Nadal pulls out of U.S. Open with sore knee | A.M. Briefing

Tennis

Nadal pulls out of U.S. Open with sore knee

Rafael Nadal withdrew from the U.S. Open on Wednesday, sidelined by the knee tendinitis that has kept him out of action since his stunning loss at Wimbledon in late June.

Meanwhile, former U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin received a wild card into this year's tournament.

Murray, Djokovic win

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic won their opening matches in straight sets at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

College football

Book: Paterno distraught after firing

Joe Paterno sobbed while meeting with his coaches and a former player the day after he was fired from Penn State, according to an excerpt of an upcoming book on Paterno.

"My name," the Hall of Fame coach was quoted in the excerpt as telling his son and quarterback coach, Jay. "I have spent my whole life trying to make that name mean something. And now it's gone."

Paterno was fired by school trustees in November in the fallout of the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal. Paterno died in January at age 85.

Paterno had granted access to journalist Joe Posnanski in 2011 to write a biography.

Holt fills role on Arkansas staff

Arkansas has hired former Washington defensive coordinator Nick Holt to handle its on-campus recruiting, a job formerly handled by the mistress of ex-coach Bobby Petrino. Holt previously worked with Arkansas coach John L. Smith at Idaho and at Louisville.

NFL

Cowboys' Witten has lacerated spleen

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten will miss the team's final three exhibition games, and his status for the opener Sept. 5 against the New York Giants is in doubt. The Pro Bowl tight end has a lacerated spleen that will prevent him from doing any strenuous physical activity, even jogging, until training camp is over.

"It's a very serious injury, and we're really taking this thing day by day," coach Jason Garrett said. "He has to be very still and idle for the next week to 10 days."

Steelers' Harrison has knee surgery

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison underwent left-knee surgery, clouding his chances of returning in time for the start of the regular season. Coach Mike Tomlin called the procedure "minor" but wouldn't put a timetable on when Harrison will be ready.

Soccer

Coach denies shoving Solo in 2007

The former coach of the U.S. women's national team said he didn't shove Hope Solo at the meeting when she was benched during the 2007 World Cup.

Greg Ryan said the allegation made in the goalkeeper's book is "completely false."

Solo details the meeting with Ryan in the newly released "A Memoir of Hope." The former Huskies star writes that "Greg leaned over and pushed me back down on the coach" near the end of the meeting.

Galaxy ties Crew

Robbie Keane scored in the 64th minute to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-1 draw with host Columbus in the Crew's first match since the death of midfielder Kirk Urso.

Darlington Nagbe scored in the 82nd minute to give the Portland Timbers a 2-2 tie with host Toronto FC.

Elsewhere

• Denver Broncos defensive end Jason Hunter had surgery on his torn triceps and is out for four months. Right guard Chris Kuper had surgery on his broken left forearm and is out four to six weeks.

• Former Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley settled his lawsuit against the Cleveland Browns.

• Georgia State football coach Bill Curry, 69, will retire after the 2012 season.

• Former Florida State cornerback Greg Reid enrolled at Division II Valdosta State and is practicing with the team.

• Maryland quarterback C.J. Brown will miss the season with a knee injury, a severe blow to a team that now must rely on two untested freshmen to run the offense.

Seattle Times news services