Nike suspends release of Vick shoe after charges

Michael Vick’s legal troubles prompted Nike on Thursday to suspend the release of its latest product line named after the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

Nike has told retailers it will not release a fifth signature shoe, the Air Zoom Vick V, this summer. Nike spokesman Dean Stoyer said the four shoe products and three shirts that currently bear Vick’s name will remain in stores.

Vick will be arraigned next week in a Richmond, Va., federal courtroom on charges of sponsoring a dogfighting operation.

Meanwhile, Falcons owner Arthur Blank issued a statement, saying the organization is “working diligently on exploring our options.”

Blank added that he was “saddened and distressed about this -- not for myself, for our fans and community who have been so loyal to us.”

The New England Patriots signed veteran free-agent linebacker Chad Brown.

Brown, 36, returns to New England after playing there in 2005. He has 79 career sacks in 14 NFL seasons with the Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.

Free-agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper met with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

TENNIS

Henin withdraws from Acura Classic

Justine Henin has withdrawn from the Acura Classic in Carlsbad, which is scheduled to start July 30.

Henin, the world’s No. 1-ranked player, is pulling out because of an injured right wrist.

Also out is Wimbledon quarterfinalist Nicole Vaidisova, who is recovering from mononucleosis. French Open finalist and Wimbledon semifinalist Ana Ivanovic is doubtful because of an injured knee.

This will be the tournament’s final year at the La Costa Resort and Spa. Henin also had been scheduled to play the Acura last year but withdrew, as did Venus and Serena Williams.

The East West Bank Classic next month at the Home Depot Center received two more late entries: defending champion Elena Dementieva and Martina Hingis.

-- Lisa Dillman

Serena Williams, hampered by a thumb injury, withdrew from the Bank of the West Classic in Palo Alto.

Williams has withdrawn from three tournaments since injuring her left thumb and calf at Wimbledon. The event at Stanford begins Monday.

Rafael Nadal overcame a right knee injury to win his 90th match in his last 91 attempts on clay, beating Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-3, 6-3, to advance to the Mercedes Cup quarterfinals at Stuttgart, Germany.

Nadal is playing his first tournament since losing the Wimbledon final to Roger Federer in five sets on July 8.

Unseeded teenager Olga Govortsova reached the quarterfinals of a WTA tournament for the first time by upsetting ninth-seeded Jill Craybas, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1, at the Cincinnati Women’s Open in Mason, Ohio.

Third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska extended her winning streak to seven matches by beating Klara Zakopalova, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals of the Palermo International at Palermo, Sicily.

Carlos Moya reached the quarterfinals of the Dutch Open, beating Mariano Zabaleta, 6-2, 6-3, at Amersfoort, Netherlands.

HOCKEY

Arbour to coach 1,500th game with Islanders

Former New York Islanders coach Al Arbour, who led the team to four Stanley Cup championships in a row from 1980 to ‘83, will return to coach the team for one game. It will be Arbour’s 1,500th game as Islanders coach.

Arbour will coach the team Nov. 3 -- two days after his 75th birthday -- at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He will sign a one-day contract on Nov. 2 and take over from current Coach Ted Nolan to extend his record for most games coached with one team.

Center Petr Nedved, who played last season for Edmonton, is leaving the NHL to play next season for Sparta Prague in the Czech Extraliga.

SOCCER

Argentina beats Chile to reach Under-20 final

Argentina moved within one victory of a sixth Under-20 World Cup title, defeating Chile, 3-0, in an ill-tempered semifinal in Toronto.

The defending champions will play the Czech Republic in Sunday’s final.

Chile, reduced to 10 men for the last 75 minutes and nine with 13 minutes left, played a spirited game.

German referee Wolfgang Stark showed nine yellow cards -- seven to Chile -- and two reds.

After the match, several Chilean players raced at the officials, who needed help from others to keep the enraged Chileans away. The crowd jeered the officials as they walked off with two police officers and the officiating crew eventually raced into the tunnel.

Chivas USA President Antonio Cue said the team would consider bringing back fan favorite and former starter Juan Pablo “Loco” Garcia -- just not this season.

“There is no chance,” Cue said from Commerce City, Colo., site of the Major League Soccer All-Star game. “But that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t do it next year or the year after.”

The 25-year-old midfielder, who last year was second on Chivas USA with eight goals, told La Opinion that he “wants to return to Chivas USA and fight for the title that was negated to them” last year.

He currently is a member of Tigres of UANL in Mexico.

-- Jaime Cardenas

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Iowa State guard dismissed from team

Iowa State dismissed guard Mike Taylor, the Cyclones’ leading scorer last season, after a series of legal troubles.