by Alan Robinson
Associated Press Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP)—Mike Wallace is on the fast track to replacing Santonio Holmes as the Steelers’ primary deep passing threat. Byron Leftwich needed only one practice to realize that.

During a 7-on-7 passing drill recently in a voluntary practice, Wallace beat his man cleanly, but Leftwich’s pass landed behind the receiver. The timing and precision needed to correctly execute the fly pattern weren’t there.

STEPPING IN—Mike Wallace eludes Paul Pusluszny during a preseason game against Buffalo last August at Heinz Field.

Forty-eight hours ago America celebrated Memorial Day. Being a Vietnam-era veteran I will always be fully cognizant of the sacrifices and blood that American men and women have shed and will shed on battlefields across the globe.

In an article written in June, 2004 by Robert Mizell titled “Athletes’ contributions to war diminishing,” published by the St. Petersburg Times, Mizell says, “Far from their fields of play, in venues that could be vulgar, where there were no home runs, touchdowns or other goals of sport, some of our most notable athletes earned a long, caring D-Day ovation.

by Russ Bynum
Associated Press Writer

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP)—Savannah State University’s ex-football coach has sued the school in federal court, saying the historically Black college forced him to resign because he’s White and engaged to marry a Black woman.

Robby Wells’ lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, says Savannah State administrators discriminated against him because of his race when they told him to resign or be fired in January—a month after Wells had signed a one-year contract extension.

ROBBY WELLS, CLAUD FLYTHE

by Tim Dahlberg
AP Sports Columnist

(AP) —Mikhail Prokhorov got a chance to meet Larry Bird the other night, though he could be forgiven if he didn’t recognize him. The Bird he knew, after all, was the young blond he saw in grainy videotapes wearing tight shorts and taking on Magic Johnson.

A lot has changed in 30 years, not the least of which is the shorts.

Back then, the Cold War was still raging. The U.S. and Soviet Union boycotted each other’s Olympics, and the idea that one day they might compete in sports without political overtones seemed preposterous.

‘I COME IN PEACE’—New Jersey Nets new owner Mikhail Prokhorov, of Russia, speaks to reporters during a news conference, May 19 in New York.