Training Camp

The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team opened training camp in Las Vegas and quickly had its first injury. Chris Paul was forced to leave to get an X-ray after hurting his thumb. The Americans don't believe the injury is serious and hope Paul can practice Saturday. The U.S. team has been severely weakened by injuries, with Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh forced to pull out. The Americans opened training camp Friday with 15 players vying for 12 spots, with the roster to be announced Saturday night.

WITH A championship run looming, the Soul is losing one of its most important weapons in a development that defines the word bittersweet. Wide receiver Tiger Jones will be signed by the Eagles and invited to attend training camp, the Daily News has learned. He will not play for the Soul for the rest of the season, because even a minor injury would derail any chance Jones has for the NFL. "There's no question that taking a person of his [caliber] is going to create a vacuum," said Soul coach Doug Plank, who played eight seasons for the Chicago Bears.

76ers point guard Jrue Holiday has been added to the 2012 USA men's select team, it was announced Monday. The team will train July 6-11 against the 2012 USA Basketball men's national team during training camp in Las Vegas, Nev. Holiday is the 15th player USA Basketball named to the USA select squad. "In naming Jrue to our select team we've added an athletic guard who can get to the rim and someone who is also a good three-point shooter," said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman.

ANTHONY DAVIS has a left ankle sprain that must be evaluated later this week before he can be cleared to practice with the U.S. team. Davis hurt his ankle at the team's training center on Saturday, and a New Orleans Hornets spokesman said on Monday that the club considers Davis' status for resuming training as day-to-day. The 6-11 Davis, who led the nation with 4.65 blocks per game while leading Kentucky to a national title, is among the players being considered for the American squad at the London Olympics.

AS FAR AS making practice squads, Jrue Holiday Monday made perhaps the best one in all of sports. The starting point guard for the 76ers was added to the 2012 USA Men's Select Team that will train July 6-11 against this year's USA National Team during a training camp in Las Vegas. Fellow Sixer Andre Iguodala is part of the National Team, vying for a spot on the roster that will compete in the London Olympics later this month. Said USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo of Holiday: "In naming Jrue to our Select Team, we've added an athletic guard who can get to the rim and someone who is also a good three-point shooter.

THE EAGLES announced the schedule Tuesday for their new-look training camp at Lehigh. Unlike past years, the walkthrough practice will be in the morning with the main practice in the afternoon to better simulate the way the Eagles operate in the regular season. Rookies and selected veterans report to training camp on July 22, and will practice for the first time the following day. The remainder of the team reports on July 25 with the first full practice the following day. That practice is closed to the public.

WITH THE SHARP blast of the whistle, the players began their sprints. Though this sounded like the beginning of any ordinary football practice, it provided a role reversal for Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. This time he's not breaking off the line — he's the one blowing the whistle. The weeks between the end of OTAs and minicamps and the start of training camp usually offer NFL players time for much-needed relaxation before a grueling month of workouts. But for Maclin this downtime is the perfect opportunity to give back to the community.

A week ago, Fletcher Cox was attending the funeral of his 21-year-old cousin, one of his closest friends. On Monday, the defensive tackle signed his first NFL contract. The Eagles and their top pick agreed to terms on a four-year contract, the team said. All nine of the Eagles' draft picks are under contract with more than a month to spare until the start of training camp. Cox, 21, missed two days of minicamp last week to return to his native Yazoo City, Miss., after his cousin, Melvin Baker, was killed in a car accident.

Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk will not need hip surgery and should be ready "well before training camp," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said Friday. "After consultation with various doctors regarding James' hip injury, we have come to the conclusion that surgery is not necessary," Holmgren said in a statement. "We will treat James' hip with alternative therapies and nonsurgical procedures. It is expected that James will be 100 percent well before training camp begins.