Donovan left off U.S. World Cup squad

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Landon Donovan, the most accomplished American player in the history of men’s soccer, won’t be going to his fourth World Cup.

The 32-year-old attacker, who set the national team record for goals and assists while winning five titles in Major League Soccer, was among seven players cut Thursday when coach Jurgen Klinsmann got down to the 23-man limit well before the June 2 deadline.

Pacers keep George out of contact drills

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers kept Paul George out of contact drills because of a concussion.

It’s uncertain whether he will be cleared to play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday in Miami. George was diagnosed with a concussion, less than 24 hours after he told reporters he had “blacked out” and had blurred vision following a collision with Miami’s Dwyane Wade near the end of Game 2. The series is tied 1-1.

Prince Fielder out for season

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers’ Prince Fielder is expected to have neck surgery next week and miss the rest of the season.

Fielder has been out with a herniated disk in his neck, and surgery was recommended after another scan and a follow-up exam with Dr. Drew Dossett.

General manager Jon Daniels said the team would get second opinion about surgery, but were “expecting that to be confirmed.”

Dodgers release Olivo after biting incident

NEW YORK (AP) — Miguel Olivo was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers two days after biting off a piece of Triple-A Albuquerque teammate Alex Guerrero’s left ear during a dugout brawl.

Olivo, a veteran catcher, and Guerrero, the highly paid Cuban second base prospect, fought during the Isotopes’ game at Salt Lake City on Tuesday.

Racehorse dies at Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A racehorse died at Churchill Downs after a freak fall that the trainer blamed on the sound of a starting gate bell blaring on the track’s new sound system.

The 5-year-old mare Never Tell Lynda was walking toward the paddock on the track when she reared, twisted and fell, hitting her head, said her trainer, Kenneth Wirth. She died before the first race of the day at the track that’s home to the Kentucky Derby.

A heartbroken Wirth later said the horse was startled by what Wirth thinks was the sound of a starting gate bell coming from a commercial on Churchill’s massive new video board. The system includes 750 speakers.