Associated Press
HOUSTON ó Astros pitcher Brandon Backe was among 10 people arrested during a brawl with police at a weekend wedding reception in a Galveston hotel bar.
The bride’s father, 19-year-old brother and a FEMA coordinator were also arrested Sunday at the hotel, a command center for emergency workers after Hurricane Ike went through Galveston Island on Sept. 13.
Police spokesman Capt. Walter Braun said an internal affairs investigation has been launched.
The 30-year-old Backe, a member of the wedding party, ignored police orders to back away from the fight, and struggled with officers who attempted to handcuff him, according to police reports.
One officer said he hit Backe twice in the face before handcuffing him. Both the officer and Backe sustained minor injuries during the fight, according to the police report.
Backe was charged with interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest, said Joel H. Bennett, Galveston County assistant criminal district attorney. Both charges are misdemeanors. He was released on $1,500 bond.
NBA
DALLAS ó Former NBA head coach Paul Westphal was hired as the Mavericks’ executive vice president of basketball operations on Monday.
Westphal, who was a Dallas assistant coach last season, will assist general manager Donnie Nelson and work in scouting.
When Westphal was hired before last season to be on former coach Avery Johnson’s staff he had been out of the NBA since being fired as Seattle’s coach 15 games into the 2000-01 season. He had a 267-159 record as coach for Phoenix (1992-95) and Seattle (1998-2000), leading the Suns to the 1993 NBA finals in his first full season.
– GREENBURGH, N.Y. ó New York Knicks center Eddy Curry practiced for the first time this season Monday after he was sidelined last week because of a bacterial infection.
NHL
RALEIGH ó Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker is expected to be sidelined for six weeks after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left hand.The surgery comes four days before the Hurricanes open the regular season against Florida.
The Hurricanes already will be without forward Justin Williams for at least three more months after he tore his right Achilles’ tendon.
CURLIN
ARCADIA, Calif. ó Curlin ran a half-mile in 52.80 seconds Monday in his first official workout on Santa Anita’s synthetic surface under the watchful eye of trainer Steve Asmussen.
It was the first timed workout for the reigning Horse of the Year since he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at New York’s Belmont Park on Sept. 27 and became thoroughbred racing’s all-time money winning horse with more than $10 million.
SOCCER
CARSON, Calif. ó David Beckham will miss the Los Angeles Galaxy’s final road game of the season Oct. 18 at Houston because of a mandatory one-game suspension for earning his fifth yellow card.