Bulger and Rams Agree to New Deal

Marc Bulger on Tuesday agreed to a four-year contract with the St. Louis Rams -- a deal that could affect whether two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner will be released next month.

The Rams did not disclose terms of the deal with Bulger. Coach Mike Martz has said Bulger would begin the exhibition season as the team’s starting quarterback.

Warner’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Tuesday night that his client expected to be released after June 1.

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Defensive end Darren Howard signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. Howard, designated the Saints’ franchise player in February, has 202 career tackles and 30 sacks.

Tennis

Andy Roddick, the U.S. Open champion, was beaten by Guillermo Canas, 7-6 (7), 6-1, in the first round of the Italian Open in Rome. Top-ranked Roger Federer eliminated Jonas Bjorkman, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

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Jennifer Capriati breezed into the third round of the German Open in Berlin by beating local wild-card entry Julia Schruff, 6-3, 6-1.

Auto Racing

Formula One approved changes to make racing more affordable for underfinanced teams hoping to compete with free-spending Ferrari and six-time champion Michael Schumacher.

One of the most radical measures would put all teams on the same tires, possibly as early as 2006.

And spare cars, which drivers fall back on if they crash, could be banned next year.

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Team Sports Entertainment Inc., which provides sports marketing and development services, was sued by William G. Miller, its former chief executive, over a failed effort to start a new U.S. stock-car racing league. Miller’s suit claims that former directors, including race driver Cale Yarborough, mismanaged the company.

Miscellany

Matt Cullen of the Florida Panthers had two goals and an assist, leading the United States to an 8-3 victory over Denmark in a qualifying round game at the world hockey championships in Prague, Czech Republic. Switzerland also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory over Germany. Mighty Duck Martin Gerber had 28 saves in the shutout.

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The Mighty Ducks gave television play-by-play announcer John Ahlers a two-year contract extension.

He will begin his third season as the Mighty Ducks television play-by-play voice in 2004-05.

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American shotput champion Kevin Toth was suspended for two years after testing positive for the steroid THG.

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Cheiron, trained by Kristin Mulhall, dropped out of contention for the May 15 Preakness, leaving six horses set to take on Smarty Jones in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

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Connecticut Sun forward Brooke Wyckoff will sit out the WNBA season after tearing a ligament in her right knee.

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Mike Lane, an assistant wrestling coach at Montana State-Northern, was charged with attempted murder after allegedly trying to push a woman off an apartment balcony while threatening to kill her in Miles City, Mont.

The woman, Sadie Johnson, managed to wrap one of her legs around the balcony’s railing, according to the police report.

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Former major league pitcher Dave Dravecky will be the keynote speaker at The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura’s “Celebration of Life Through Sports” dinner and auction at 6 p.m. on June 4. Information is available at (805) 379-4777.