Associated Press
DALLAS ó Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant was ejected from an upscale Dallas shopping mall after a dispute over the sagging pants worn by him and some companions.
A police statement says officers working off-duty as security at NorthPark Center encountered Bryant and three companions wearing the drooping pants.
When the officers asked the four to pull up their trousers, Bryant launched into a profanity-laced tirade that prompted the officers to escort the four from the mall.
Police say Bryant refused to leave, however, until his ěrepresentativeî could arrive and he parked in a fire lane until a friend arrived and persuaded him to leave.
LT UPDATE
NEW CITY, N.Y. ó The teenage girl at the center of the sex-crimes case against football great Lawrence Taylor made a surprise appearance at his sentencing Tuesday, eager to declare that he should be behind bars.
She was denied the chance to speak in court, and Taylor was sentenced to six yearsí probation, as agreed when he pleaded guilty in January to sexual misconduct and patronizing an underage prostitute.
The former New York Giants linebacker must register as a sex offender, but a hearing on exactly how that will affect him was postponed to April 12.
COLLEGE HOOPS
PROVIDENCE, R.I. ó Providence has hired former Fairfield coach Ed Cooley to replace the fired Keno Davis.
Cooley led the Stags to a school-record 25 wins and a MAAC regular-season championship this year.
BASEBALL
KISSIMMEE, Fla. ó Atlanta Braves minor-league manager Luis Salazar returned to camp Wednesday, two weeks after being struck in the face by a foul ball and losing his left eye.
“I’m very fortunate to be alive,” Salazar said. “God gave me a second chance in this life, and I’m going to take advantage of it.”
He hopes to join his Class A Lynchburg team in April near the start of the Carolina League season.
Salazar was standing on the top step of the dugout when he was struck by Brian McCann’s line drive during the first inning of the game against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 9. He was knocked unconscious and airlifted to the hospital.
Doctors could not save Salazar’s eye and it was removed on March 15.
KISSIMMEE, Fla.ó The Atlanta Braves are finding that former closer Billy Wagner ó and his 422 career saves ó aren’t easy to replace.
So they won’t try to do it with just one person.
Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel will enter the season sharing the closer’s role. Manager Fredi Gonzalez isn’t concerned about not having a full-time answer for the ninth inning.
VIERA, Fla. ó The Washington Nationals have put pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the 60-day disabled list as he recovers from elbow surgery last September.
Doctors have said his recovery time from Tommy John surgery is 12 to 18 months.
TENNIS
AUSTIN, Texas ó Andy Roddick will enjoy a big home-court advantage in the U.S. Davis Cup team’s quarterfinal against Spain.
The match will be played July 8-10 at the University of Texas in Austin ó where Roddick lives.
It delighted Roddick, who ranks second in U.S. Davis Cup singles victories with 33.
Top-ranked Rafael Nadal will lead the Spanish team.
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla., ó Kim Clijsters is planning to avoid Japan over radiation fears since an earthquake and tsunami crippled a nuclear plant there.
Clijsters said she wouldn’t go to the WTA tournament in Tokyo in September nor to one in Beijing the next month.
NHL
DETROIT ó Daniel Sedin scored twice and Roberto Luongo made 39 saves, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 2-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.