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SPORTS BITS: Elton Brand’s ‘Dawn’; Venus advances; search warrant for Vick; Hill death ruled accidental.
*NBA star Elton Brand is a producer on the upcoming film “Rescue Dawn,” which tells the true story Dieter Dengler, the only American to ever break out of a POW camp in the Laotian jungle. Brand, a 6 ft 8 in power forward for the Los Angeles Clippers, is co-founder of Gibraltar Films, which signed on to produce the movie.
*Venus Williams reached the third round, beating Ashley Harkleroad of the United States 6-1, 7-6 (8). Williams led 5-1 in the second set, but was broken twice while serving for the match. Serving at 4-1, 30-love in the second set, Williams smacked the fastest recorded serve in a women’s main-draw match at 206 kph (128 mph). She noticed the readout on the court’s radar meter and let out a laugh, cracking her concentration. “I loved it,” she said. “I just lost a bit of focus there, for sure.” In the tiebreaker, Harkleroad had five set points. Williams will next face number 4 Jelena Jankovic, who defeated Catalina Castano 6-3, 6-3.
*Since May 23rd, authorities have had a search warrant to look for as many as 30 dog carcasses on property owned by Michael Vick that is at the center of a dog fighting investigation. But at the request of Brown and Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald G. Poindexter, the warrant has not been executed. The warrant is based on investigator W.R. Brinkman being told by an informant that seven pit bulls were destroyed on the property in Surry County and buried in shallow graves two days before a drug raid on April 25. It cites "reliable sources" as saying that as many as 30 dogs are buried in various locations on the property, much of which is surrounded by a black fence and secluded behind a massive two-story brick home. No charges have been filed, but Poindexter has said he is confident when sufficient evidence is gathered, it will be brought before a special grand jury.
*The death of New England Patriots defensive end Marquise Hill, who fell off a jet ski in Lake Pontchartrain, was ruled an accidental drowning on Tuesday. An autopsy found no signs of drug or alcohol in Hill's body, although more tests are planned and will take two weeks to complete, said Orleans Parish coroner Dr. Frank Minyard. Minyard also said Hill might have suffered a mild concussion when he fell off the water craft. "He might of hit the right side of his face above the eye when he fell off the craft," Minyard said. "He had a pretty nasty bruise there." There was a slight amount of blood in the brain, which could indicate a concussion, Minyard said."
