PITTSBURGH — Penguins center Sidney Crosby has been cleared to return to Pittsburgh’s morning skates on game days, but he will not participate in full practices, according to general manager Ray Shero.
Crosby, the Penguins’ captain who has been out since Jan. 5 with a concussion, will travel with the team to Florida and partake in the morning skate before tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“It’s a natural return for his progression here. His rehab has been ongoing,” Shero said. “He’s doing well with it, but at the same time, as a manager, I have no expectations of him coming back and playing in the regular season. That’s not going to happen.”
The next step is full practice, and then perhaps a return to game action in time for the postseason.
NBA looking into Jay-Z visit
NEW YORK — An NBA spokesman confirms the league is investigating Jay-Z‘s presence in Kentucky’s locker room after the Wildcats clinched a Final Four berth.
The rapper visited the players after their victory over North Carolina on Sunday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J, home of the Nets. Jay-Z is a part-owner of the team. NBA rules prohibit team personnel from having contact with players who are not draft-eligible.
Buccaneers DB turns himself in
GARLAND, Texas — Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib turned himself in on a warrant accusing him of firing a gun at his sister’s boyfriend, according to authorities. He was released after posting a $25,000 bond. Police said they believe Talib and his mother, Okolo Talib, shot at the man March 21. The man was not injured.
Ishikawa to play for victims
TOKYO — Golfer Ryo Ishikawa said he is giving all of his tournament earnings this year to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in his native Japan.
Ishikawa, 19, also is pledging money for every birdie he makes. If he plays similar to last year, Ishikawa could wind up giving more than $2 million toward relief efforts.
Police impersonator “upholds the law”
ORLANDO, Fla. — Motocross star James “Bubba” Stewart said he wants to show people that “I am someone that upholds the law” and also apologized to his fans following his arrest for impersonating a police officer.
Stewart addressed for the first time his Monday night arrest for using red and blue lights to pull over a vehicle that contained two off- duty troopers. Stewart and his passenger, Quinault Jehrrod, were charged with felonies in the incident.
Footnotes.
Cam Atkinson of Boston College, Matt Frattin of North Dakota and Miami of Ohio’s Andy Miele are the finalists for this year’s Hobey Baker award given to college hockey’s best player. The winner will be announced April 8.
• Mardy Fish claimed the top U.S. tennis ranking for the first time by reaching the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open when he beat No. 6 seed David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2 in Key Biscayne, Fla. Fish will climb to at least 11th, a career best, in the next world rankings. Andy Roddick will fall from eighth to 14th.
