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Published: Sunday, June 3, 2007

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AREA

Sharon racing
canceled

HARTFORD — A heavy rain shower forced the cancellation of racing at Sharon Speedway Saturday night.

There will be seven features June 9, including E-mods and sprints makeups from May 19.

STATE

Andruzzi gets
cancer treatment

CLEVELAND — Former Browns guard Joe Andruzzi is being treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Boston, his agent confirmed Thursday night.

"While this condition is very serious, both Joe and his doctors feel he will quickly be on his way to a full recovery," Joe Linta said in a statement e-mailed to reporters Thursday night.

Andruzzi, who spent two years with the Browns before being released a month ago, will undergo chemotherapy at the Dana Farber Institute.

The Browns released a statement that read: "The Cleveland Browns are aware of Joe's situation and will continue to support him and his family in their time of need. While in Cleveland, Joe's leadership and strength were enormous both on the field and in the locker room. If anyone can fight through this, it is Joe."

The Browns did not know of Andruzzi's condition when they released him, team Vice President Bill Bonsiewicz said.

NATION

Doss works way back
from knee injury

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Many NFL players dread June, having to practice without pads during mandatory minicamps across the league.

Then there's Mike Doss. The former Indianapolis Colts star safety was downright giddy when he stepped on the field for the Minnesota Vikings this weekend.

It's been a long road back for Doss, who was limited to six games for the Colts last season after a knee injury against Washington.

"I was anxious just to get out here and run with some guys," Doss said Saturday. "I've been rehabbing for seven months and running by myself and doing a lot of things by myself. It feels good just to be actually on the field with 10 other guys, knowing that you're all working for the same cause. I just feel good to be part of that again."

During his first three seasons after winning a national championship at Ohio State, Doss had the look of a rising star. He had 102 tackles in his rookie season and helped turn the Colts defense from a glaring weakness to a respectable unit.

Jones propels
Connecticut win

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Asjha Jones scored 11 of Connecticut's first 15 points and finished with 24 in the Sun's 76-67 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday.

Connecticut (3-2) led throughout the game, pulling away to a 13-2 advantage. Phoenix (4-2) cut it to 20-15 at the end of the first quarter, but never got any closer.

Connecticut opened the second half with a 16-3 run to take a 51-30 lead.

"It was won by defense," Sun coach Mike Thibault said. "Whatever has been bad was really good today."

Hill honored by
former teammates

NEW ORLEANS — As he stood near the casket of late New England Patriots teammate Marquise Hill, defensive lineman Jarvis Green swallowed hard, took some deep breaths and offered a few fond memories to Hill's grieving relatives.

"He made everybody laugh," Green said. "The first time I met him he made me laugh and the last time I talked to him he made me laugh. He worked hard. He gave his all. ... That's the kind of person he was."

Hill, a 24-year-old father of a 2-year-old son, was buried on Saturday, nearly a week after his death in a personal watercraft accident on Lake Pontchartrain.

The former LSU defensive end, who won a national championship with the Tigers in 2003, had yet to see regular playing time in three seasons with the Patriots. Yet he had won the hearts of numerous college and pro teammates who remembered him as a strong, caring and vibrant man who improved the lives of those who knew him.

Spurs are back
in the gym

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs returned to practice Saturday, well aware of LeBron James' capabilities.

"He was rather noticeable," coach Gregg Popovich said.

The Spurs are awaiting an opponent in the NBA finals — Detroit or Cleveland. James scored 48 points, including his team's final 25, to carry the Cavaliers to a 109-107 double-overtime victory in Game 5 that put Cleveland within one win of its first trip to the NBA finals.

"He's their go-to guy," Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. "So you know at some point the go-to guy is going to do something special."

James became the first player to score 25 straight points in the postseason, an effort rivaling almost anything Michael Jordan did in the playoffs.

"It was a strong performance on his behalf, and he deserves all the credit," Bowen said. "But at the same time, isn't he supposed to do those types of things?"

After getting a rare two days off from practice, the Spurs were back in the gym.

Landis gets
back on his bike

VAIL, Colo. — No yellow jersey at stake. No bills to pay. No reputation to defend.

Instead, Floyd Landis got ready to ride in a nice little race on a mountain bike Saturday — an event the Tour de France champion entered only to raise money for charity and possibly remind himself of how much simpler his world used to be.

It was to be his first real race of any kind since his victory ride down the Champs-Elysees in Paris last July. Simply being in Vail, away from lawyers, publicists and the troubles that have defined his life and his troubled sport of late, was a refreshing change.

Boyens scores
first MLS goal

TORONTO — Defender Andrew Boyens scored his first MLS goal midway through the first half to help Toronto FC beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 on Saturday.

After opening the season 0-4, the expansion Toronto side has gone 3-1-1. Colorado (4-3-3) had its four-game unbeaten streak snapped.

Danny Dichio also scored for Toronto. Herculez Gomez scored for Colorado.

Campbell beats
Edwards in 100

NEW YORK — Veronica Campbell of Jamaica edged out Torri Edwards to take the women's 100 in 10.93 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix on Saturday night.

In front of a raucous pro-Jamaican crowd, Campbell came out slow from the blocks after first false start, but powered past Edwards with 15 meters to go.

