Sports in 2 Minutes

From The Associated Press

Mickelson goes to great lengths to avoid ‘T’ word

SOUTHPORT, England—Phil Mickelson wouldn’t bite, no matter how many ways he was asked about Tiger Woods.

So, Lefty, are the majors diminished because a certain No. 1 player — perhaps the greatest ever to swing a golf club — isn’t at the British Open?

“I am working hard to get my game ready for this week, and I’ve practiced hard. I’ve developed a good game plan for this event, and I am excited to compete against whoever is in the field,” Mickelson said blandly.

Strike one.

Can’t you say anything about Tiger’s absence?

“Oh, I’m sure I could,” Mickelson said, tantalizing his audience. “But right now my focus is, again, this week, as I’ve got to get my game sharp.”

Strike two.

Finally, when the call went out for final questions, someone asked Mickelson if he got any sense that other players — not someone as accomplished and experienced as himself, mind you — might feel like they have more of a chance with Woods sitting out the rest of the year recovering from knee surgery.

His response?

“I haven’t had a sense either way, no.”

Strike three. Thanks for coming, Phil.

During a 12-minute interview session that at times felt like a trip to the dentist, Mickelson steadfastly refused to even say Woods’ name Tuesday. It seemed a calculated move, as all things are with Lefty, because he was asked several different ways about the only player ahead of him in the world rankings.

LA Clippers acquire Camby from Denver

LOS ANGELES—The Clippers acquired center Marcus Camby from the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday for the option to exchange second-round picks with Los Angeles in 2010.

Camby led the NBA in blocked shots with 3.61 per game last season, only the second player in league history to do so in three straight seasons.

He averaged 9.1 points and 13.1 rebounds playing a career-best 34.9 minutes per game for the Nuggets. Camby was the league's defensive player of the year in 2006-07.

Camby is the second big-name player to land with the Clippers in less than a week. Baron Davis left Golden State to sign with his hometown team last Thursday on the heels of Elton Brand and leading scorer Corey Maggette departing as free agents.

Camby will be counted on to help replace the 20 points and 10 rebounds that Brand has averaged from the power forward spot in his nine-year career. Camby will join center Chris Kaman, who had by far his best season, but was limited to 56 games by several injuries.

Camby comes to a team that finished 23-59 last season — their worst record in eight years.

The Nuggets will receive a $10 million trade exception due to the deal. It can be used for up to a year from the day the trade is completed.

Manning joins other Colts stars on injury list

Peyton Manning’s streak of 160 straight starts doesn’t appear in serious danger after minor knee surgery.

But the superstar quarterback’s medical problems — an infected bursa sac in his left knee — only adds to the long injury list the Indianapolis Colts will face when they open training camp July 25.

Not only will Manning be unavailable, but so will defensive end Dwight Freeney, wide receiver Marvin Harrison and safety Bob Sanders, the NFL’s defensive player of the year last season.

The Colts say Manning can make a “full and complete return” in four to six weeks. That means, at worst, he can open the season against Chicago the night of Sept. 7, when the Colts unveil their new stadium in a replay of the 2007 Super Bowl. Given Manning’s durability, there’s a chance he could play the last exhibition game or two.

“There is no sense of any untoward condition with this,” team president Bill Polian told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Reds set to move spring training to Arizona

CINCINNATI—The Cincinnati Reds have finalized an agreement to move their spring training facility from Florida to Arizona in 2010.

The Goodyear, Ariz., city council unanimously approved a binding agreement with the Reds Monday night. The team and the suburban Phoenix city have been in negotiations since January.

The Reds will join the Cleveland Indians at a $108 million facility, which will include a 10,000-seat ballpark and will be the centerpiece of a $1 billion mixed-use development with offices, shops and restaurants.

The Indians, who previously trained in Winter Haven, Fla., will move there in February. The Reds plan to hold one more spring training in Sarasota, Fla., before joining them.

Favre tempted to show up for Packers camp

MILWAUKEE—Brett Favre says he’s tempted to show up at the Green Bay Packers’ training camp just to call the team’s “bluff.”

In the second part of an interview with Fox News, the quarterback says he knows his arrival in camp would cause a media circus but that might not stop him. Players are scheduled to report July 27.

The interview is on the show “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” and is scheduled for broadcast Tuesday night. An excerpt was provided to The Associated Press.

A-Rod’s wife seeks evidence of spying

MIAMI—The wife of Alex Rodriguez wants to know if the New York Yankees star hired private detectives or installed wiretaps installed to spy on her.

Cynthia Rodriguez’s lawyers demanded evidence of any such surveillance as part of a routine request filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court last week in their divorce case.

The document asks for any tape recordings, photographs, reports from investigators or results from possible wiretaps “or other electronic surveillance conducted by you or others on your behalf.”

Alex Rodriguez’s attorney didn’t immediately respond Tuesday to an e-mail seeking comment. The 32-year-old third baseman was scheduled to start in the All-Star game on Tuesday night in New York.

Cynthia Rodriguez filed for divorce last week after more than five years of marriage, citing her husband’s alleged infidelity. She wants their $12 million waterfront mansion in Coral Gables, a luxury SUV, alimony and financial support for their two young daughters.

And after 10 stages, the Tour de France rested

PAU, France—Frank Schleck of Luxembourg wants ideas.

The Tour de France resumes Wednesday and he’s trying to figure out how to erase his one-second deficit to race leader Cadel Evans of Australia.

After 10 stages and more than 46 hours of racing, competitors took a rest day Tuesday after two punishing days in the Pyrenees in which Evans captured the yellow jersey for the first time in his career.

Several rivals wilted up the Tourmalet and Hautacam passes, narrowing the field of likely competitors for cycling’s ultimate prize when the three-week race ends in Paris on July 27.

The final shakeout is expected to come in three agonizing stages in the Alps — each featuring at least one climb that defies classification for difficulty — and a time trial a day before the Champs-Elysees finish.