Williams Rejoins NFL’s Substance-Abuse Program

Former Miami Dolphin running back Ricky Williams has rejoined the NFL’s substance-abuse program, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Thursday.

Williams’ move could be the latest sign that the 28-year-old, who quit last year four days before training camp, is ready to return to the Dolphins.

Florida newspapers said his retirement came after he learned he had failed a third drug test.

His agent, Leigh Steinberg, told the Sun-Sentinel that Williams had re-entered the league’s substance-abuse program and that the Dolphins had given their former player a copy of the team’s off-season schedule.

“He [Williams] is confident his weight and strength are steadily returning, that he’ll be in good shape by training camp and that the process will continue throughout training camp,” Steinberg was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Dolphin offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said that newcomer Gus Frerotte and incumbent starter A.J. Feeley would compete for the starting quarterback job during training camp.

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New York Jet quarterback Chad Pennington has started throwing again, four months after surgery to repair a torn right rotator cuff. The Jets expect him to be ready for full practice when training camp opens July 29.

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San Diego Charger linebacker Carlos Polk suffered a torn left Achilles’ tendon during the team’s final off-season coaching session and is expected to miss the 2005 season. Polk was injured Wednesday.

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The Tennessee Titans released safety Lance Schulters, 30, after failing to reach agreement on a new salary cap-friendly deal.

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Golf

Becky Morgan shot eight-under-par 64 in cool, rainy conditions to take a three-stroke lead over Lorena Ochoa after the opening round of the Rochester LPGA in Pittsford, N.Y.

Ochoa closed with three consecutive birdies for a 67, one shot ahead of Maria Hjorth and two in front of 2003 U.S. Women’s Open champion Hilary Lunke. Se Ri Pak, Christina Kim, Laura Diaz and Rachel Hetherington shot two-under 70s.

Defending champion Kim Saiki, who broke a 12-year winless streak at last year’s tournament, had a 73.

Tennis

To get to the Wimbledon final, second-seeded Andy Roddick may first have to get past the tallest player on the tour, the local favorite and the game’s newest darling.

Roddick could face 6-foot-10 Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in the second round, Britain’s Tim Henman in a quarterfinal and French Open champion Rafael Nadal in a semifinal.

Defending men’s champion Roger Federer seems to have an easier path. His toughest match projects to be a semifinal against 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt or Mario Ancic, a semifinalist last year.

On the women’s side, Serena Williams could face sister Venus in the fourth round.

Fifth-seeded Taylor Dent reached the semifinals at Nottingham, England, after Thomas Johansson withdrew because of a groin injury while trailing, 6-3, 1-0. Dent will play fourth-seeded Richard Gasquet, who beat Paradorn Srichaphan, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.

In the other quarterfinal matches, Olivier Rochus beat Ivo Karlovic, 7-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, and Max Mirnyi defeated Kenneth Carlsen, 7-6 (2), 6-4.

Meghann Shaughnessy advanced to the semifinals of the Ordina Open in Den Bosch, Netherlands, after Michaella Krajicek twisted her knee while up a break at 4-3 in the first set. Sixth-seeded Gisela Dulko upset second-seeded Nadia Petrova, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

In men’s play, Mark Philippoussis defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (2), and Mario Ancic downed Wayne Arthurs, 6-4, 7-6 (1), to reach the quarterfinals.

Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova beat eighth-seeded Nathalie Dechy, 6-4, 7-5, to reach the semifinals at Eastbourne, England.

Kuznetsova will next meet seventh-seeded Kim Clijsters, who beat Mashona Washington, 6-2, 6-2.

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Soccer

World Cup champion Brazil overwhelmed European champion Greece, 3-0, in the Confederations Cup in Germany, and Mexico stayed unbeaten in 19 games by rallying to beat Asian champion Japan, 2-1.

As expected, organizers announced that AC Milan and Chelsea would play a series of friendly matches in the United States this summer in the World Series of Football.

The European powerhouses will face each other twice, and then play one match each against a team from Major League Soccer.

The first match between Milan and Chelsea will be July 24 in Foxboro, Mass. On July 27, Milan will meet the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field in Chicago. Chelsea and D.C. United will compete the next day at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins.

Milan and Chelsea will then play again on July 31 in East Rutherford, N.J.

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Miscellany

Texas A&M; officials requested to speak to Cal State Fullerton baseball Coach George Horton about their coaching vacancy, a Fullerton spokesman confirmed.

Horton, who could not be reached for comment, signed a three-year contract extension in December and said after the Titans’ super-regional loss to Arizona State that he intends to remain at Fullerton.

Florida State quarterback Wyatt Sexton is being treated for an undisclosed illness but doesn’t have a drug problem, his father, Seminole running backs coach Billy, said in Tallahassee, Fla.

The elder Sexton wouldn’t specify what type of treatment his son was getting.

Wyatt Sexton was taken to the hospital by police Monday after he was found acting strangely in the middle of a street and telling officers that he was “God.”

Tamika Catchings scored 12 points, including two free throws with 1.1 seconds left, to lead the visiting Indiana Fever (7-3) to a 60-57 WNBA win over the Charlotte Sting (1-8).

Japanese swimmers dominated the 800 freestyle events at the TYR Swim Meet of Champions in Mission Viejo. Takeshi Matsuda won the men’s event in 8:01.15 and Ai Shibata won the women’s in 8:29.72.