Sports in 2 Minutes

From The Associated Press

Mayor wants good behavior at World Series parade

PHILADELPHIA—Many baseball fans here would not speak the “P’’ word in the anxious days leading up to the city’s World Series title, lest they jinx the team.

But now that the Philadelphia Phillies have claimed their second championship, everyone is talking about a parade.

Hundreds of thousands of people could crowd the sidewalks on Friday to cheer the city’s first national sports title in 25 years. A hundred thousand more are expected to pack the baseball and football stadiums to watch the festivities on big screens and rally with the players.

“This is a bright and shining moment,” Mayor Michael Nutter said. “We’re going to have a great time.”

But he cautioned against the scattered vandalism that marred the postgame revelry late Wednesday and early Thursday. Police reported 76 arrests and several vandalized businesses; they are also examining photos and video of the crowds to identify and arrest additional offenders.

The Phillies parade begins downtown at noon on Friday, and is expected to take about 90 minutes to cover approximately four miles to the sports complex in South Philadelphia. Team officials said the players will attend a rally at Citizens Bank Park and make a brief appearance at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles play.

China listed possible U.S. troublemakers

MCLEAN, Virginia—The Chinese government, concerned about the possibility of demonstrations during the Beijing Olympics, created a list of nine U.S. athletes and one assistant coach it thought might cause problems, USA Today reported on Thursday.

The newspaper obtained an internal U.S. Olympic Committee e-mail in which a Chinese official expressed concern that members of the U.S. team might stage some sort of demonstration. The list was given to the USOC during a meeting on July 8 with Shu Xiao, minister counselor for cultural affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, the e-mail said.

Shu was concerned that some of the athletes have been affiliated with Team Darfur, an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about the human rights crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region, according to the e-mail.

The athletes included softball players Jennie Finch, Jessica Mendoza, Natasha Watley, Amanda Freed, and softball assistant coach Karen Johns; football player Abby Wambach; cyclist Jonathan Page; paralympic basketball player Jen Howitt; paralympic wheelchair racer Cheri Blauwet; and golfer Laura Goodwin.

White Sox decline option on Griffey

CHICAGO—Ken Griffey Jr.’s $16.5 million option was declined Thursday by the Chicago White Sox, making the No. 5 home run hitter in major league history eligible for free agency.

Griffey is owed a $4 million buyout, which completes a $116.5 million, nine-year contract that he agreed to with the Cincinnati Reds before the 2000 season.

The 38-year old hit a combined .249 with 18 homers and 71 RBIs in 143 games last season for the Reds and the White Sox. Griffey batted .260 with three homers and 18 RBIs in 41 games with the White Sox, who acquired him July 31 in a trade that sent right-hander Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar to Cincinnati.

“He was as classy, appreciative and complimentary as a man can be. He said he’d never smiled and laughed so much at the ballpark since he was a kid,” White Sox general manager Ken Williams said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. “I wish we could have gone further in the playoffs to enhance those feelings.”

Griffey, who agreed to come to Chicago so he would have a chance to play in the postseason, went 2-for-10 in the AL playoffs as the White Sox were beaten in four games by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Beckham to join AC Milan on 3-month loan

MILAN, Italy—David Beckham will join AC Milan in January on a three-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy to maintain his fitness and prolong his England career.

The former England captain’s brief Serie A career will begin Jan. 7, but he will rejoin his Galaxy teammates in March.

Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said an agreement was reached Thursday with Beckham’s lawyers, although a contract is still to be written.

The 33-year-old midfielder is eager to play in Europe during the MLS offseason to remain fit and available for selection for England, which plays an exhibition at Germany on Nov. 19 before World Cup 2010 qualifying resumes in March.

Vick must appear in person for plea

SUSSEX, Va.—Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick won’t be allowed to plead guilty to dogfighting charges by videoconference, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Vick’s lawyers had requested that he be allowed to enter the plea from federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., where he is serving a two-year term since admitting he bankrolled a dogfighting operation and helped execute dogs.

But citing high public interest in the case, Surry County Circuit Judge Samuel Campbell said it would be better for Vick to appear in person.

“I know from my conversations with Mike and, more importantly, his family that he’s looking forward to getting this behind him,” said Lawrence Woodward, an attorney for the former Virginia Tech and Atlanta Falcons star.

Colts likely to have Sanders back

INDIANAPOLIS—Tony Dungy thought the Colts might finally be close to full strength this week.

Not so fast.

As Bob Sanders, Joseph Addai and Kelvin Hayden were all cleared to practice for the second straight day, Dungy announced that Indianapolis’ injury rash has hit another starter: cornerback Marlin Jackson, who could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

“He did significant damage to the knee, and I’m not exactly sure, but it’s probably going to involve some surgery,” Dungy said. “I think he might get a second opinion, but right now, he’s probably going to be out for a while. Most likely, we’re going to put him on injured reserve.”

The injury is believed to be to Jackson’s right knee, but Dungy could not say that definitively, nor did he provide details of the diagnosis. The NFL’s Web site reported Jackson tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus cartilage.