Posted on: Friday, May 20, 2005
SPORTSWIRE
Hawai'i's Kemoeatu signs with Steelers
Advertiser News Services
Chris Kemoeatu, a former Kahuku High and University of Utah offensive lineman, signed a three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday.
Financial terms of the deal were not released.
Kemoeatu, a 6-foot-3, 344-pound offensive guard was selected by the Steelers out of Utah in the sixth round (204th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft.
The Advertiser's State Defensive Player of the Year in 2000, Kemoeatu is the first of eight Pittsburgh 2005 draft picks to sign with the team. He will join fellow Hawai'i native Kimo von Oelhoffen, from Kaunakakai, Moloka'i, on the Steelers.
Kemoeatu, who started every game at right guard as a senior, was a 2004 Cingular Wireless/ABC Sports and SI.com first-team All-America selection, and a first-team All-Mountain West Conference choice.
Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith will be suspended for the season by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy a third time, according to two reports.
Pending an appeal, Smith will be forced to sit out the 2005 season, ESPN.com and The Star Tribune reported yesterday.
Smith skipped a drug test, which qualifies as a violation under league policy, ESPN.com reported, citing two unidentified team sources. Missing a drug test is equivalent to a positive test, and Smith had already violated league policy twice and served a four-game suspension last season.
A third violation brings a one-year suspension. A player would have to apply to the commissioner for reinstatement after that suspension is served.
Ricky Williams is discussing a comeback with the Miami Dolphins, coach Nick Saban said yesterday.
Saban acknowledged holding recent discussions with Williams, whose sudden retirement stunned the Dolphins shortly before training camp began last season. He would not divulge specifics of the talks, but has long said that he was open to the prospect of Williams returning.
"Ricky still seems to be very, very interested in coming back," Saban said. "As I've said before, the things that we discuss, we've decided not to talk about publicly."
Indy 500 practice session rained out
The schedules just got more hectic for teams at the Indianapolis 500.
Rain washed out yesterday's practice session, during a week that was already shortened because there were no practices scheduled for Monday or Tuesday.
It is the third time this month that rain has shortened practice or qualifying. Last Saturday's first qualifying session was rained out. Practice the day before was also cut short because of rain. The final two days of this month's time trials are set for tomorrow and Sunday.
Teams have just four more days to practice — the three remaining days this week and May 27, Carb Day. The race is May 29.
Twenty-two of the 33 starting spots were filled last weekend. Eleven cars are still trying to qualify.
Vikings' Smith will be suspended for season
Williams might return to Dolphins
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