Bledsoe voted into Patriots Hall of Fame
Football: Quarterback Drew Bledsoe has been chosen for the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.
He won the fan voting over the other finalists who had been picked by a media panel – Bill Parcells, who coached the Patriots from 1993 through 1996, and Houston Antwine, who played defensive tackle for them from 1961-71.
Bledsoe spent nine seasons with the Patriots after they made him the first overall draft pick out of Washington State in 1993. He suffered a serious chest injury in the second game of 2001 and Tom Brady took over. Bledsoe later played for Buffalo and Dallas.
He holds the Patriots’ single-season records with 691 passing attempts, also an NFL record, and 400 completions, both in 1994.
Bledsoe is the 17th player and 18th person chosen for the Patriots Hall of Fame. Former owner Billy Sullivan was selected in 2009 as a contributor.
Tour of California led early by Swift
Cycling: Ben Swift of Great Britain emerged from a massive sprint finish and took the lead after winning the 76.3-mile, weather-shortened and rainy opening stage of the Tour of California.
Swift, 23, who competes for Team Sky, completed the road race from Nevada City to Sacramento in 2 hours, 47 minutes and 12 seconds and earned his fifth win of the season.
U.S. beats Sweden in World Team Cup
Tennis: The United States defeated Sweden 2-1 at the World Team Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany, with the doubles team of John Isner and Mardy Fish giving the Americans the clinching point.
Isner put the U.S. ahead with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Christian Lindell, who was playing only his second ATP tournament.
Robin Soldering rallied to tied it with a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (3) win over Sam Querrey before Isner and Fish clinched it with a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 10-4 victory over Simon Aspelin and Robert Lindstedt.
Also, Germany defeated Serbia 3-0.
Astros reach sale agreement
Baseball: The Houston Astros have reached an agreement to sell the team to a group led by Houston businessman Jim Crane.
The sale is subject to approval by Major League Baseball.
Owner Drayton McLane said last week a deal was imminent with Crane, who tried unsuccessfully to buy the team in 2008.
McLane bought the team in November 1992 for about $117 million. He put the franchise up for sale in November.
• Phillies activate Oswalt: The Philadelphia Phillies activated pitcher Roy Oswalt from the 15-day disabled list and the right-hander is scheduled to start tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Oswalt, who is 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA in five starts, had been on the disabled list with lower back inflammation.
• Indians’ Sizemore back on DL: Cleveland’s Grady Sizemore was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised right knee, an injury he sustained on a hard slide into second last week.
Sizemore, who missed most of last season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee, will stay in Cleveland to get treatment. The A.L. Central-leading Indians are in Kansas City for two games before going to Chicago for two.
• Reds place Chapman on DL: Left-hander Aroldis Chapman had an MRI exam that found inflammation in his pitching shoulder, sending the Cincinnati Reds’ reliever to the 15-day disabled list.
• Mets minor leaguer suspended: New York Mets minor league pitcher Edgar Ramirez was suspended for 50 games after a positive test.
Ramirez tested positive for Methylhexaneamine, the commissioner’s office said.
Woods expects to play in U.S. Open
Golf: Tiger Woods says he did not do any more damage to his left knee and Achilles last week and expects to play in the U.S. Open June 16-19.
Woods withdrew from The Players Championship after only nine holes because of pain in his left leg. He was 6 over par at the time, the shortest tournament of his career.
He is unlikely to play at the Memorial, which is two weeks before the U.S. Open.
Maradona to lead Dubai’s al-Wasl club
Miscellany: Diego Maradona has been appointed al-Wasl head coach for two seasons, the Dubai-based football club said.
“This partnership with Maradona is an addition to the club’s history, and adds a touch of sparkle to a series of titles and achievements won by the club until today,” al-Wasl Chairman of the Board, Marwan Jumaa bin Bayat, said.
“Maradona is considered one of the wonders of the world, I see him as the eighth wonder,” he said.
Al-Wasl chairman of the board, Marwan Jumaa Bin Bayat, did not reveal the value of the deal with the Argentine soccer legend, but stressed that “it is worthy of Maradona’s reputation and stature.”
Details of Maradona’s contract are expected be revealed the first of week of June.
• WNBA denies top player out of India: It looks like India’s top female basketball player won’t be playing for the WNBA this season.
Geethu Anna Jose was the first player from her country to be invited to WNBA tryouts. During a recent U.S. tour she tried out for the Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks and San Antonio Silver Stars.
Spokesmen for all three teams confirmed that the 6-foot-2 Jose hasn’t been invited back for preseason training camp.