Cowboys’ Romo reportedly may be able to play Sunday

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo wants to play Sunday, broken pinkie and all, according to an ESPN.com report.

The report, citing an unnamed Cowboys official, said Romo did not participate in practice Wednesday but threw on the sideline and had good velocity to his passes.

Romo suffered the injury in Sunday’s loss at Arizona and received a call this week from his boyhood idol, , encouraging him to try to play. The Cowboys, who have lost two of three, play at St. Louis.

If Romo is unable to play, he will be replaced by 40-year-old Brad Johnson, who has not started a game since 2006.

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Sam Farmer

The Indianapolis Colts put rookie running back Mike Hart on injured reserve, ending his season. To reinforce the depleted backfield, the Colts promoted Chad Simpson from the practice squad and re-signed Clifton Dawson, who was cut in August.

Defensive tackle John McCargo failed his physical, voiding the trade that sent him from the Buffalo Bills to the Indianapolis Colts and sending his rights back to the Bills, Colts spokesman Craig Kelley said.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker was held out of practice after aggravating the sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Parker practiced Monday and was expected to play Sunday, but his return is now in doubt.

Dallas cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones won’t have his probation revoked in Georgia after an alcohol-related scuffle with his bodyguard in Dallas.

CYCLING

Dopers will face four-year bans

Cyclists will face four-year bans next season if found guilty of serious doping offenses.

International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid plans to double the current penalty of two years in “aggravating circumstances.”

The longer bans would be given in cases like those of Bernhard Kohl, Riccardo Ricco and Stefan Schumacher. They tested positive for the banned endurance booster CERA during the Tour de France last July.

Also Wednesday, Italian cyclist Marta Bastianelli was banned for one year by the Italian Olympic Committee for testing positive for a banned stimulant.

GOLF

Ballesteros has surgery to remove brain tumor

Seve Ballesteros was in stable condition after the 51-year-old golf great had surgery on a brain tumor.

The hospital in Madrid said a sizable part of the Spaniard’s tumor was removed.

It was not known if it was malignant and it would be several days before the results were announced.

Jim Furyk won the PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Tucker’s Town, Bermuda, birdieing the final hole to force a playoff with Padraig Harrington and winning with an eight-foot eagle putt on the first extra hole.

HORSE RACING

Thompson will oversee national alliance

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson was chosen to oversee a national horse racing alliance that could lead to a ban on steroids and the beginning of uniform medication rules.

The alliance has the support of most major racetracks in North America, including Santa Anita, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga, operated by the New York Racing Assn.

MISCELLANY

Venus Williams easily advances

Third-seeded Venus Williams defeated Alona Bondarenko in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals of the Zurich Open at Switzerland.

Notre Dame tight end Will Yeatman has been suspended for the rest of the football season after being arrested for underage drinking at an off-campus party.

University of Pittsburgh linebacker Shane Murray will have surgery on his right knee and will miss the rest of the season.

San Diego State senior forward Lorrenzo Wade was suspended indefinitely from the basketball team Wednesday, a day after pleading not guilty to a felony charge of stealing a television from a woman’s home

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie forward D.J. White will be sidelined six months while his jaw heals from surgery.

A memorial service for Gil Stratton will be held on Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. at First Christian Church in Studio City. The church is at the corner of Colfax Avenue and Moorpark Street