Slippery Rock University senior nose tackle Robert Minnie was named Thursday to the East roster for the 2006 Cactus Bowl, a NCAA Division II football all-star game in Kingsville, Tex.

Minnie is one of 11 PSAC players who will participate in the Jan. 6 game.

Minnie, the 13th Rock player to earn a spot in the all-star game, had 12 solo and 26 assisted tackles and one sack and was a first-team PSAC-West selection this fall.

Slippery Rock University standouts Josh Kniess and Corey Lacek were named to the Daktronics Division II Football All-Northeast Region first-team honors by the region's sports information directors.Kniess, a Slippery Rock High graduate from Butler, was named as an all-purpose back after earning PSAC-West first team as a running back and second team running back honors in 2003 and 2004.Kniess was 16th nationally with 1,270 yards rushing, 10th in all-purpose yards (1,839) and 18th in scorings (16 touchdowns). As a punt returner, he was fourth nationally (18.4 yards per return). He was ranked No. 2 last year.Lacek, a sophomore defensive end, was a first-team all-PSAC-West. He had 12 sacks and had 19 tackles for loss. He had 27 solo tackles and 26 assisted tackles.

WASHINGTON — Major League Baseball owners will consider a proposal to shift the site of a new Washington Nationals stadium, District of Columbia Council members said Thursday following a one hour meeting with baseball's point man on lease negotiations.The council sought the meeting with Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf to express concerns about the escalating costs.Reinsdorf told council members that baseball owners were not impressed with the Nationals' first-year attendance of about 2.7 million, Councilman Jim Graham said.Graham and Councilman David A. Catania said Reinsdorf agreed to discuss the possibility of shifting the site of the proposed 41,000-seat ballpark.

PHILADELPHIA — Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Afleet Alex was retired Thursday because of new injuries, ending a career in which his gritty ride in the second leg of the Triple Crown was one of the highlights of the racing season.The injuries were discovered before the horse was shipped to Gulfstream Park this week. An ankle injury has sidelined Afleet Alex since his victory in the Belmont on June 11.Afleet Alex retires with eight wins in 12 starts and earnings of $2,765,800, and nearly became the sport's 12th Triple Crown winner.

DALLAS — Michael Irvin says he has been suspended by ESPN for one week for not telling the network about his arrest last week, when police found a drug pipe hidden in his car during a traffic stop.Irvin, who has maintained that the pipe belonged to a friend, told The Associated Press Thursday that he won't return to the air until Dec. 11.ESPN did not learn of Irvin's arrest until reporters began calling the network Sunday night. Irvin said he didn't tell the network about his arrest because he was scared.

John McEnroe plans to play doubles with the big boys again.The 46-year-old McEnroe will team with Jonas Bjorkman at the SAP Open in an ATP doubles event in February, his first on United States soil since the 1992 U.S. Open.McEnroe won 17 Grand Slam titles, including 10 in doubles, before retiring from full-time ATP play after the 1992 season.