Phelps captures two events at nationals

Michael Phelps is up to his amazing tricks again.

The two-time Olympian came within a whisker of setting a world record in the 100 backstroke and won twice in about an hour at the U.S. National Championships at Indianapolis.

His time of 53.01 seconds was the second fastest ever, only three-hundredths of a second off Aaron Peirsol's mark set in March at the World Championships.

Phelps set a meet record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:44.98. The two wins were his third and fourth this week and put him within one victory of becoming the first American man to win five titles in back-to-back summer nationals.

BRAND FACES SURGERY Los Angeles Clippers forward Elton Brand ruptured his left Achilles' tendon during his daily workout Friday.

Brand, 28, will undergo surgery, but a date for the operation has not been scheduled.

JONES HEADING TO DALLAS Guard-forward Eddie Jones has agreed to a two-year, $4 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

The 6-foot-6, 200-pound swingman has averaged 15.4 points per game in 13 NBA seasons.

HUDSON BOUGHT OUT The Minnesota Timberwolves finalized their buyout of point guard Troy Hudson's contract. The 10-year veteran's career has been disrupted by ankle injuries.

PARGO AGREES Free agent Jannero Pargo agreed to a two- year, $4 million contract with New Orleans Hornets as a backup guard.

ROMAR DEAL Washington men's basketball coach Lorenzo Romar signed a deal that will keep him with the Huskies through the 2015-16 season.

TROJANS FIRST Southern California picked up 45 of a possible 60 first-place votes and easily is the No. 1 team in the initial USA Today Top 25 college football coaches' poll.

LINEMAN ARRESTED Texas freshman defensive tackle Andre Jones was arrested on a charge of aggravated robbery Friday, his 18th birthday.

Jones was charged in a July 27 robbery at an Austin, Texas, apartment complex.

TROOPER SENTENCED A former New Jersey state trooper who admitted running a sports betting ring with retired NHL forward Rick Tocchet was sentenced in Mount Holly, N.J., to five years in prison.

Under a plea agreement he struck with prosecutors a year ago, James Harney could have been sentenced to up to seven years in prison. Tocchet also has pleaded guilty and faces sentencing this month.

Harney pleaded guilty to conspiracy, promoting gambling and official misconduct. Under state law, he could be eligible for parole in about a year.

HUNTER JOINS ISLES Trent Hunter signed a one-year deal with the New York Islanders after an arbitrator awarded the forward a salary of $1.55 million for next season.

ISNER EARNS UPSET John Isner, a 6-foot-9 American playing in his second Association of Tennis Professionals Tour event, upset second-seeded Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-5) to reach the semifinals of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington.

Also, Andy Roddick beat Hyung-Taik Lee 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 to reach the semifinals.

In other tournaments:

• Patty Schnyder registered her second straight upset with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against No. 4 seed Nadia Petrova to advance to the semifinals of the Acura Classic in Carlsbad, Calif.

• Tommy Robredo rallied to beat Stefan Koubek 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 and advance to the Prokom Open semifinals in Sopot, Poland.

PIONEER PASSES AWAY Jerry Schneider, the man credited with building the first indoor tennis facility, died July 18 in Longboat Key, Fla. He was 87.

BOXERS SURFACE Cuban boxers Guillermo Rigondeaux and Erislandy Lara, who disappeared during the Pan American Games last month, were found at a resort near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where police say they partied and ran up an exorbitant tab. Now, a police inspector said, they want to go back to Cuba.

SEEKING A MILESTONE Erik Morales (48-5, 34 knockouts) hopes to make history when he takes on David Diaz (32-1-1, 17 KOs) for the World Boxing Council lightweight championship tonight in Rosemont, Ill., in an attempt to become the first Mexican fighter to win a world title in four weight classes.

CYCLIST TARGETED German cycling team Gerolsteiner said it might sue fired T-Mobile rider Patrik Sinkewitz for financial damages concerning a doping scandal.

TEVEZ MIGHT MOVE Argentine forward Carlos Tevez was on the brink of joining Manchester United after London soccer club West Ham United agreed to release the 23-year-old from his contract in exchange for a payment of $4.1 million.

SKATEBOARDER HURT The slam of skateboarder Jake Brown's body against the ramp in Los Angeles caused a collective shudder among X Games spectators and had Web video watchers gasping.

Brown fell flailing and helpless for about 40 feet on the skateboard big air megaramp during his fifth and final run Thursday night.

Brown was recovering in the intensive care unit at California Hospital Medical Center on Friday night, hospital spokeswoman Katreena Salgado said.

Kevin Robinson remained the only gold medal winner in the BMX Big Air competition, winning for the second straight year.

BEARD BOOSTS MYSTICS Alana Beard scored 24 points to help the Washington Mystics beat the New York Liberty 80-68.

In other WNBA games:

• Tina Thompson scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Houston Comets to a 66-56 win against the Los Angeles Sparks.

• Plenette Pierson scored 15 points to help the Detroit Shock beat the Chicago Sky 66- 60.

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