Carton says he’s shocked by charges
NEW YORK » A radio host who teamed up for years with former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason on a New York City sports show says he was shocked by his arrest and will prove his innocence.
Craig Carton spoke outside Manhattan federal court after pleading not guilty Wednesday to fraud charges in an indictment.
Carton says he’s “unequivocally not guilty” and will show a jury that the government made false accusations when he was arrested in September.
The longtime co-host of the “Boomer and Carton” show remains free on $500,000 bond. He quit the job after his arrest. He says the government conceded to his lawyers recently that his ticket reselling business was legitimate even though prosecutors have called it a sham.
MLS: Atlanta’s Gressel Rookie of Year
NEW YORK » Atlanta midfielder Julian Gressel has been voted Major League Soccer’s Rookie of the Year.
The 23-year-old German, selected with the eighth overall draft pick this year after playing at Providence, had five goals and nine assists in 32 league games, the third-most assists for a rookie behind 12 by Andy Williams and 10 by Clint Mathis, both in 1998.
He received an average of 54 percent of the vote in balloting by players, media and club management that was announced Wednesday. Minnesota forward Abu Danladi, a 22-yearold from Ghana, was second with 8 percent. San Jose defender Nick Lima was third with 4 percent, followed by D.C. United midfielder Ian Harkes — the son of former U.S. captain John Harkes — with 3 percent.
Tennis: Stephens provides boost for U.S. in Fed Cup final at Belarus
MINSK, BELARUS » Sloane Stephens is back in the United States team for the Fed Cup final, and Victoria Azarenka is missing for Belarus.
That alone gives the early advantage to the Americans. Stephens, who won the U.S. Open this year for her first major title, missed the opening two rounds of the international team competition because of a foot injury. But she is back and will be playing alongside CoCo Vandeweghe, Shelby Rogers and Alison Riske in the best-of-five series this weekend in Minsk.