Former punter sentenced to seven years in prison

Former Northern Colorado backup punter Mitch Cozad was sentenced to seven years in prison Tuesday for stabbing a rival in what prosecutors said was a brutal attempt to take over the starter’s role.

“Clearly, this was deliberate to hurt him, and you succeeded,” Judge Marcelo Kopcow told Cozad as he announced the sentence in Greeley, Colo.

“The goal is to not ruin your life,” Kopcow said. “I would like you to succeed in your life.”

Prosecutors said Cozad ambushed starting punter Rafael Mendoza on the night of Sept. 11, 2006.

Mendoza was left with a deep gash in his kicking leg but later returned to the team.

Cozad was convicted in August of second-degree assault but acquitted of the more serious charge of attempted first-degree murder.

“I am very sorry to everyone for any pain and suffering you’ve endured,” Cozad said. “My hopes and prayers are to Mr. Mendoza and his family that they don’t suffer anymore as a result of this ordeal.”

PRO BASKETBALL

Stoudemire surgery is called a success

Phoenix Suns center Amare Stoudemire underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

The two-time All-Star is expected to resume basketball activities in two to three weeks.

Charlotte Bobcats forward Sean May, who has played in only 58 of 164 games in his first two seasons because of right knee pain, was in New York seeing a knee specialist. May was taken by the Bobcats with the 13th pick in the 2005 draft.

Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas missed the start of training camp because a cardiac test showed an irregularity during a routine checkup. Thomas will receive more tests before his status is determined.

Five-time NBA All-Star Sidney Moncrief was hired as a shooting coach by the Golden State Warriors.

TENNIS

Venus Williams cruises to victory

Top-seeded Venus Williams overpowered Vania King, 6-0, 6-4, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open.

Williams will face the winner of the match between Alicia Molik and Aleksandra Wozniak in the quarterfinals.

In men’s second-round matches, Thomas Johansson beat Justin Gimelstob, 6-4, 6-4, and Michael Russel defeated Marin Cilic, 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-1.

Serena Williams made a successful return to the Porsche Grand Prix, overwhelming Zuzana Ondruska, 6-0, 6-0, in the first round at Stuttgart, Germany.

Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli, 0-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Qualifier Evgeny Korolev upset fifth-seeded Potito Starace, 6-3, 6-3, in the first round of the Open de Moselle in Metz, France.

Vlada Ekshibarova upset sixth-seeded Alla Kudryavtseva, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round of the Tashkent Open in Uzbekistan.

SOCCER

Chivas de Guadalajara defeats D.C. United, 1-0

Ramon Morales scored a goal as Chivas de Guadalajara advanced to the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory against D.C. United at Guadalajara.

The series ended in a 2-2 tie, but the Mexicans moved on after scoring more away goals in the first leg.

The president of Puebla’s soccer club, Francisco Bernat, denied allegations that his team fixed games to win promotion to the Mexican first division.

MISCELLANY

Armstrong: Jury would have cleared Landis

Lance Armstrong believes an American jury would have ruled in favor of Floyd Landis, unlike the arbitrators who found him guilty of doping.

The seven-time Tour de France winner lamented the consequences of the panel disregarding “shoddy” lab work in his first public comments about last month’s decision to ban Landis for two years and strip him of his 2006 Tour de France title.

“I didn’t follow Floyd’s case that much, but I will tell you, if that’s a jury trial in the United States of America, with eight or 10 or 12 of our fellow citizens, you get off every time. Not that you get off, but you’re vindicated,” Armstrong said.

NASCAR was finalizing a deal with Nationwide Insurance to sponsor its No. 2 series beginning in 2008, the Associated Press reported. Nationwide would replace Anheuser-Busch, which has sponsored the second-tier series for 26 seasons.

The Indianapolis 500 purse will be at least $13.4 million next year, an increase of $2.7 million from this year’s record payout and the biggest one-year jump in the race’s 91-year history.

Middleweight boxer Joey Gilbert, who gained international attention on the NBC reality series “The Contender,” which aired in 2005, tested positive for a combination of illegal substances and has been temporarily suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

Jenny Sawyer, a 15-year-old weightlifter from Mattoon, Ill., was given a one-year ban after testing positive for a prohibited stimulant at the U.S. national championships.

Sawyer weighed 139 pounds and was 14 years old when she won the title in her weight and age class at the U.S. championships in May.