Football
RACE HONORS TILLMAN: Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer was one of more than 8,000 people who participated in the 4.2-mile "Pat's Run" Saturday in Tempe, Ariz., raising $350,000 for the foundation established to honor Pat Tillman's memory.
The race finished at the 42-yard line of Sun Devil Stadium, where Tillman wore No. 42 as a Sun Devils linebacker. He also played in the stadium as defensive back for the Arizona Cardinals, wearing No. 40.
Plummer was joined by Grey Ruegamer, Derek Smith, Steve Bush and Juan Roque, all of whom played on the 1996 Rose Bowl team with Tillman.
"It was great to have Jake and so many of those players who were part of those teams with Pat," race director Perry Edinger said.
The 27-year-old Tillman died on April 22, 2004, in a friendly fire accident in Afghanistan that is still being investigated. He walked away from a $3.6 million NFL contract to volunteer for the Army Rangers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The race raised $100,000 more than last year's inaugural event. Proceeds go to the Pat Tillman Foundation, which funds the Leadership Through Action program at Arizona State. Edinger has organized a similar run set for April 30 in San Jose, Tillman's hometown.
Hockey
ALL-STARS TO ATLANTA: The NHL All-Star game is coming to Atlanta — again. The city was supposed to host the 2005 game, but the season was canceled because of the lockout. So, Philips Arena was awarded the league's midseason showcase in '08.
"This a bit of deja vu all over again," said NHL senior vice president Ken Yaffe, who made the announcement Saturday at a news conference before the Thrashers' final regular-season home game. "I thank the club for their patience in this process."
The Thrashers were penciled in for the 2007-08 season almost as soon as the lockout was settled. No All-Star game was held this season because of the Olympic break, and there wasn't time to secure enough hotel rooms and convention space for next year.
Dallas was awarded the '07 game.
"There's a three-year planning cycle to get the hotel blocks and other requirements," Yaffe said. "You need the lead time, so that's why we looked ahead to '08."
FROZEN 4 STAR JOINS LEAFS: The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Wisconsin forward Robbie Earl to a three-year contract on Saturday. Earl, who helped lead the Badgers to their first national championship since 1990 last Saturday, will join the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and is eligible to play in the playoffs, which begin on April 21. He was named the most outstanding player of the Frozen Four tournament following Wisconsin's 2-1 win over Boston College, for its sixth title overall.
Tennis
RARE LOSS FOR TOP SEED:Justine Henin-Hardenne lost for the first time at the Family Circle Cup, falling to Patty Schnyder 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals Saturday in Charleston, S.C. The top-seeded Henin-Hardenne, the defending tournament champion, had won 14 straight matches here. It was Schnyder's first win over Henin-Hardenne in seven meetings. Schnyder, the No. 3 seed, next plays Nadia Petrova, who is looking for her second straight WTA title. The second-seeded Petrova advanced to the final with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over doubles partner Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
FISH TO FINAL: Mardy Fish advanced to the final of the U.S. Clay Court Championship when fifth-seeded Tommy Haas retired after five games Saturday night in Houston because of pain in his right wrist. The only clue Haas was feeling discomfort came a couple of games into the match when he began to squeeze his right hand into a fist to try to loosen up his wrist. Down 1-4 in the first set, the German walked toward his chair on the changeover and told the umpire he could not continue. He then went to the net to talk to Fish and show him where on his wrist he was feeling the pain.