• Niners Ulbrich out for season Niners Ulbrich out for season By Greg Beacham – ASSOCIATED PRESS SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, the San Francisco 49ers’ second-leading tackler last season, will be placed on injured reserve after undergoing
• Niners Ulbrich out for season
Niners Ulbrich out for season
By Greg Beacham – ASSOCIATED PRESS
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, the San Francisco 49ers’ second-leading tackler last season, will be placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery Thursday to reattach his biceps muscle to his arm. The former Hawai’i standout who is second in the NFC this season with 41 tackles according to league stats, spoke with several medical specialists before reluctantly deciding on surgery Wednesday to repair a tendon on his right arm.
If he had attempted to play through the injury, which occurred while trying to tackle Indianapolis’ Edgerrin James last weekend, he would have lost half of the strength in his arm for the rest of his life.
Though coaches, teammates and his wife urged the hard-nosed linebacker to have surgery, Ulbrich waited four days before deciding it was the only rational move. He will need at least four months to recover.
“I was trying to find a doctor that would say we can go in there 10 weeks from now and fix it, and it will be good as new,” Ulbrich said. “I was searching for someone, but it’s not out there. … It’s tough. You put in an entire offseason, and I love playing with these guys. To be on the sideline is going to be tough.”
Barber fined $30,000
NEW YORK — Tampa Bay’s Ronde Barber was fined $30,000 by the NFL on Wednesday for punching an official during last Sunday’s game with the New York Jets. Two other prominent players, Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed, were fined $15,000 each for making contact with an official during the Ravens’ game in Detroit.
Krzyzewski to coach Olympic team
NEW YORK — Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski was picked to coach the U.S. basketball team for the 2006 world championships and 2008 Beijing Olympics, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The Hall of Famer was chosen during a USA Basketball conference call last week, said the person, who did not wish to be identified because the announcement has not been made. Official word was supposed to come Oct. 29.
Stottlemyre takes shots at Steinbrenner
NEW YORK — Almost certain he’s stepping down after 10 years as New York Yankees pitching coach, Mel Stottlemyre had harsh words Wednesday for George Steinbrenner and the owner’s treatment of manager Joe Torre. Speaking in the Yankees clubhouse where he’s spent 21 seasons as a player and coach, Stottlemyre said he interpreted Steinbrenner’s statement following the Yankees’ elimination by the Los Angeles Angels as a slap at Torre.
Steinbrenner said Tuesday: “I congratulate the Angels and their manager on the great job they’ve done.”
“I laughed when I saw it,” Stottlemyre said. “My first thoughts were, ‘What about Joe? Joe had done a hell of a job, too.’ To congratulate the other manager and not your own is stupid.”
