Redskins’ new charity met with criticism

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder says it’s time to put some money behind his claim that his team’s nickname honors Native Americans.

Snyder said Monday he’s creating a foundation to assist American Indian tribes, even as some in that community continue to assert that the name “Redskins” is offensive.

“It’s not enough to celebrate the values and heritage of Native Americans,” Snyder said in a letter to the team’s fans. “We must do more.”

The letter states the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation will “provide meaningful and measurable resources that provide genuine opportunities” for Native Americans. The announcement did not state whether Snyder will personally donate any money to the foundation and gave no other financial details.

L.A. judge refuses Sharper’s release

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge in Los Angeles has again refused to release former NFL All-Pro safety Darren Sharper from jail.

Sharper is awaiting trial in Los Angeles after pleading not guilty to charges that he raped and drugged two women last year. He was previously released on $1 million bail before being charged in Arizona with similar counts.

Now, his lawyers say he should be freed again and kept under house arrest because authorities in Arizona have said they won’t seek his extradition.

Sharapova rallies to dispose of Flipkens

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) — Maria Sharapova was happy to play an 11 a.m. match Monday, especially when her work day was already done by the time a mid-afternoon shower interrupted play.

Sharapova started early but didn’t start well. She won only five points in the first four games before settling down to reach the quarterfinals at the Sony Open by beating Kirsten Flipkens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

The world’s top-ranked players had an easier time. Serena Williams eliminated fellow American CoCo Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-1. Rafael Nadal received a warning for slow play and still won in 59 minutes against Denis Istomin, 6-1, 6-0.

No. 10 seed John Isner, the only American to reach the men’s third round, hit 17 aces and beat Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-3. No. 29 Venus Williams lost her serve eight times and was beaten by No. 10 Dominika Cibulkova 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.

Phone expert in Pistorius trial presents data

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — The police cell phone expert who accessed messages from Oscar Pistorius’ girlfriend saying she was sometimes scared of him is presenting more data in the champion runner’s murder trial.

Capt. Francois Moller says he obtained more than 1,000 exchanges between Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp. Moller said he received as evidence two BlackBerry phones, two iPhones, two iPads and a Mac computer from Pistorius’ house the day after Steenkamp was shot to death. He began to discuss Tuesday how he pulled data from the phones.

He said the data on Steenkamp’s phone would print to more than 35,000 pages. It gives insight into the couple’s relationship before Feb. 14, 2013. Prosecutors allege Pistorius fatally shot Steenkamp after a Valentine’s Day argument. Pistorius says he killed her by accident.

Weidman injury forces change to UFC 173

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Middleweight champion Chris Weidman has a knee injury, forcing the UFC to postpone his title bout against Lyoto Machida for six weeks.

The UFC announced the changes to two major Las Vegas shows on Monday.

Weidman (11-0) was expected to make his second title defense at UFC 173 on May 24 at the MGM Grand Garden, but the Long Island-based mixed martial artist needs minor surgery.