"Once the match started, got under way, I never thought about it again."
Soccer *
Defenders Fabian Johnson and Edgar Castillo will miss the United States' World Cup qualifier at Antigua and Barbuda on Friday, the latest players out of a critical match for the Americans as they attempt to reach the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Johnson is recovering from the flu and plans to join the team ahead of Tuesday's game against Guatemala at Kansas City, Kan., the finale match of the semifinal round in the North and Central American region. Castillo has a foot injury and will miss both matches, the U.S. Soccer Federation said after he had an MRI Wednesday. The U.S. roster is down to 20 players. Landon Donovan (left knee) and Brek Shea (abdominal strain) withdrew a day earlier.
Philly File *
Temple will host the annual Big 5 Golf Invitational this weekend at the 6,670-yard, par-70 North Course at Philmont Country Club in Huntingdon Valley. The 2-day event, which will take place Saturday and Sunday, will include 19 teams from various conferences, including all six Division I universities in the Philadelphia region.
Sport Stops *
Montreal will name a street and a park after Gary Carter, the Hall of Fame catcher who died in February of cancer at age 57. The street borders Jarry Park, where the Expos played for most of their first decade and where Carter made his big-league debut. There will also be a park in the north-end Ahuntsic district named after him.
* Tiger Woods will consider joining the European Tour after changes are made to membership qualification. The European Tour is expected to announce soon that participation in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and Seve Trophy will count toward the 13 events needed for tour membership.
* Olympic figure skating champion Evan Lysacek withdrew from Skate America, Oct. 19-21 in Kent, Wash., because of a groin injury. It was to have been his first competition since he won gold at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.
* Utah authorities said a youth football coach struck a 13-year-old player from the opposing team near the sideline late in a tied game, giving the boy a concussion. Police Sgt. Lance Smith said video from Saturday's game shows 38-year-old Nathan Harris intentionally knocking the boy down. Smith said witnesses also said that Harris hit the player. Harris hasn't been charged, but police in Payson - about an hour south of Salt Lake City - have arrested him for investigation of felony child abuse.
