Names in the game for August 8, 2005

Monday, Aug. 8, 2005 | 8:59 a.m.

Brian Westbrook

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook ended his weeklong holdout and reported to training camp today.

Receiver Todd Pinkston was placed on injured reserve, and the team said he will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles' tendon.

Westbrook has been holding out for a long-term contract after signing a one-year restricted free agent offer for $1.43 million earlier this offseason.

Westbrook had little choice but to report for camp because he risked forfeiting a year of service if he stayed out any longer.

X Games

Is the birthplace of action sports already bored with X Games?

That is one of the questions organizers will be considering due to a slump in attendance, some disputes over judging and a forced move next year out of the Staples Center parking lot.

This summer's made-for-TV competition ended Sunday with Doug Henry coasting to an easy victory in supermoto and Danny Way skying to another skateboard big air title.

It marked the first time X Games stayed in one city for three years. The event is committed to remain in Southern California, a center of innovation in skateboarding and other action sports, through 2009.

However, the number of total spectators dropped to 122,000 from 170,000 last year.

Michael Owen

Manchester United said it hasn't had any contact with Spanish soccer team Real Madrid about signing England striker Michael Owen.

Sky News, citing a Real Madrid spokesman, said earlier today that United, soccer's richest club by sales, is among Premiership teams interested in signing the 25-year-old. A spokeswoman for Madrid said in a phone interview the club couldn't confirm the Sky report.

-- Sun wire services