Barnaby could face deportation after DWI (AP)
Barnaby could face deportation after DWI (AP)
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)—Fired ESPN hockey analyst Matthew Barnaby’s drunken driving charge jeopardizes an agreement the former NHL player reached to avoid potential deportation following an arrest earlier this year. Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita called Barnaby’s arrest this week “a serious matter,” and warned it could have consequences on the Canadian’s status in the United States because of his previous run-in with the law. “If you allegedly commit another crime, you put your ACD in jeopardy,” Sedita said Tuesday. Sedita was referring to what’s called an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal deal Barnaby reached in July to have five misdemeanor charges dropped in connection to a domestic dispute with his estranged wife. Sedita said it’s too early to determine whether he’ll seek to reinstate the charges in part because Barnaby has yet to appear in court on his DWI charge. “It’s just way too early in the process for me to make any decisions yet,” Sedita said. “But it is a serious matter because depending on what decisions I make, that could have consequences to what he faces on the other side of downtown with federal authorities.” Barnaby’s attorney, Frank LoTempio, has not returned several messages left with him. Attempts to reach Barnaby were unsuccessful because his cell phone mailbox was full on Tuesday. The 38-year-old is from Ottawa and was fired by ESPN on Monday, a day after being charged with drunken driving near his suburban Buffalo home. Erie County sheriffs arrested Barnaby after finding him behind the wheel of a Porsche Cayenne that had damage to its front end and causing sparks because it was missing its front tire. Barnaby had his license revoked after failing field sobriety tests and refusing a breath test. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 17, but it’s likely that date will be moved up. Last summer, Barnaby avoided a potential deportation hearing by reaching a deal in which he was ordered to complete 500 hours of community service. Barnaby was accused of damaging a car and causing about $300 damage by kicking a garage door in an attempt to enter a home where his wife and two children live in suburban Buffalo. He was barred from taking “offensive” action against his wife and to avoid contact with his wife’s boyfriend. He was also ordered to attend anger management counseling. The misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief and aggravated harassment would be dropped after a year if he fulfilled the judge’s order. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Ross Feinstein said immigration officials have not had any contact with Barnaby, and noted it would be up to an immigration judge to revoke a person’s legal status or have them removed from the country. Immigration rules outline crimes of domestic violence and aggravated felonies as potential grounds for deportation. Barnaby broke into the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres during the 1992-93 season. He played for seven teams over 13-plus NHL seasons, earning a reputation as a pesky agitator during a career in which he finished with 113 goals and 300 points. He also had 2,562 penalty minutes in 834 games. He retired in 2007 because of a concussion sustained during a fight. He joined ESPN as a studio analyst in 2008. AP Writer Carolyn Thompson contributed to this report.
Ferrer stuns Djokovic at ATP Finals (AP)
Ferrer stuns Djokovic at ATP Finals (AP)
LONDON (AP)—Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will meet in the opening phase of the ATP World Tour Finals after both were drawn into Group B at the season-ending tournament on Tuesday. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who is still recovering from an injured shoulder, and Andy Murray are in Group A for the tournament that starts Sunday at the O2 Arena in London. Federer beat Nadal in last year’s ATP final, but the second-ranked Spaniard still leads their head-to-head series 17-8. Their most recent meeting was in the French Open final, when Nadal beat Federer for the title at Roland Garros for the fourth time. However, Federer is coming off two straight tournament victories. He won in his hometown of Basel and earned his first Paris Masters title on Sunday. Nadal hasn’t played since losing at the Shanghai Masters last month. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mardy Fish are also in Group B at the round-robin tournament for the top eight players in the world. Federer will open against Tsonga on Sunday, while Nadal and Fish will play in the late match. The winners will then meet in the next round, ensuring that only one player has two wins heading into the third matches. In Group A, Djokovic and Murray will have to face David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych. Djokovic will play Berdych on Monday, a few hours after Murray takes on Ferrer. Federer and Nadal have combined to finish the season as the top-ranked player every time since 2004, but this year that honor will go to Djokovic. The top-ranked Serb enjoyed a breakthrough season this year, winning the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open. His only loss at a Grand Slam tournament in 2011 came in the semifinals of the French Open, when he lost to eventual runner-up Federer. But Djokovic, who has been dealing with injuries since the U.S. Open, pulled out of the Paris Masters before his quarterfinal match last week against Tsonga because of shoulder pain.
Djokovic saves match point, tops Berdych (AP)
Djokovic saves match point, tops Berdych (AP)
LONDON (AP)—Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will meet in the opening phase of the ATP World Tour Finals after both were drawn into Group B at the season-ending tournament on Tuesday. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who is still recovering from an injured shoulder, and Andy Murray are in Group A for the tournament that starts Sunday at the O2 Arena in London. Federer beat Nadal in last year’s ATP final, but the second-ranked Spaniard still leads their head-to-head series 17-8. Their most recent meeting was in the French Open final, when Nadal beat Federer for the title at Roland Garros for the fourth time. However, Federer is coming off two straight tournament victories. He won in his hometown of Basel and earned his first Paris Masters title on Sunday. Nadal hasn’t played since losing at the Shanghai Masters last month. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mardy Fish are also in Group B at the round-robin tournament for the top eight players in the world. Federer will open against Tsonga on Sunday, while Nadal and Fish will play in the late match. The winners will then meet in the next round, ensuring that only one player has two wins heading into the third matches. In Group A, Djokovic and Murray will have to face David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych. Djokovic will play Berdych on Monday, a few hours after Murray takes on Ferrer. Federer and Nadal have combined to finish the season as the top-ranked player every time since 2004, but this year that honor will go to Djokovic. The top-ranked Serb enjoyed a breakthrough season this year, winning the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open. His only loss at a Grand Slam tournament in 2011 came in the semifinals of the French Open, when he lost to eventual runner-up Federer. But Djokovic, who has been dealing with injuries since the U.S. Open, pulled out of the Paris Masters before his quarterfinal match last week against Tsonga because of shoulder pain.
