MIAMI — Venus and Serena Williams have found a new sport: pro football.
The tennis-playing sisters will become the latest celebrities to own a stake in the Dolphins, a person familiar with the deal said Wednesday. The person didn’t want to be identified because the team plans an announcement Tuesday.
“There have been preliminary talks, and hopefully it’ll work out,” Serena Williams said after a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Yaroslava Shvedova in Toronto. “That would be a great opportunity for both of us. You never know. We’ll see what happens.”
The Williamses live in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., about an hour’s drive from the Dolphins’ stadium. Their new role will be significant in part because the NFL has no African-American majority team owner.
Musicians Gloria and Emilio Estefan and Marc Anthony recently bought small shares of the team. New Dolphins owner Stephen Ross also forged a partnership with singer Jimmy Buffett.
• The Dolphins released cornerback Eric Green.
Vikings fans buying into Favre’s return
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings have sold more than 3,200 season tickets since news broke that Brett Favre was coming to Minnesota. That’s in approximately a 24-hour span.
Chief marketing officer Steve LaCroix said the team has sold about 11,000 single-game tickets during that time as fans clamor over the arrival of the veteran quarterback. Seats for the game against Green Bay on Oct. 5 are only available through a season ticket. There are roughly 6,000 season tickets remaining.
The Vikings had to race to beat the blackout deadline for several games last season, including needing two extensions from the NFL for the first-round playoff game against Philadelphia.
Now, there are only a limited amount of seats for the preseason game Friday night against Kansas City, in which Favre is expected to make his Vikings debut.
Merchandise is also moving. LaCroix said several hundred preorders for Favre No. 4 jerseys were placed online Tuesday.
Seahawks tackle Jones facing knee surgery
RENTON, Wash. — Seahawks nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones will have his second knee operation in eight months, leaving his playing status in doubt.
Coach Jim Mora said Jones will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee this morning. Jones had microfracture surgery in December. He has missed all but three days of practice in training camp.
Mora said there could be “loose bodies” inside the knee. He said the procedure is just “to check it out.” He is optimistic Jones will return this season.
Lawyer: Roethlisberger accuser e-mails absolve QB
PITTSBURGH — A former Nevada casino worker who accused Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of rape in a civil lawsuit should drop the case because her own e-mails and text messages prove she wasn’t assaulted, his attorney said.
The woman “should abandon her lawsuit immediately and admit that Ben Roethlisberger did not rape her,” Roethlisberger’s attorney, W. David Cornwell, said in a statement. “We believe that (the woman’s) own words directly refute the scurrilous allegations made in her complaint.”
The woman contends in the lawsuit filed last month in Reno, Nev., that Roethlisberger raped her in his room at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe in July 2008 when he was there to play in a celebrity golf tournament.
Footnotes.
The Raiders released fullback Lorenzo Neal and signed safety Rashad Baker.
• Giants defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (hamstring) passed his physical and was taken off the nonfootball injury list.
• The Bills waived Ryan Neill, who has been the team’s long snapper for the past two seasons, and announced receiver Terrell Owens (toe) will miss Saturday’s preseason game at Green Bay.
• Redskins tight end Chris Cooley (back) and defensive end Phillip Daniels (knee) missed practice, but coach Jim Zorn expects both to play against the Steelers on Saturday night. The Associated Press
