Samoa fullback Williams escapes ban for red card

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Samoa fullback Paul Williams has escaped a ban after a World Cup judicial officer ruled Saturday that his slap to South Africa flanker Heinrich Brussow's face was on the lower end of the scale for a striking charge.

Williams was given a red card by Welsh referee Nigel Owens with 10 minutes remaining on Friday night in a torrid 13-5 loss to defending champion South Africa. It was the first red card of the tournament.

Replays showed Brussow punching Williams repeatedly in the arms, trying to break free of his grip at a breakdown as he appealed for a penalty.

When he got to his feet, Williams shoved Brussow in the face with an open hand before …

Pietersen rides luck at Edgbaston

Kevin Pietersen moved closer to a long-awaited century but luck continued to be a feature of his innings on day two of the second test, as England reached 191-3 at tea on Saturday.

Pietersen was dropped for a third time and caught off a dead ball but remained unbeaten on 78, from 137 balls and featuring 12 fours, when rain curtailed the afternoon session at Edgbaston.

Jonathan Trott made 55 from 125 balls with seven fours, while Umar Amin (1-11) was the only Pakistan bowler to take a wicket.

England began the day on 112-2, after the start was delayed by 40 minutes due to rain.

Having been dropped twice and missed by wicketkeeper and …

Judge R. Kelly, priests as men, not gods

We have heard the speculation as to the guilt or innocence of one Robert S. Kelly, the R&B superstar. We have even seen snippets of the R. Kelly video, watching with a discerning eye, trying to determine whether it was indeed Kelly who indulged in the prurient relations with an alleged minor.

It all will come out in court, beginning later this month in Chicago. In the meantime, it would be wise for persons to withhold their judgment of the singer.

As the old saying goes, innocent until proven guilty.

Just as Catholic priests should not be given a pass because of their heralded stations in life, neither should R. Kelly be raised to an hiarchy, or reduced to a …

Polish customs strike halts hundreds of trucks on Ukraine and Belarus borders

Hundreds of trucks lined up on Poland's border with Ukraine, Belarus and Russia Saturday, as a strike by Polish customs officers stretched into its sixth day.

Fourteen checkpoints on the border with the three ex-Soviet states have been clogged as only a handful of Polish officers showed up for work, according to Russia's NTV television. Only drivers with nothing to declare and vehicles with diplomatic plates are being allowed through, the report said.

A 43-year old Ukrainian driver was burned alive Friday at the Krakovitz checkpoint after a short circuit sparked a fire in his truck, and a Polish driver died of cardiac arrest at the Yagodin checkpoint …

Spinal Tap to reunite on tour without wigs

The amps won't be turned up to 11 for Spinal Tap's reunion tour.

Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer _ the actors who portrayed the faux heavy metal rock band in the 1984 mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap" _ are leaving their wigs and costumes in their closets for the "Unwigged and Unplugged" tour.

"When we were doing the Tap show, it was 90 minutes to 120 minutes of really, really hard work and …

Racism hurt black singers

Q. One of my favorite LPs of the early '60s was "You Always Hurtthe One You Love" (Argo 4009), by Clarence Henry. I am curious toknow its value.

Also, I always wondered why Clarence Henry, a black singer,isn't pictured on the front cover of his own LP. The three peopleshown on the cover are white, yet apparently have nothing to do withthe music.

A. Your Clarence Henry, aka "Frogman" Henry, LP now sells for$50 to $100.

Before the mid-'60s civil rights movement, many recordcompanies refused to picture their black stars on LP covers. As younoted with the Henry LP, white models were often hired to pose …

Tropical Storm Franklin forms well away from land

MIAMI (AP) — Forecasters say the sixth named storm of the Atlantic season has formed well off the U.S. East Coast.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said early Saturday morning that Tropical Storm Franklin was centered about 605 miles (974 kilometers) northeast of Bermuda. …