BOSTON — Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year, has cancer.
Herzlich said Thursday he was diagnosed this week with Ewing’s sarcoma after feeling pain in his leg and will undergo more tests in his home state of Pennsylvania. Ewing’s sarcoma is a malignant tumor often found in bone or soft tissue.
Herzlich, who led the Eagles with 81 solo tackles and was one of two linebackers in the country with six interceptions last season as a junior, said he was determined to return to football after fighting the disease.
• Former Duke point guard Greg Paulus said he will enroll in graduate school at Syracuse and try to make a comeback in football.
ESPN: Favre meets with surgeon
MINNEAPOLIS — ESPN reported retired quarterback Brett Favre has consulted with noted orthopedic surgeon James Andrews about his options regarding the torn biceps tendon in his right shoulder.
Favre’s willingness to explore his options serves as more evidence he is seriously considering coming out of his second retirement to play for the Minnesota Vikings this season.
Goydos, Leonard share lead
SAN ANTONIO — Paul Goydos shot a 7-under-par 63 for a share of the first-round lead of the Texas Open with Justin Leonard.
Jeff Maggert, Marc Leishman and Ted Purdy opened with 64s.
• Helen Alfredsson jump-started a career-best, 10-under 62 by holing out for eagle from 68 yards on her second hole, and took a two-stroke lead over Brittany Lincicome after the opening round of the Sybase Classic in Clifton, N.J.
• Francesco Molinari shot a 9-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead over Johan Edfors after the first round of the Irish Open in Baltray, Ireland.
Di Luca maintains Giro lead
MAYRHOFEN IM ZILLERTAL, Austria — Danilo Di Luca maintained a five-second lead over Thomas Lovkvist for the overall lead after the Giro d’Italia’s sixth stage, a 154-mile leg won by Michele Scarponi in 5 hours, 49 minutes, 55 seconds.Lance Armstrong was 1:15 behind Scarponi and dropped from 22nd to 25th overall, 4:13 behind Di Luca.
Footnotes.
Bode Miller said he plans to ski next season but won’t commit to the Vancouver Olympics. Miller skipped the final four stops of last season to spend time with his 1-year-old daughter and said he was considering retirement.
• The Vancouver Canucks re-signed Steve Bernier to a two-year, $4 million contract extension, and fellow forward Pavol Demitra will undergo shoulder surgery and be sidelined four months.
• NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield failed a drug test for something other than a performance-enhancer, a person familiar with the test results said.
• Jeff Burton‘s team won NASCAR’s Pit Crew Challenge, beating Reed Sorenson‘s crew in record time in the final round in Charlotte, N.C.
• Iowa State starting guard Lucca Staiger will return for his junior season, ending a brief flirtation with the idea of returning to his native Germany. The Associated Press
