NFL player stabbed in alleged domestic dispute
NFL free agent defensive lineman Frank Kearse sustained a knife wound to his upper abdomen on Wednesday after an alleged dispute with his girlfriend at their apartment in Mansfield, Mass.
The 27-year-old Kearse, who was released by the New England Patriots last week, and girlfriend Dominique Hooper initially told police that the football player sustained the injury while handling a box containing knives, according to the Attleboro (Mass.) Sun Chronicle.
When pressed by detectives after neighbors told authorities that they heard an argument from the couple’s apartment, Hooper allegedly broke down and admitted to brandishing the weapon, the newspaper reported.
The knife allegedly went through a cardboard box Kearse held to defend himself and pierced his abdomen, according to the police report. Kearse was released after being treated at hospitals in Attleboro, Mass., and Providence, R.I.
With the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Kearse by her side in court on Thursday, Hooper plead not guilty to assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and domestic assault and battery in court. Hooper, who was released on $1,000 bail, is expected back in court on Sept. 30.
Mets’ Walker set for season-ending back surgery
New York Mets second baseman Neil Walker simply couldn’t play through the pain anymore and is opting for season-ending back surgery.
“The more I tried to push through it, I realized I was hurting the team and myself,” Walker said Thursday prior to the team’s game against the Miami Marlins. “I want nothing more than to be on the field.”
Manager Terry Collins confirmed Wednesday that Walker was diagnosed with a herniated disk that is causing leg weakness and foot numbness. Walker missed his fifth game in a row Thursday night. Before that, he appeared in just four of 11 contests from Aug. 16-27.
Penn State to honor Paterno anniversary
Penn State plans to honor the legacy of Joe Paterno on Sept. 17 — the 50th anniversary of his debut as the university’s football coach.
The school will commemorate the career of Paterno, who was fired in late 2011 in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal. Paterno died in early 2012 of lung cancer.
Paterno’s first game as Penn State coach was a 15-7 victory over Maryland on Sept. 17, 1966. The Nittany Lions host Temple on Sept. 17 this season.
Paterno finished his career with an FBS-record 409 wins. The NCAA stripped him of 111 wins in the aftermath of the scandal before later restoring the victories to his win total.
But Paterno’s reputation was tarnished when it was learned he failed to notify police in 2002 after he was told that Sandusky had molested a young boy inside the Penn State football complex. Recent legal maneuvers disclosed that Paterno may have known of Sandusky’s actions as far back as 1976. The Paterno family has denied that allegation.
MLB suspends three minor leaguers
Three minor-league players were suspended by Major League Baseball for using performance enhancing drugs.
Boston Red Sox prospect Chad Hardy, an outfielder playing in the team’s rookie level affiliate in the Gulf Coast League, was banned 60 games after testing positive for the banned substance Tamoxifen.
Hardy, 19, was batting .163 with two home runs and five RBIs. His suspension goes into effect immediately.
A pair of free agents, right-handed pitchers Julio Lugo and Adolfi Telleria, each received 72-game suspensions. Both players tested positive for Stanozolol.
The suspensions for Lugo and Telleria will go into effect upon either player signing with a major-league club.