IN BRIEF
PITTSBURGH — Major League Baseball came down hard on the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks, handing out eight suspensions and a dozen fines as punishment for a bench-clearing brawl.
Yet even with Arizona pitcher Ian Kennedy getting 10 games and infielder Eric Hinske five for their roles in Tuesday's fight, it might not be enough to quell the lingering hostility between the NL West rivals.
“No, it's not over yet, not at all,” said Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario, given a one-game ban.
INDIANAPOLIS — Sarah Thomas is on her way to becoming a female official in the NFL and it could happen as early as the 2014 season.Thomas spent three days at the Indianapolis Colts' three-day minicamp this week. The league says she could be the first to come through its officiating development program and then handle games.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills signed rookie quarterback EJ Manuel to a four-year contract worth $8.9 million.The team announced the signing, and a person familiar with the deal revealed the terms speaking on the condition of anonymity because the Bills did not release any details of the contract. The person said the contract includes a $4.84 million signing bonus.
NEW YORK — Wide receiver Victor Cruz signed his $2.879 million tender with the New York Giants.Two people familiar with the contract told The Associated Press on Friday that the restricted free agent with three years in the NFL had signed the tender while he works on a long-term deal with the Giants.
SAN ANTONIO — Miami Heat star Chris Bosh was fined $5,000 for flopping during Game 4 of the NBA Finals.The play happened midway through the second quarter with the Heat leading 41-32.FIFA rules in favor of turbans on fieldFIFA ruled that male head covers are acceptable to wear during matches, a decision that goes against the ban on turbans imposed by the sport's provincial governing body in Quebec.
