Blues @ Blackhawks

Phelps eager to get back in the pool

Michael Phelps returned to training this week, five months after his record-setting performance at the Beijing Olympics.

Boy, did it hurt.

``I'm in a world of pain right now,'' Phelps said Thursday during a teleconference to mark yet another award: his selection by the U.S. Olympic Committee as its sportsman of the year for 2008. ``It's all over my body. I'm almost in a state of shock. Literally every part of my body is hurting.''

Phelps resumed formal training Tuesday with longtime coach Bob Bowman. The swimmer spent a little over an hour in the weight room, a session that included sit-ups and other abdominal exercises. He also worked about an hour in the pool, trying to recapture the form that carried him to eight gold medals in China.

It's not going to be easy coming back from the longest break of his career, a time spent having fun, moving back to his hometown of Baltimore and cashing in on his iconic performance with everything from a new book to hosting the season premiere of ``Saturday Night Live.''

Cardinals Arrington

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona running back J.J. Arrington sat out practice for the second day in a row on Friday but said ``I'll be fine'' when the Cardinals play the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1.

Arrington injured his right knee late in the first half of Arizona's 32-25 victory over Philadelphia in the NFC championship game. He was the only player to miss Friday's workout.

Defensive ends Travis LaBoy (biceps) and Antonio Smith (knee) were limited. Punter Ben Graham also was limited with a left groin injury.

Wide receiver Anquan Boldin participated in his second full practice in a row. He missed the divisional playoff victory over Carolina with a strained left hamstring but played against Philadelphia and said he felt no problem with the leg this week.

The Cardinals practice on Saturday then take Sunday off before flying to Tampa on Monday.

The Associated Press

Cubs Sold!

CHICAGO (AP) — A billionaire family of Chicago Cubs fans - including one who first met his wife in the bleachers at Wrigley Field - is set to purchase the team and ballpark from Tribune Co.

The sale would include Wrigley Field and a 25 percent interest in a regional sports network, said Dennis Culloton, a spokesman for group head Tom Ricketts. Culloton said the deal was worth about $900 million.

``My family and I are Cubs fans,'' Ricketts said in a statement Thursday night. ``We share the goal of Cubs fans everywhere to win a World Series and build the consistent championship tradition that the fans deserve.''

The family, whose bid was picked from among three finalists, also said in the statement that it's looking forward to working with the Tribune and Major League Baseball to close the transaction promptly. Tribune Co. spokesman Gary Weitman declined comment.

Streaker, turmoil at Aussie Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A skirmish between ethnic rivals, a half-naked streaker and an upset of Ana Ivanovic combined for an extraordinary Friday at the Australian Open.

A woman was injured and two men arrested for riotous behavior when Serbian and Bosnian fans threw chairs outside Rod Laver Arena following a match between defending champion Novak Djokovic and Bosnian-born American Amer Delic.

Police said about 30 fans were ejected from Melbourne Park.Djokovic, a 21-year-old Serb, won the spirited but good-natured match 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). But as the players hugged at the net, the first of dozens of chairs flew on the lawn near a big-screen TV showing the match.

``There's absolutely no place for that. This is a tennis match,'' said Delic, who moved from Bosnia at 14 and lives in Jacksonville, Fla. ``As I'm sure you all saw at the end, Novak and I are friends. We're both competitors. In the end it was a fair match, and there was no reason for such things.''

Earlier Friday, a streaker dashed on court while Venus and Serena Williams played doubles, prancing around before being arrested.

The Williams sisters were en route to a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Japan's Ayumi Morita and Germany's Martina Muller when the man, wearing only a shirt, sprinted across the sidelines and made several dance moves before heading toward an exit.

He was met by security guards, arrested and banned for the event. He was not immediately identified.

Ali salutes Obama at inaugural soiree

"The Greatest" saluted the nation's first black president at an inaugural soiree Monday night.

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, celebrating his 67th birthday, was the guest of honor at a party for 1,400 that included other celebrities, lawmakers and native Kentuckians.

Ali will be sitting on the platform Tuesday when Barack Obama is sworn in as the nations first black president. And when that happens, Ali's wife predicts, a torch will have been passed.

"He wouldn't have missed this for the world," Lonnie Ali said after Monday night's Bluegrass Ball, a celebration of her husband's 67th birthday. Kentucky is the family's home state.

Muhammad Ali carried the dreams of a generation during his prime as an athlete, and later as a humanitarian.

"Whats interesting is that Muhammad had time to grow into his role as being a world humanitarian," Lonnie Ali said. Obama on the other hand "will inherit the world on his shoulders, not just the U.S. And it is a much heavier burden than I think Muhammad had to face. "You've got Barack Obama, whos the leader of the greatest nation on earth, and Muhammad Ali, who's the greatest of all time," mused Steve Buttleman, official bugler of Churchill Downs. "How appropriate is that? It's so fitting."

There was agreement from the mistress of ceremonies, former Kentucky first lady Phyllis George:

"The seriousness of what they've both done in their lives and how they've both brought people together, I'm just very proud to be a part of it," George said.

There's one thing that Obama holds over Ali, though, Lonnie Ali said. Obama's now probably more recognizable to more people around the world.

"I do believe you've been surpassed," Lonnie Ali said she told her husband.