Baltimore’s McNair retires after 13 seasons in the NFL

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair announced his retirement Thursday, ending a 13-year career in which he was selected co-MVP, led the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl and orchestrated the most successful regular season in the Ravens history.

The 35-year-old McNair guided the Ravens to a franchise-best 13-3 record in 2006, his first season in Baltimore. But he injured his groin during the season opener last season and never regained the form that enabled him to earn a berth in four Pro Bowls.

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NFL Network is filing a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission against cable TV giant Comcast in the latest legal wrangling between the two.

The network announced it had served Comcast with the required 10-day notice of its intent to file a complaint. NFL Network is accusing the nation’s largest cable operator of discriminatory and anti-competitive treatment in violation of the Cable Act of 1992.

BASKETBALL

Kansas’ Rush, Arthur available for NBA draft

Kansas stars Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur declared themselves available for the NBA draft.

Rush was set to enter the NBA draft a year ago but injured his knee during a pickup game and withdrew his name. By declaring for the draft a second time, Rush loses his college eligibility.

Arthur has not signed with an agent, meaning he can return to Kansas.

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As expected, Oklahoma State selected Travis Ford as its coach, succeeding Sean Sutton. Ford, 38, led Massachusetts to a 25-11 record this season and an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament championship game.

GOLF

Love, Leonard, Glover

share first-round lead

Five-time tournament champion Davis Love III shot a five-under par 66 for a share of the first-round lead with Justin Leonard and Lucas Glover at the Verizon Heritage in Hilton Head, S.C.

A group a stroke behind the leaders included Stewart Cink and Camilo Villegas.

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Lorena Ochoa, bidding for a fourth consecutive victory, shot a four-under 68 in the first round of the LPGA’s Ginn Open at Reunion, Fla., She is a stroke behind leaders Carin Koch and Teresa Lu.

TENNIS

Serena Williams wins, will meet Sharapova

Serena Williams set up a quarterfinal match against Maria Sharapova at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C., overcoming a sprained ankle and sluggish performance to beat Katarina Srebotnik, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. The second-seeded Sharapova beat Tatiana Perebiynis, 7-5, 6-2.

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Top-seeded James Blake beat 15-year-old Ryan Harrison, 6-3, 6-2, to move into the quarterfinals in the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship at Houston.

Blake needed only 50 minutes to eliminate the Texas teenager, who this week won his first tour match. Harrison is only the 11th player since the Open Era began in 1968 to win a main-draw match at 15.

MISCELLANY

Arrest warrant is issued for Valenzuela

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela failed to appear at a recent pretrial hearing in Rancho Cucamonga and an arrest warrant was issued, Blood Horse magazine reported.

The hearing was connected to Valenzuela’s arrest on suspicion of drunk driving Dec. 20 at 2:48 a.m. in the parking lot of an Upland fast-food restaurant. Valenzuela’s provisional license to ride in California was subsequently suspended.

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Bob Bowman will step down as coach of the Michigan men’s swimming team after the U.S. Olympic trials in July to become the chief executive of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Swimming standout Michael Phelps is expected to leave with Bowman and join him in Baltimore.

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Three members of Congress want the Justice Department to investigate whether college football’s Bowl Championship Series is an illegal enterprise.

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The West Virginia University Foundation wants Michigan football Coach Rich Rodriguez to pay $30,000 for dragging the organization into a lawsuit over his $4-million buyout clause.