Six other Tigers also make preseason lists: LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne has been tabbed as a preseason first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection, as voted on by the league’s coaches. Claiborne is one of seven Tigers listed on one of the three preseason all-conference teams voted on by the league’s coaches, but he’s LSU’s only first-team selection. LSU had four players listed on the second-team: wide receiver Rueben Randle, defensive end Barkevious Mingo, linebacker Ryan Baker and cornerback Tyrann Mathieu. Offensive tackle Alex Hurst and defensive end Sam Montgomery received third-team honors. Five of LSU’s seven selections are on the defensive side of the ball. Claiborne, a junior, led LSU and ranked among the league leaders with five interceptions a year ago. A preseason All-America selection going into 2011, Claiborne has also been named to the Thorpe Award Watch list as the nation’s top defensive back.
First amateur to lead major after a round since 1976: Amateur Tom Lewis is tied for the lead at the British Open after shooting a record 5-under 65. The 20-year-old Lewis posted the lowest round ever by an amateur in golf’s oldest major, pulling even with Thomas Bjorn at Royal St. George’s today. Lewis becomes the first amateur to lead after a round at a major since 1976. The young Englishman broke the Open scoring record for an amateur, the 66 posted by Frank Stranahan in 1950 and matched by Tiger Woods (1996) and Justin Rose (1998).
Trial stopped after prosecutors make mistake: The judge declared a mistrial today in baseball star Roger Clemens’ perjury trial after prosecutors showed jurors evidence the judge had previously ruled out of bounds. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said the prosecutors had made a grave mistake and that Clemens could not be assured a fair trial after jurors were shown evidence against the court’s orders in the second day of testimony. Walton scheduled a Sept. 2 hearing to determine whether to hold a new trial. He told jurors he was sorry to have wasted their time and spent so much taxpayer money, only to call off the case. He said that because prosecutors broke his rules, “the ability for Mr. Clemens to get a fair trial with this jury would be very difficult if not impossible.” Walton interrupted the prosecution’s playing of a video from Clemens’ 2008 testimony before Congress and had the jury removed from the courtroom. Clemens is accused of lying during that testimony when he said he never used performance-enhancing drugs during his 24-season career in the Major Leagues.
