PARIS — Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong will return to the Tour de France in the unfamiliar role of support rider after his Astana team chose 2007 winner Alberto Contador as its leader for the race.

Although the American will be given a secondary role at the July 4 start, Tour and Armstrong fans know that anything could happen during the three-week race that starts in Monaco.

Contador, a 27-year-old Spaniard, has five stage victories this year, and won the Tour of Algarve in February.

Former Slippery Rock University baseball standout Matt Adams has five hits in his first eight at-bats, including a home run, and four RBI for Johnson City (Tenn.), the rookie league team of the St. Louis Cardinals.Adams was the 23rd-round selection of the Cardinals in the draft earlier this month.

PITTSBURGH — Slippery Rock University baseball coach Jeff Messer threw out the ceremonial first pitch Thursday night as part of SRU Night at PNC Park.

SEATTLE — Commissioner Roger Goodell is beginning to focus on evaluating Michael Vick's future in the NFL. That doesn't mean a decision will come any time before the 2009 regular season begins in September.Goodell said Thursday his decision on whether to reinstate the former Atlanta Falcons star quarterback, convicted on federal charges of running a dogfighting ring, will come "in due time." The commissioner said he won't sit down with Vick until after the former quarterback is released July 20 from home confinement and federal custody.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michael Jordan said Thursday he "would like to put together a team" that would buy the Charlotte Bobcats from majority owner Bob Johnson.Jordan bought a minority stake in 2006 and Johnson gave him the final say on all basketball decisions. Jordan said in February that he'd like to eventually gain majority control, but hadn't addressed the issue since the news last month that Johnson was seeking a buyer.

DETROIT — Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto will not be suspended by Major League Baseball or his team after testing positive for marijuana at this year's World Baseball Classic.Soto, last season's NL Rookie of the Year, drew a two-year ban from international competition by the International Baseball Federation.Soto's result will be treated by MLB like a first-time positive test. There is no suspension, but players can be fined and are subject to medical review.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama has taken the first step toward appealing a ruling by the NCAA that forced the Crimson Tide football program to vacate 21 wins.Alabama, in announcing it had sent a notice of appeal, said Thursday it also will contest penalties to tennis and track.