Sports in 2 Minutes

From The Associated Press

Phillies hold of Dodgers in NLCS opener

PHILADELPHIA—Manny Ramirez needed one more foot and the Los Angeles Dodgers needed one more run in the NL championship series opener.

The Dodgers slugger flicked his bat and admired his shot to center field in the first inning. The ball went about as far and high as it could travel at cozy Citizens Bank Park without going over the fence.

Instead, the ball hit the wall and Ramirez settled for an RBI double that gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

The rest of the Los Angeles lineup managed just one more run and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Dodgers 3-2 on Thursday night.

“If we keep playing like we did, something good can happen,” Ramirez said.

Sporting freshly trimmed, thick braids for the NLCS, Ramirez went 2-for-4. Not quite the torrid hitting the Dodgers were used to from him since he joined the team, but not bad in a game where Andre Ethier was the only other player in the lineup with two hits (2-for-4).

Even the Phillie Phanatic got in on the fun. The green furry mascot held a Dodgers helmet with long black braids attached high into the air for the faithful Philly fans to boo. Then the Phanatic smashed a hammer on the top of the helmet and shattered it, the blue remains scattered on the turf.

Unlike the helmet, Ramirez and the Dodgers have time to recover with Game 2 on Friday.

Phillips: ‘Pacman’ will play despite incident

IRVING, Texas—Troubled cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones is still in the lineup for the Dallas Cowboys after his latest incident involving police.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Thursday that Jones will play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, and owner Jerry Jones said the team didn’t plan any discipline after the player got into a scuffle with his bodyguard Tuesday night in the bathroom of an upscale Dallas hotel. Police were called, but there were no arrests or charges filed.

“I am very disappointed in that we’re having to deal with this,” Jerry Jones said.

Phillips said he talked to the team about the incident Thursday morning.

“What I’m trying to do is get this team to focus on this game and the team that we are playing,” Phillips said. “We’re moving on in that direction.”

Adam Jones was suspended for 17 months by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for numerous off-field problems. He was arrested six times and involved in 12 incidents requiring police intervention.

Man indicted in slaying of Broncos’ Williams

DENVER—A 25-year-old man was indicted Wednesday on first-degree murder charges in the drive-by shooting death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams on New Year’s Day 2007.

Willie D. Clark faces 39 counts, including murder, attempted murder, assault, crimes of violence and a weapons violation, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said.

Clark is in federal custody in a separate case. He was long considered a “person of interest” in Williams’ slaying but is the first suspect to be indicted.

Williams’ mother, Rosalind Williams of Fort Worth, Texas, told The Associated Press that the indictment brought her peace but also dredged up painful memories.

“Oh, I got bittersweet news today,” she said of her phone call from Detective Michael Martinez informing her of Clark’s indictment. “There’s still a long ways to go, a long trial ahead. And we have to make sure this doesn’t happen to another family, too.”

Williams a former Oklahoma State standout from Fort Worth, was shot and killed while riding in a rented limousine early on Jan. 1, 2007, after leaving the Safari Club, a Denver nightclub. He was 24.

Witnesses say Edwards, Harvick fight in garage

CONCORD, N.C.—Greg Biffle isn’t angry with teammate Carl Edwards for starting a 12-car crash at Talladega Superspeedway.

Neither is Matt Kenseth.

Kevin Harvick? Not quite over it.

Witnesses said Edwards and Harvick were in a heated argument Thursday in the Nationwide Series garage at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Edwards apparently walked into Harvick’s garage stall and the two engaged in a heated argument.

Harvick appeared to try to walk away, and witnesses said Edwards reached for his shoulder to turn him back around. Harvick then shoved Edwards, who stumbled onto the hood of Harvick’s car, and the two had to be separated.

Harvick was unavailable for comment.

Edwards didn’t deny the two argued, but wouldn’t discuss the incident.