Vindicator staff/wire reports

Sunday, June 3, 2007

AREA

Sharon racing
canceled

HARTFORD — A heavy rain shower forced the cancellation of racing at Sharon Speedway Saturday night.

There will be seven features June 9, including E-mods and sprints makeups from May 19.

STATE

Andruzzi gets
cancer treatment

CLEVELAND — Former Browns guard Joe Andruzzi is being treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Boston, his agent confirmed Thursday night.

"While this condition is very serious, both Joe and his doctors feel he will quickly be on his way to a full recovery," Joe Linta said in a statement e-mailed to reporters Thursday night.

Andruzzi, who spent two years with the Browns before being released a month ago, will undergo chemotherapy at the Dana Farber Institute.

The Browns released a statement that read: "The Cleveland Browns are aware of Joe's situation and will continue to support him and his family in their time of need. While in Cleveland, Joe's leadership and strength were enormous both on the field and in the locker room. If anyone can fight through this, it is Joe."

The Browns did not know of Andruzzi's condition when they released him, team Vice President Bill Bonsiewicz said.

NATION

Doss works way back
from knee injury

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Many NFL players dread June, having to practice without pads during mandatory minicamps across the league.

Then there's Mike Doss. The former Indianapolis Colts star safety was downright giddy when he stepped on the field for the Minnesota Vikings this weekend.

It's been a long road back for Doss, who was limited to six games for the Colts last season after a knee injury against Washington.

"I was anxious just to get out here and run with some guys," Doss said Saturday. "I've been rehabbing for seven months and running by myself and doing a lot of things by myself. It feels good just to be actually on the field with 10 other guys, knowing that you're all working for the same cause. I just feel good to be part of that again."

During his first three seasons after winning a national championship at Ohio State, Doss had the look of a rising star. He had 102 tackles in his rookie season and helped turn the Colts defense from a glaring weakness to a respectable unit.

Jones propels
Connecticut win

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Asjha Jones scored 11 of Connecticut's first 15 points and finished with 24 in the Sun's 76-67 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday.

Connecticut (3-2) led throughout the game, pulling away to a 13-2 advantage. Phoenix (4-2) cut it to 20-15 at the end of the first quarter, but never got any closer.

Connecticut opened the second half with a 16-3 run to take a 51-30 lead.

"It was won by defense," Sun coach Mike Thibault said. "Whatever has been bad was really good today."

Hill honored by
former teammates

NEW ORLEANS — As he stood near the casket of late New England Patriots teammate Marquise Hill, defensive lineman Jarvis Green swallowed hard, took some deep breaths and offered a few fond memories to Hill's grieving relatives.

"He made everybody laugh," Green said. "The first time I met him he made me laugh and the last time I talked to him he made me laugh. He worked hard. He gave his all. ... That's the kind of person he was."

Hill, a 24-year-old father of a 2-year-old son, was buried on Saturday, nearly a week after his death in a personal watercraft accident on Lake Pontchartrain.

The former LSU defensive end, who won a national championship with the Tigers in 2003, had yet to see regular playing time in three seasons with the Patriots. Yet he had won the hearts of numerous college and pro teammates who remembered him as a strong, caring and vibrant man who improved the lives of those who knew him.

Spurs are back
in the gym

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs returned to practice Saturday, well aware of LeBron James' capabilities.

"He was rather noticeable," coach Gregg Popovich said.

The Spurs are awaiting an opponent in the NBA finals — Detroit or Cleveland. James scored 48 points, including his team's final 25, to carry the Cavaliers to a 109-107 double-overtime victory in Game 5 that put Cleveland within one win of its first trip to the NBA finals.

"He's their go-to guy," Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. "So you know at some point the go-to guy is going to do something special."

James became the first player to score 25 straight points in the postseason, an effort rivaling almost anything Michael Jordan did in the playoffs.

"It was a strong performance on his behalf, and he deserves all the credit," Bowen said. "But at the same time, isn't he supposed to do those types of things?"

After getting a rare two days off from practice, the Spurs were back in the gym.

Landis gets
back on his bike

VAIL, Colo. — No yellow jersey at stake. No bills to pay. No reputation to defend.

Instead, Floyd Landis got ready to ride in a nice little race on a mountain bike Saturday — an event the Tour de France champion entered only to raise money for charity and possibly remind himself of how much simpler his world used to be.

It was to be his first real race of any kind since his victory ride down the Champs-Elysees in Paris last July. Simply being in Vail, away from lawyers, publicists and the troubles that have defined his life and his troubled sport of late, was a refreshing change.

Boyens scores
first MLS goal

TORONTO — Defender Andrew Boyens scored his first MLS goal midway through the first half to help Toronto FC beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 on Saturday.

After opening the season 0-4, the expansion Toronto side has gone 3-1-1. Colorado (4-3-3) had its four-game unbeaten streak snapped.

Danny Dichio also scored for Toronto. Herculez Gomez scored for Colorado.

Campbell beats
Edwards in 100

NEW YORK — Veronica Campbell of Jamaica edged out Torri Edwards to take the women's 100 in 10.93 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix on Saturday night.

In front of a raucous pro-Jamaican crowd, Campbell came out slow from the blocks after first false start, but powered past Edwards with 15 meters to go.

Vindicator staff/wire reports

Sunday, June 3, 2007
A heavy rain shower forced the cancellation of racing at Sharon Speedway Saturday night. There will be seven features...

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