Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Houston Rockets guard Rafer Alston was released without bail yesterday after being charged with stabbing a man at a Manhattan nightspot -- his second brush with the law this month.

Police arrested Alston, 31, early Monday on felony assault charges after responding to a brawl at a nightclub. A criminal complaint alleges that amid the ruckus, he slashed a man at the club in the neck.

Alston was ordered to return to court on Jan. 3. His attorney did not immediately respond to a telephone message.

The arrest came three weeks after Alston was charged with misdemeanor assault and public intoxication in Houston. . . .

The Phoenix Suns and D.J. Strawberry, their second-round draft pick out of Maryland, have agreed to a two-year contract that guarantees him a roster spot this season.

Strawberry, the 59th overall selection in the June draft, will receive the rookie minimum salary of $427,163 for the 2007-08 season. The second year of the contract is a team option.

"D.J. brings toughness, defense and athleticism to our team and we're excited that he's a part of our organization," Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said. . . .

Swin Cash's layup with 8.5 seconds remaining in overtime lifted the host Detroit Shock to a 71-70 victory over the New York Liberty in the decisive Game 3 of their first-round WNBA Eastern Conference playoff series.

Deanna Nolan scored 22 points and Cheryl Ford added 17 points and 10 rebounds to help defending champion Detroit advance to the East finals against Indiana.

? SOCCER: The start time for D.C. United's road game against Chivas USA on Sept. 6 has been pushed back 30 minutes to 10:30 p.m. at the request of ESPN, the club announced. The game will be televised on ESPN2 after the Middle Tennessee-Louisville college football game. . . .

Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta died yesterday, three days after collapsing on the field during his team's Spanish league game against Getafe. Puerta died of "multiple organ failure stemming from prolonged cardiac arrest" and subsequent coronary problems, Virgen del Rocio Hospital Director Gimeno Guerrero said in a statement. . . .

Five-time European champion Liverpool, Lazio and Glasgow Rangers qualified for the Champions League's 32-team field. Liverpool, which lost to AC Milan in last season's final, beat visiting Toulouse, 4-0, winning the total-goals series 5-0. Lazio rallied for a 3-1 victory at Dinamo Bucharest to win its series on a 4-2 aggregate. Rangers played a 0-0 tie at Red Star Belgrade to advance on a 1-0 aggregate.

? COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Junior Todd Boeckman will start at quarterback when No. 11 Ohio State hosts Youngstown State on Saturday in its season opener. He has thrown only 10 passes in six mop-up appearances since coming to campus in 2004. . . .

Erik Ainge, Tennessee's injury-prone senior quarterback, jammed the pinkie on his throwing hand taking snaps on Monday, Coach Phillip Fulmer said. Ainge's status for the 15th-ranked Volunteers' opener at No. 12 California on Saturday is unclear. . . .

Defensive tackle Jerrell Powe will be ineligible to practice and compete for Mississippi this season, barring a successful appeal. The NCAA said in a statement that the highly sought-after recruit can attend classes at Ole Miss and receive financial aid, but he can't play football until at least the fall of 2008 -- and only then if he's met academic eligibility requirements.

-- From News Services and Staff Reports