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Posted today at 11:04am
 MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Serena Williams is apologizing for off-the-cuff remarks she made during an interview with Rolling Stone about the 16-year-old victim of the Steubenville sexual assault case, in which two high school football players were sent to jail.
“I am currently reaching out to the girl’s family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written — what I supposedly said — is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame,” Williams said in a statement to ABC’s Good Morning America.
“What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved — that of the rape victim and of the accused,” Williams wrote.
“I have fought all of my career for women’s equality, women’s equal rights, respect in their fields — anything I could do to support women I have done,” she added. “My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent 16 year old child.”
Williams’ remarks, published in the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine fresh off her win at the French Open, drew widespread criticism after they were picked up by sports news website Deadspin.com.
Williams and the magazine interviewer were watching television when a news segment on the Ohio case aired. She said the 16-year-old victim “put herself in that position.”
“Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don’t know. I’m not blaming the girl…but if you’re a 16-year-old and you’re drunk like that, your parents should teach you: Don’t take drinks from other people,” Williams said during the interview with Rolling Stone contributor Stephen Rodrick.
“She’s lucky…she shouldn’t have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that’s different,” she added.
Two Steubenville, Ohio, high school football players, Trent Mays and Ma’Lik Richmond were convicted of sexually assaulting the 16-year-old in March.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 10:40am
 Todd Warshaw/Getty Images(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) -- Fresh off his win at Michigan, Greg Biffle is looking forward to racing this weekend at Sonoma.
"We are coming off a big win for us in Michigan and I’m looking forward to Sonoma," Biffle said on Tuesday. "I love road racing. As long as I can keep it on the track, keep the transmission in it and the brakes on it, I think we’ll have a top-five finish or even a chance at the win. I’m looking forward to getting to Sonoma and having some fun."
Biffle sits in eighth in the Sprint Cup points standings and has two top-five and four top-10 finishes at the Sonoma track. He has started at Sonoma 10 times in the Sprint Cup series and has three top five finishes this season.
"After our win at Michigan we are looking to carry that momentum into Sonoma. This weekend is a good change of pace from the short tracks and ovals we’ve been at. Sonoma is a track with an abrasive surface. It’s hard on tires, which makes for different strategies during the race. Tire management and race management will determine the winner," Biffle's Crew Chief Matt Puccia said.
Biffle finished in seventh last year at the Sonoma track.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 9:50am
 Steve Babineau/NHL(BOSTON) -- Boston Bruins forward Gregory Campbell returned to the locker room on Tuesday almost two weeks after breaking his right leg while blocking a shot.
"I feel good," Campbell said Tuesday. "I mean, it's been eight or nine days. I had the surgery a week ago Monday. Obviously, naturally you have that progression where there's a little bit of pain coming out of surgery. But everybody did a great job, treated me extremely well. The pain subsided very quickly. There's not much I can do at this point, just kind of let it heal."
The injury occurred June 5 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Penguins, but Campbell was in high spirits. He was asked how it feels to be watching his team play in the Stanley Cup Finals, up 2-1 in the series to the Blackhawks.
"I'm extremely proud of my teammates and fortunate to be here, fortunate to have been part of the run that I was on. Now I'm cheering them on pretty loudly," he said.
Campbell is expected to be ready for Bruins training camp.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 7:45am
 Kirk Irwin/Getty Images(DETROIT) -- Pavel Datsyuk will be staying in Detroit. The Red Wings and Datsyuk agreed on a three-year contract Tuesday.
The extension is worth $22.5 million total, according to ESPN.com. Datsyuk cannot sign the deal until July 5 because he is in the last year of his current contract.
"We're obviously thrilled to extend the contract of the best two-way player in the National Hockey League," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said.
"This deal ensures that Pavel will be in Detroit for the next four years. His accomplishments over the past 11 seasons demonstrate what a truly dynamic player he is. His work ethic is second to none," Holland continued.
The four-time All-Star scored 15 goals and 49 points in the 48-game shortened season.
The Red Wings were eliminated by the Blackhawks in the second round of the playoffs.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 5:57am
 Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images (BOSTON) -- Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa is likely to play in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night after missing Game 3 with an undisclosed injury.
"Not going to go exactly where the injury is or [when it] occurred, but I'm going to say he's likely to play," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said.
Hossa was scratched right before the start of the game, which the Blackhawks lost 2-0.
Quenneville went on to say that Hossa has an upper body injury, and that had a negative effect on the lineup.
The 34-year-old Hossa has been one of the Blackhawks' most important players over the past four seasons, scoring 95 regular-season goals during that timespan. Hossa is tied for the team lead with 15 playoff points.
The Bruins currently hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 3:46am
 ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images(SANDY, Utah) -- Jozy Altidore seems to come through when his team needs him the most.
He scored a goal in his fourth-straight international match to lead the U.S. Men's National Team to a 1-0 win over Honduras in a World Cup qualifying game Tuesday night.
"We always told him from a coaching perspective that it takes a lot of hard work, it takes a lot of adjustment, it takes the right moment to be there, it takes the hunger," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "The energy he has put in the last four or five games has been tremendous. It's not only that he scored those goals, the work he does for the team is awesome."
