Punter found guilty in stabbing case

Prosecutors in Greeley, Colo., said Mitch Cozad was so obsessed with becoming Northern Colorado’s starting punter that he plunged a five-inch-long knife into his rival’s kicking leg.

A jury agreed, convicting Cozad of second-degree assault Thursday. But he was acquitted of attempted first-degree murder.

The 22-year-old from Wheatland, Wyo., now faces up to 16 years in a Colorado prison for the attack on starting punter Rafael Mendoza.

Defense attorney Joseph Gavaldon said he would appeal.

Mendoza was ambushed outside his apartment on the night of Sept. 11.

The attempted murder charge could have meant a sentence of up to 48 years.

Cozad shook his head as the verdict was read and was led away in handcuffs. He must remain in jail until his Oct. 2 sentencing.

PRO BASKETBALL

Hardaway reunites with O’Neal in Miami

Penny Hardaway, who last played an NBA game in November 2005, signed with the Miami Heat and is reuniting with Shaquille O’Neal -- his former Orlando Magic teammate back in the mid-1990s.

“Penny is a player who has been an All-Star and has enjoyed an illustrious career,” Heat President Pat Riley said of the 36-year-old. “We have been impressed at his hard work and dedication this summer.”

TENNIS

Federer rolls along at Rogers Cup in Montreal

Defending champion Roger Federer breezed past Italian qualifier Fabio Fognini, 6-1, 6-1, to reach the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Federer needed only 45 minutes to win the match.

In other matches, second-seeded Rafael Nadal struggled to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Paul-Henri Mathieu, fifth-seeded Andy Roddick routed Marcos Baghdatis, 6-2, 6-3, Lleyton Hewitt beat Dominik Hrbaty, 6-7 (10), 7-6 (6), 7-5, and Radek Stepanek upset 12th-seeded Tommy Haas, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.

Serena Williams, out because of a thumb injury since reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, will return to the court in New Haven, Conn., at the Pilot Pen tournament, which runs from Aug. 17-25.

The Pacific Life Open, to be held March 10-23 at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, will begin its men’s singles draw one day earlier than its traditional Friday start, it was announced by tournament director Steve Simon.

COLLEGE SPORTS

UCLA’s Keefe to have surgery on left shoulder

UCLA sophomore James Keefe suffered a labrum tear in his left shoulder and will have outpatient surgery today at UCLA Medical Center. Keefe, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward, is expected to need four months for recovery and rehabilitation, which would have him back sometime in December. UCLA opens its season Nov. 9 against Portland State.

“James had a great spring and summer, and I was very enthused with his improvement during the off-season,” Coach Ben Howland said. “Although this is a tough setback for him, I’m confident that he will handle it well and be ready to go in December.”

-- Diane Pucin

MISCELLANY

Midfielder Feilhaber set to play in England

U.S. midfielder Benny Feilhaber, who scored the winning goal in the Gold Cup to beat Mexico in June, got a work permit to play for Derby County in the English Premier League. Feilhaber, 22, is expected to come to England to complete a move from German club Hamburg.

Bill Walsh’s family and friends joined the football fraternity in remembering the Hall of Fame coach at a memorial service at Stanford, Calif., praising the 49ers great as an innovative leader and a loyal friend.

More than 1,000 mourners gathered at Stanford Memorial Church to honor Walsh, who died of leukemia on July 30 at 75.

“Bill died the way he lived: with sublime grace and with class,” said former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, who hired Walsh. “Up until the very end, Bill led us by example.”

Minea Blomqvist shot a four-under-par 68 to take a one-stroke lead and hometown favorite Annika Sorenstam was three strokes back after the first round at the Scandinavian TPC in Loddekopinge, Sweden.

Pomona’s Shane Mosley will fight unbeaten welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico on Nov. 10 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, the fighters’ promoters said.

PASSINGS

Longtime horse trainer Stute was 85

Warren Stute, a longtime Southern California trainer who gave Bill Shoemaker a leg up in the Hall of Fame jockey’s first $100,000 stakes win, died Thursday. He was 85. See Section B.