erickson, 36, who missed two of the last three seasons because of injuries, to a minor-league contract and invited him to their major-league spring-training camp.

Ellis Burks, 39, signed with the Boston Red Sox and will be the team’s right-handed designated hitter.... Right-hander Antonio Osuna agreed to a $750,000, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres.

Magglio Ordonez drove in two runs and scored one to lead Venezuela over the Dominican Republic, 5-3, in the Caribbean Series at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels struck out three batters in the ninth for his second save of the series.

Hall of Famer Rod Carew and Arizona Diamondback ace Randy Johnson are among the players who are scheduled to appear at an autograph and collectible show Saturday to benefit the sons of V.J. Lovero, the Sports Illustrated, Angel and Mighty Duck photographer who died Jan. 12 after a four-year battle with cancer.

The show will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Frank and Son facility, 19649 E. San Jose Ave., in Industry.

Miscellany

Ernie Els broke the European Tour record for the lowest 36-hole score. Els shot a six-under 66 at the Heineken Classic in Melbourne, Australia, after shooting a career-best 12-under 60 in the first round.

The U.S., led by Andy Roddick, opens first-round Davis Cup play today against Austria in Uncasville, Conn.

The Champ Car World Series is implementing a new championship points system. The series, formerly under the direction of CART and now owned by the new Open Wheel Racing Series, will award winners 31 points and score up to 20 finishers.

Formula One driver Olivier Panis walked away after hitting a tire barrier at 130 mph in testing at Barcelona, Spain. He was hospitalized for precautionary tests.

Brian Joubert became the first Frenchman in 40 years to win the European men’s figure skating title at Budapest, Hungary.

Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm was added to the women’s national team that is expected to play in the Athens Olympics.