Wednesday's Sports In Brief

Sep 9, 2010 - 7:59 AM NEW YORK (AP) -- A defamation lawsuit against Roger Clemens should be thrown out because the seven-time Cy Young Award winner was merely trying to defend himself against his former personal trainer's doping allegations, Clemens' lawyers argued.

Clemens should be able to respond to claims "that are disastrous to his reputation without being subject to a lawsuit," attorney Rusty Hardin said at a hearing in federal court in Brooklyn.

Lawyers for the trainer, Brian McNamee, responded by branding Clemens a liar.

U.S. District Judge Sterling Johnson Jr. reserved decision on a motion to dismiss the suit.

McNamee sued for unspecified damages last year, accusing Clemens of waging "a defamatory public relations campaign" against the trainer over allegations the pitcher used steroids.

PRO FOOTBALL=

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Addressing the latest trade reports concerning the troublesome defensive tackle, coach Mike Shanahan said Albert Haynesworth will be a member of the Washington Redskins when they open the season Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

There was a lot Shanahan didn't say. He didn't deny the trade talks. He wouldn't say whether Haynesworth will play. He didn't say whether he and Haynesworth have put their differences behind them. And he wouldn't commit to having Haynesworth on the roster the entire season.

On Tuesday, two people with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that the Redskins were talking to the Tennessee Titans about trading Haynesworth, who has been a nonstop headache for Shanahan in the coach's first year in Washington.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL=

METAIRIE, La. (AP) - New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush declined to go into any detail Wednesday on what he knows about the status of his 2005 Heisman Trophy.

"At this point, it's kind of out of my hands," Bush said after practice.

Bush said he could not "confirm or deny" whether he has met with anyone from the Heisman Trophy Trust and deferred comment to the trust when asked about a Yahoo! report that said he could be stripped of the award by the end of the month.

On Tuesday, trust executive director Robert Whalen told The Associated Press that there has been no decision on the status of Bush's Heisman.

BASKETBALL=

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Rumeal Robinson, who led Michigan to the NCAA championship in 1989, has been found guilty on 11 federal financial fraud charges.

A jury returned its verdict against Robinson, finding him guilty of bank bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution.

The U.S. attorney's office says Robinson schemed between 2004 and 2005 to borrow more than $700,000 from Community State Bank in Ankeny with the help a loan officer at the bank. Prosecutors say Robinson claimed to borrow the money for a business but actually bought a condominium, cars, furniture and invested in an energy company.

Robinson, who grew up in Cambridge, Mass., faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on each count. After playing for Michigan, Robinson spent six seasons in the NBA.

SPORTS & HEAD INJURIES=

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Two New Jersey congressmen are pushing for more funding for high schools to raise awareness about the dangers of concussions among athletes.

Rep. William Pascrell Jr. has authored a bill that addresses the issue. Pascrell and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. held a hearing at Newark's Prudential Center, home to the New Jersey Devils.

Pallone is the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

Some studies say the number of reported concussions among children has doubled since the late 1990s. However, medical personnel receive reports of as few as one in 10 concussions.

At the hearing, high school student Niki Popyer said she sustained seven concussions playing basketball but was never told of the cumulative dangers.

AUTO RACING=

PARIS (AP) - Formula One's governing body decided not to impose more sanctions on Ferrari for breaking rules on team orders at the German Grand Prix.

The FIA said in a statement after a day-long meeting that its World Motor Sport Council upheld the $100,000 fine that was imposed July 25 at Hockenheim when Ferrari driver Felipe Massa let teammate Fernando Alonso overtake him to win the race.

The council could have stripped Alonso of the victory or docked the team points or imposed another fine. However, the FIA said that "the judging body has decided to confirm the stewards' decision of a $100,000 fine."

COLLEGE SPORTS=

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A second organization announced plans to create a new sport out of competitive cheerleading in an effort to get competitions recognized by the NCAA.

A week after USA Gymnastics announced it will sanction meets among the six schools that have had varsity competitive cheer teams, a competing plan was introduced by USA Cheer.

The governing body for cheerleading organizations said it is teaming with 15 colleges to create the sport of "stunt." USA Gymnastics sanctioned events will be called "team acrobatics and tumbling."

Both efforts stem from a recent federal court ruling in Connecticut that found competitive cheerleading wasn't established enough to meet the gender equity requirements of Title IX.