Off the wire

— FOOTBALL Titans, Wilson agree

The Tennessee Titans have taken their first step toward improving their defense, agreeing to terms with safety George Wilson. The Titans did not release details Friday of the multi-year contract, but Wilson (Arkansas Razorbacks) is the first player added to a team that allowed a franchise-record 471 points in 2012. The 6-foot, 212-pound Wilson will team with free safety Michael Griffin, who was signed to a five-year deal worth $36 million last June. “George is a quality veteran player,” Titans General Manager Ruston Webster said in a statement. “He will contribute for us on the field, but his contributions also will come off the field, in the locker room and in the meetings rooms. He was respected as a football player and a leader during his career in Buffalo, and he will bring that veteran presence to our team.” Titans officials visited with Wilson after Buffalo released him Feb. 11. They were allowed to sign him before total free agency begins March 12 because he was cut by his previous team. Wilson spent much of the past nine years with the Bills, playing 92 games with 12 interceptions, 362 tackles and 22 passes defensed.

Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk, 36, retired Friday after 15 NFL seasons. A sixth-round draft selection out of Harvard in 1998, Birk played 11 seasons in Minnesota before going to Baltimore. He went to six Pro Bowls and played 210 regular-season games with 124 consecutive starts, including the playoffs.

GOLF Lewis still ahead

Stacy Lewis shot a 3-under-par 69 Friday to keep her three-stroke lead after the second round of the LPGA Thailand in Chonburi. Lewis had five birdies and two bogeys to follow up her 63 Thursday for a 12-under 132 total at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course. “It’s always hard to follow up a really good day. I thought if I could shoot 4 or 5 under that would still be a really solid day. I almost got there but it was kind of up and down - I definitely left a few out there,” said Lewis, who is looking for her first title since the 2012 Mizuno Classic. “I didn’t hit it as good today, but I made some putts on the back nine and still have a three-shot lead, so I can’t complain.” Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn shot a bogey-free66 in windy and humid conditions to move into second place. Beatriz Recari (68), So Yeon Ryu (68) and Catriona Matthew (69) were tied for third at 8 under, a shot ahead of Se Ri Pak (68) and Lizette Salas (69).

TRACK AND FIELD Pistorius granted bail

Oscar Pistorius was granted bail Friday in Pretoria, South Africa, paving the way for him to be freed from custody pending his trial in the Valentine’s Day shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair set the bail at 1 million rand ($113,000), with $11,300 in cash and proof that the rest is available. The magistrate said Pistorius must hand over his passports and also turn in any other guns that he owns. Pistorius also cannot leave the district of Pretoria without the permission of his probation officer, Nair said. The double-amputee Olympian’s next court appearance was set for June 4. The magistrate also ruled that he could not return to his home, where the killing of Steenkamp took place. Nair made the ruling after four days of arguments from prosecution and defense in Pistorius’ bail hearing. Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp in the predawn hours of Feb. 14. The athlete says he shot his girlfriend accidentally believing she was an intruder in his house. Prosecutors say he intended to kill Steenkamp and charged him with premeditated murder, saying the shooting followed a loud argument between the two.

TENNIS

Ferrer reaches semifinals

Defending champion David Ferrer advanced to the semifinals of the Copa Claro clay court tournament Friday in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Fabio Fognini of Italy. The top-seeded Ferrer will face fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo, who beat Julian Reister of Germany 6-3, 6-2. No. 2 Nicolas Almagro of Spain became the third Spaniard to reach the semifinals, defeating Federico Delbonis of Argentina 6-1, 7-6 (3). The possibility of four Spaniards in the semifinals ended when No. 3 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland defeated Albert Ramos of Spain 7-6 (4), 6-4 to set up a match with Almagro.

Top-seeded Marin Cilic lost in straight sets to Kei Nishikori of Japan in the quarterfinals Friday of the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships in Memphis. Cilic was going for back-to-back ATP World Tour titles before the 6-2, 6-2 loss to the fifth-seeded Nishikori. Cilic claimed his ninth career title two weeks ago in Zagreb, Croatia, and had won nine of 11 matches this year. Australia’s Marinko Matosevic also advanced, rallying for a 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 7 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov. In women’s play, Marina Erakovic of New Zealand defeated Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland 6-2, 6-4 to return to the final of the U.S. National Indoor Championships. Erakovic, ranked No. 71, will play German Sabine Lisicki today for the championship. Lisicki, ranked 40th, beat No. 7 seed Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 7-5, 7-5.

Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-4 Friday to reach the final of the Dubai (United Arab Emirates) Championships. She’ll play Sara Errani of Italy, who defeated her doubles partner Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-3.

Gilles Simon upset defending champion Juan Martin del Potro of Agentina 6-4, 6-3 Friday to set up an Open 13 semifinal in Marseille, France, against countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who saved five match points in a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10) victory against Australia’s Bernard Tomic. Top-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic also reached the last four after beating seventh-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-3. Dmitry Tursunov of Russia also advanced by beating Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 7-6 (7), 1-6, 7-5 in his quarterfinal.

HOCKEY DiPietro put on waivers

Oft-injured goalie Rick DiPietro has been placed on waivers by the New York Islanders and will likely be headed to the minors if he clears. The Islanders announced the move Friday. The 31-year-old DiPietro has played in only three games this season while serving as the backup to Evgeni Nabokov. He is 0-3 with a 4.09 goals-against average in his appearances. Because of the 15-year, $67.5 million contract DiPietro signed with the Islanders before the 2006-07 season, the goalie is all but certain to clear waivers. When he does, it is believed he will then be sent down by the Islanders to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. There are still eight years at $4.5 million per season remaining on DiPietro’s landmark deal - one that now exceeds the term limits permitted in the collective bargaining agreement the NHL made with the players’ association to end this season’s lockout. DiPietro would earn his NHL salary while in the minor leagues and still count against the Islanders’ salary cap.

GOLF Watson only top 10 seed left at Match Play

MARANA, Ariz. - Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods now have plenty of company - somewhere other than the Match Play Championship.

One day after the best two players in the world went home, more top seeds followed Friday when golf’s most unpredictable tournament served up another reminder that the only time the word “upset” should be used is to describe the guys who are no longer playing.

Luke Donald, the No. 3 seed who is regarded among the best in match play, suffered his worst loss in 25 matches at this tournament. Louis Oosthuizen (No. 4) and Justin Rose (No. 5) never even reached the 17th tee when it was time for them to leave.

When another wild day ended at Dove Mountain, Masters champion Bubba Watson was the last man standing among the top 10 seeds.

“This game ... it’s a toss-up,” Watson said after going 22 holes to beat Jim Furyk.

“You can’t really judge who’s going to win, or bet who’s going to win. It really means nothing, is what I’m saying.”

It was the first time since this World Golf Championship began in 1999 that only one top-10 seed was remaining after two rounds.

Sports, Pages 20 on 02/23/2013

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