WASHINGTON [bar] Add this to the lore of championship ceremonies at the White House: President Bush believes in the Jessica Simpson jinx.
Bush, a Texas guy, lauded the New York Giants on Wednesday for winning the Super Bowl. The president noted that along the way the Giants vanquished a team from his home state - the Dallas Cowboys. Many Dallas fans pinned their team's surprise playoff loss not on the Giants, but on Simpson. Seems the singer-actress was accused of being a distraction to her boyfriend, Dallas quarterback Tony Romo.
Apparently, Bush bought in. 'I'm a good sport,' Bush said at the South Lawn ceremony. 'We're going to send Jessica Simpson to the Democrat National Convention.'
In February, the Giants beat the Patriots, 17-14, in what was considered one of the biggest upsets in pro football history.
hockey
Avery out with lacerated spleen
NEW YORK [bar] New York Rangers forward Sean Avery has been hospitalized after lacerating his spleen during a playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Avery, whose spleen was not removed and isn't expected to need surgery, likely will be hospitalized for a few days, team spokesman John Rosasco said.
The 28-year-old Avery will be out for the remainder of the season, the Rangers said, but is expected to make a full recovery.
New York trails Pittsburgh 3-0 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series and can be eliminated as early as tonight.
baseball
Giants' Alfonzo banned 50 games
SAN FRANCISCO [bar] San Francisco Giants minor league catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was suspended 50 games Wednesday for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, the first player penalized this year under Major League Baseball's drug program.
Alfonzo is the Giants' 40-man roster, so he falls under the major league program even though he has played all season at Triple-A Fresno.
The 29-year-old Venezuelan was optioned to Fresno just before opening day and is batting .306 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 16 games. Alfonzo will be eligible to return to play June 27, assuming there are no postponements.
IN OTHER BASEBALL NEWS
Nationals reliever Chad Cordero is expected to be sidelined for at least a month with a tear in a muscle below his pitching shoulder .
college baseball
CWS, Omaha reach long-term deal
OMAHA, Neb. [bar] The College World Series will be played in Omaha at least through 2030, under an agreement reached by the city and NCAA on Wednesday.
A long-term contract has been in the works for months, with much of the discussion centered on the construction of a new downtown ballpark to replace 60-year-old Rosenblatt Stadium.
The Division I baseball championship has been held in Omaha since 1950.
The CWS injected an estimated $41 million into Omaha's economy during last year's 10-day run.
basketball
Season over for Wizards' Arenas
CLEVELAND [bar] Gilbert Arenas says he won't play again this season because of problems with his surgically repaired left knee.
Arenas announced the decision Wednesday just before Game 5 of the Washington Wizards' first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Wizards won 88-87.
The three-time All-Star missed the past two days of practice, then decided along with the team trainer that he would not play again .
Arenas missed 66 games during the regular season; an MRI taken before Game 3 revealed his knee has a bone bruise and a pinched nerve.
IN OTHER BASKETBALL NEWS
Kevin Durant, the Seattle SuperSonics' dynamic young star, has been chosen as the NBA Rookie of the Year, The Associated Press has learned.
college football
NCAA panel OKs 34 bowls, one in D.C.
INDIANAPOLIS [bar] The NCAA has approved applications for 34 football bowl games for the 2008 season, including 32 existing bowls and two new games in Washington, D.C., and St. Petersburg, Fla.
The NCAA Postseason Football Licensing Subcommittee on Wednesday rejected a request for a proposed Rocky Mountain Bowl in Salt Lake City.
The new bowl games for next season will be the Congressional Bowl, in the nation's capital, and the St. Petersburg Bowl.
The Congressional Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 20 and would likely pit Navy - assuming it gets the required six wins - against the ninth ACC team at RFK Stadium or Nationals Park . Organizers are exploring alternatives in case the ACC doesn't have nine bowl-eligible teams.
soccer
Chelsea reaches champions final
LONDON [bar] Chelsea advanced to the European Champions League final for the first time, with Frank Lampard returning from the death of his mother to score the go-ahead goal on a penalty kick in a 3-2 overtime victory over Liverpool on Wednesday .
The Blues will meet Manchester United at Moscow on May 21 in the first all-English final in the competition's 52-year history.
No London club has ever won the Champions League.
CAPTION(S):
Avery Arenas
