Sports briefs for September 1, 2004

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004 | 11:15 a.m.

Air Force cadet found innocent

An Air Force football player was found innocent of drug charges today after telling a court-martial he thought the steroids he had taken were legal.

Overton Spence wept and hugged teammate Jon Wilson when the verdict was read. He declined to speak to reporters, but his civilian attorney, Serge Herscovici, said Spence hopes to return to the academy football team.

Prosecutor Capt. Garrett Condon had accused Spence of engaging in "a locker room drug deal" that went bad.

Spence had signed a statement admitting he bought and used the steroid methandrostenolone but testified that he did not know he had broken the law.

Spence was suspended from the team after the charges were filed. It was not immediately clear whether he would be reinstated.

Tributes planned

Pat Tillman, the former Arizona Cardinals safety killed as a serviceman in Afghanistan, will be honored by the National Football League and the Cardinals during the upcoming season.

Players on all 32 teams will wear a decal bearing Tillman's number 40 in games of the second week. Cardinals players will wear it all season.

Tillman also will be honored at halftime during the Cardinals' home opener Sept. 19 against New England. The team, the league and the players union also are working to generate funds for the Pat Tillman Foundation through the sale of Tillman's jersey at NFL shops and military bases.

Canada defeats U.S.

Martin St. Louis had a goal and an assist to lead Canada to a 2-1 victory against the United States at Montreal in the World Cup of Hockey opener for both teams. The game was so physical and contentious that Canada's 38-year-old captain, Mario Lemieux, went after American Steve Konowalchuk, who took a run at goaltender Martin Brodeur. In Stockholm, Mats Sundin had a goal and two assists for Sweden in a 5-2 win against Germany.

Jury phase continues

The judge in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case in Eagle, Colo., said he would question some jurors in open court about their opinions in the case, despite prosecutors' concerns that doing so might unfairly influence other potential panelists.

51s on television

The Las Vegas 51s' game Saturday at Cashman Field against Salt Lake will be broadcast on Cox cable channel 96.