Green's fiancee pleads innocent\nWESTLAKE, Ohio -- William Green's fiancee pleaded innocent Thursday to charges she stabbed the Cleveland Browns running back at their home.\nGreen was wounded under his left shoulder blade during a fight Wednesday, police said. His lawyer, Brian Downey, said the player was released from the hospital later that night after getting three stitches.\nAsia Gray, who has two children with Green, was ordered held on $18,500 bond. She is charged with assault and domestic violence, and if convicted on both counts could face two to eight years in prison.
Three Illinois players suspended\nCHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber said Thursday that having to discipline three players has distracted him from preparing for his team's season-opening game Saturday night.\nGuard Luther Head and forward Aaron Spears sat out Illinois' two exhibition games and will sit out the first two regular-season games for violating team rules. Also, freshman guard Richard McBride will sit for four games for violating team rules.\nWeber, who has refused to discuss specifics about the situation and barred the three from discussing it, said he considers the matter closed and that he hopes it will help his team grow.
Raymond, Navratilova lead\nMOSCOW -- Lisa Raymond easily beat Kim Clijsters' younger sister, and Martina Navratilova improved to 38-0 in Fed Cup play with a doubles victory Thursday in the United States' 4-1 semifinal defeat of Belgium.\nRaymond clinched a spot in the Fed Cup finals against France by defeating Elke Clijsters 6-2, 6-1. That gave the Americans an insurmountable 3-1 edge in the best-of-five semifinal.\nRaymond then teamed with Navratilova, who's 47, to defeat Clijsters and Caroline Maes 6-1, 6-4.\n"It's an honor to be on the court with her," Raymond said. "To represent your country is one honor, but to represent your country with Martina Navratilova is pretty amazing."\nFrance took a 3-1 lead over Russia by winning both singles matches Friday. Two-time major champion Mary Pierce defeated Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, and Amelie Mauresmo came back to beat Anastasia Myskina 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4.\n"I'm very sorry," Myskina said, thanking the fans who stomped their feet and blew horns throughout the match at Olympic Stadium. "I have only myself to blame."\nKim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne opted not to play for Belgium, while the United States is without Venus and Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Jennifer Capriati, Chanda Rubin and Monica Seles.\nBut Raymond filled in quite capably, going 3-0 against Belgium.