The United States improved to 4-1-1 and now find themselves on the verge of another World Cup berth.
"We're trying to keep our feet on the ground, of course," U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard said after the team earned its second-consecutive shutout. "But going back over the last 15-20 years, we know what points total gets you to the World Cup. So it's been a hugely successful summer."
Honduras fell to 2-3-1 with the loss.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 1:15am
 Scott Cunningham/Getty Images(ATLANTA) -- If Tuesday was any indication, the future seems pretty bright for the New York Mets.
Matt Harvey took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Zack Wheeler dazzled in his first MLB start and the Mets took both games of a day/night doubleheader from the Atlanta Braves.
"I hope people saw this," said manager Terry Collins, no doubt referring to New York's long-suffering NL fans. "Certainly they're going to enjoy watching these two guys for a long time. They're going to be around."
Harvey struck out a career-high 13 batters on the way to his first victory since May 17 as the Mets edged the Braves 4-3. Bobby Parnell closed the game out for his 10th save of the season.
Wheeler pitched six scoreless innings in the nightcap to complete the sweep. The Mets won that game 6-1.
"I had some jitters going at first," said Wheeler after the game. "Then I settled down a little bit, probably the fourth or fifth inning I think it was, found a rhythm, settled down, and I was able to throw all my pitches for strikes."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 11:28pm
 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images(MIAMI) -- LeBron James did everything in his power to save the Miami Heat's season, but the NBA Finals would have ended Tuesday night if weren't for Ray Allen.
Allen hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 95 with 5.2 seconds remaining in regulation to help send the game in overtime.
The extra period belonged to the Heat, as they ralled to top the San Antonio Spurs 103-100 and force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Thursday night.
"They're the best two words in sports: Game 7," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
James finished with yet another triple-double for the Heat, finishing with 32 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.
"We seen the championship board already out there, the yellow tape. And you know, that's why you play the game to the final buzzer," James said. "And that's what we did tonight. We gave it everything that we had and more."
Tim Duncan paced the Spurs with 30 points and 17 rebounds, but was shut out after the third quarter. He scored 25 points before halftime, and looked eager to lead the Spurs to their fifth NBA title.
The Spurs seemed to be well on their way to ending the series, but blew a five point lead with less than a minute remaining.
"It's a tough moment. We were a few seconds away from winning the championship and we let it go," Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said after committing a career-high eight turnovers in the loss. "A couple rebounds we didn't catch, a tough 3 by Ray and a couple missed free throws. It's a very tough moment."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 10:06pm
 Getty Images/Hemera(NEW YORK) --NBA Finals Game 5: Miami Heat 103 - San Antonio Spurs 100 (OT) (Series tied, 3-3)
MLB: Boston Red Sox 5 (43-29) – Tampa Bay Rays 1 (36-34) Game One
Boston Red Sox 3 (44-29) – Tampa Bay Rays 1 (36-35) Game Two
Cleveland Indians 4 (35-35) – Kansas City Royals 3 (34-35)
Baltimore Orioles 5 (41-31) – Detroit Tigers 2 (39-30)
Chicago Cubs 4 (29-40) – St. Louis Cardinals 2 (45-26)
Toronto Blue Jays 8 (34-36) – Colorado Rockies 3 (37-35)
Pittsburgh Pirates 4 (42-29) – Cincinnati Reds 0 (43-29)
Philadelphia Phillies 4 (35-37) – Washington Nationals 2 (34-36)
Arizona Diamondbacks 3 (38-33) - Miami Marlins 2 (22-48)
Houston Astros 10 (27-45) - Milwaukee Brewers 1 (28-41)
Oakland Athletics 6 (43-30) - Texas Rangers 2 (39-32)
Minnesota Twins 7 (31-36) - Chicago White Sox 5 (29-39)
San Francisco Giants 5 (36-34) - San Diego Padres 4 (36-35)
Seattle Mariners 3 (32-40) - Los Angeles Angels 2 (31-40) 10 Innings
New York Mets 4 (26-40) – Atlanta Braves 3 (42-29) Game One
New York Mets 6 (27-40) – Atlanta Braves 1 (42-30) Game Two
Los Angeles Dodgers (29-39) – New York Yankees (38-31) postponed due to rain
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 4:57pm
 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images(BOSTON) -- Massachusetts investigators plan to interview New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez in connection with the murder of a man police call an "associate" of player No. 81, ABC News has learned.
Hernandez's jersey number is 81.
Hernandez has been uncooperative with police since the body of a 27-year-old man was found in an industrial park not far from the Patriot player's North Attleboro home, two law enforcement sources told ABC News.
A rental vehicle with Rhode Island plates was recovered near the scene, which led investigators to Hernandez, sources told ABC News.
Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter confirmed in a press statement that a body was found around 5:30 p.m. Monday in a clearing near John Dietsch Boulevard. Sutter said that based on the "nature and circumstances" of the body that the investigation would be handed over to Massachusetts state police detectives.
Hernandez is spending the off-season recovering from a shoulder scope.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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