Details disputed in Smith’s death
An enraged Hummer driver chased down former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith’s Mercedes, deliberately rammed the SUV from behind, angrily confronted him in the street and then shot him eight times, yelling over his dying body as his wounded wife tried to crawl away, the Smith family’s lawyer said. Racquel Smith said that her husband died trying to protect her. Smith never pulled out his own handgun, attorney Peter Thomson said. However, John Fuller, a lawyer for Hummer driver Cardell Hayes, said a witness saw Smith with a weapon that night.
The status of Rams running back Tre Mason continues to be muddled in the aftermath of his arrest last month. A warrant for Mason was issued this week in Florida after he failed to appear Monday for a scheduled court date, according to the Broward County Clerk of Courts website. The Rams’ third-round draft pick in 2014 was arrested March 5 in Hollywood, Fla., on suspicion of misdemeanor reckless driving, possession of marijuana, resisting an officer and failure to register a motor vehicle. — Gary Klein
NFL prospect and former Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman at his Texas apartment earlier this month, Waco police said. A woman told police that Oakman, 24, attacked her April 3 after they met at a Waco nightclub. According to a police affidavit, Oakman told investigating officers they had consensual sex.
Johnny Manziel’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told the troubled quarterback to seek treatment within five days or he will no longer represent him. Manziel was released by Cleveland last month amid a storm of offfield issues.
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic lost in the second round for the first time in three years, as 55th-ranked Jiri Vesely defeated him, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, at the Monte Carlo Masters at Monaco.
Earlier Rafael Nadal dropped serve twice and still beat Aljaz Bedene, 6-3, 6-3 in the second round, but last year’s runner-up, No. 6 Tomas Berdych, lost to 99th-ranked Damir Dzumhur, 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-3.
Utah 7-foot center Jakob Poeltl announced he is leaving the school to make himself available for the NBA draft.
Alabama hired former Arkansas coach John Pelphrey as associate head coach.
Zenyatta’s rather star-crossed career as a broodmare took another tragic turn when her newborn fourth foal died of complications from a lung condition. The colt was born at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky on Monday. Both the colt and Zenyatta were immediately taken to the clinic, but the colt died Wednesday morning. Zenyatta is fine and has returned to her regular stall. Zenyatta has delivered four foals, and this was the second to die. Both were sired by War Front. Less than two years ago Z Princess, the first filly born to Zenyatta, was euthanized after a farm accident. — John Cherwa
Defending champion Barcelona was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Champions League after a 2-0 loss to host Atletico Madrid.
In a dramatic change that could lead to numerous doping cases being thrown out, athletes who tested positive for meldonium may be able to avoid sanctions because of a lack of scientific evidence on how long the recently banned drug stays in the system. The World Anti-Doping Agency said provisional suspensions can be lifted if it is determined that an athlete took meldonium before it was placed on the list of banned substances on Jan. 1. WADA said 172 positive tests for meldonium have been recorded since the drug was prohibited. The highestprofile case involves Maria Sharapova, who announced last month that she tested positive during the Australian Open in January. Some athletes who have tested positive have claimed meldonium remained in their systems for months even though they stopped using it last year.