Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. ó Now that Michael Phelps won’t face drug charges, he can try to distance himself from a photo that showed the Olympian smoking a marijuana pipe.
A South Carolina sheriff decided Monday after a highly publicized investigation that he simply didn’t have enough physical evidence to charge the 14-time gold medalist.
“We had a photo and we had him saying he was sorry for his inappropriate behavior. That behavior could’ve been going to a party,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said.
“He never said, ‘I smoked marijuana.’ He never confessed that,” the sheriff said.
Phelps, who lost a major endorsement and faces a three-month competition suspension in the fallout from the photo, said he was ready to put the ordeal behind him.
“For me, it’s all about recognizing that I used bad judgment and it’s a mistake I won’t make again,” the swimmer said in a statement. “For young people especially ó be careful about the decisions you make. One bad decision can really hurt you and the people you care about. I really appreciate the support my family and fans have shown me.”
BASEBALL
ATLANTA ó Day 2 of spring training. Still no Tom Glavine.
But it appears more and more likely baseball’s only active 300-game winner will soon be in camp for the Atlanta Braves.
The two sides had a good meeting last week, and Glavine’s agent, Gregg Clifton, was planning to talk with the team again Monday in hopes to moving closer to a deal.
The Braves are eager for the 42-year-old Glavine to return as the fifth starter in a rebuilt rotation, but only if he’ll take a significant cut in the $8 million he made last year, when he made only 13 starts before season-ending elbow surgery.
NHL
UNIONDALE, N.Y. ó Frans Nielsen and Jeff Tambellini scored shootout goals, and Joey MacDonald turned aside Penguins stars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby in the tiebreaker to lift the lowly New York Islanders to a 3-2 victory Monday.
Stars 3, Blue Jackets 2, SO
COLUMBUS, Ohio ó James Neal scored the only goal in the shootout and Marty Turco had 41 saves to lead Dallas.
Blues 2, Rangers 1
ST. LOUIS ó B.J. Crombeen scored the go-ahead goal on a rebound with 5:14 to play, lifting the Blues over the punchless New York Rangers.
Senators 2, Predators 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ó Nick Foligno and Dany Heatley scored first-period goals, and Alex Auld made 24 saves to lead the Ottawa Senators to their season-high fifth straight victory.
FIRED
PHOENIX ó The Phoenix Suns fired coach Terry Porter on Monday, just four months into his first season with the club and the sputtering team barely in playoff contention. Assistant Alvin Gentry was appointed interim coach.
Phoenix (28-23) lost five of eight going into the All-Star break and trails Utah by one game for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
NFL
Fred Taylor and Chris McAlister, two former Pro Bowlers, fell victim Monday to the NFL’s annual purge of high-salaried veterans.
The 33-year-old Taylor, Jacksonville’s all-time leading rusher, was cut after 11 seasons as the team continued its offseason makeover. He was due to make $6 million next season.
The 31-year-old McAlister, a three-time Pro Bowler, was cut by Baltimore after 10 seasons. He was scheduled to make $8 million in 2009.
– The Cincinnati Bengals designated kicker Shayne Graham as their franchise player, leaving three key starters, wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, running back Cedric Benson and left tackle Stacy Andrews who will become free agents on Feb. 27.