Wednesday, August 30, 2006
LOCAL
Smolko released
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers released tight end Isaac Smolko, a Springfield High graduate, on Tuesday.
Smolko, an undrafted free agent out of Penn State, caught a touchdown pass in the Steelers' first preseason game -- his only catch of the preseason. To replace him, the Steelers signed tight end Tim Euhus, who started three games for the Bills last season before being traded to the Saints, who cut him on Monday.
Duke lacrosse witness acquitted of charge
DURHAM, N.C. -- A cab driver who has supported an alibi offered by one of the three Duke lacrosse players charged with rape was acquitted Tuesday of a three-year-old shoplifting charge.
Moezeldin Elmostafa was arrested in May after he surfaced as a potential witness for Reade Seligmann, one of the players charged with raping a woman at an off-campus party in March.
Prosecutors said the warrant for Elmostafa's arrest was discovered in a routine background check of witnesses in the lacrosse case.
Defense lawyers in the lacrosse case have said Elmostafa was charged because he is a favorable witness for Seligmann.
The 2003 warrant accused Elmostafa of stealing five purses worth about $250 from a Durham department store. He denied the charge, and has said he helped store security locate a woman after he picked her up from the store and drove her home. The woman later pleaded guilty to larceny.
A store security officer testified Tuesday in District Court that he saw the woman steal handbags before leaving in Elmostafa's cab, The News & amp; Observer of Raleigh reported on its Web site.
Elmostafa has said Seligmann, of Essex Fells, N.J., called for a ride at 12:14 a.m. on March 14 and was picked up five minutes later.
The defense argues those times help establish that Seligmann left the party without having enough time to participate in the 30-minute assault described by the accuser.
Boston's Ortizback in hospital
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was hospitalized in Boston for the second time this month, checking into Massachusetts General on Tuesday night for further tests on his heart.
Ortiz felt heart palpitations about 10 days ago and again before Monday night's game in Oakland, where he was a late scratch from the lineup. He returned to Boston for more tests, Red Sox medical director Thomas Gill said Tuesday.
The team didn't release any further information.
Earlier Tuesday, the Red Sox also sent their other two top hitters back to Boston for medical tests, with Manny Ramirez and Wily Mo Pena heading East to join Ortiz.
Ramirez has played in only one of Boston's last five games because of a sore right knee, and Pena has missed the last three games due to soreness in his left wrist. Ortiz was scheduled for further tests that were expected to take a few days.
In addition, David Wells returned to Boston to prepare for his start Thursday.
Jazz sign Dee Brown
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Jazz signed rookie guard Dee Brown Tuesday.
Brown, a second-round draft pick from Illinois, averaged 13.4 points and 4.9 assists in four years with the Illini. He started all but one of his 137 career games.
Brown and Jazz guard Deron Williams helped lead Illinois to the 2005 NCAA championship game. Utah took Williams with the third overall pick last summer.
The Jazz will have rookies Brown, first-round pick Ronnie Brewer and second-year players Williams and C.J. Miles in the backcourt when they open training camp Oct. 3.
U.S. defeatsPuerto Rico, 5-2
HAVANA -- Second baseman Mark Reynolds hit two home runs and had four RBIs Tuesday to propel the United States to a 5-2 win over Puerto Rico as the U.S. improved to 4-0 for the top spot in Pool B of the Americas Olympic Baseball Qualifier.
Reynolds opened the scoring with a solo homer off starter William Collazo in the third inning.
The United States and Cuba, the leader in Pool A, are the only undefeated teams in the tournament.
In other Pool B play Tuesday, Mexico beat Canada 2-1 and Brazil downed Venezuela 10-5. The Americans are trailed by Mexico (3-1), Canada (2-2), Venezuela (1-3), Brazil (1-3) and Puerto Rico.
The United States plays Venezuela today.
Vindicator staff/wire reports