Bengals star legally changes his name

Back in the day, boxer Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali for religious reasons. NBA star Lloyd Bernard Free became World B. Free to make a political statement. NFL receiver Chad Johnson? He’s Chad Javon Ocho Cinco now. “Have I ever had a reason for why I do what I do?” he asks. “I’m having fun.” The Bengals star has legally changed his name to the Spanish translation of his jersey number 85. The Bengals have no comment on Cinco’s re-invention – understandably.                                                                                       

Venus, Serena may be headed for another tennis face-off. Venus and Serena Williams didn’t get that Wimbledon rematch they seemed headed toward during the Beijing Olympics. Both sisters were eliminated from singles competition before they combined to win doubles gold. The U.S. Open, however, presents another possibility for the pair to go head-to-head after Venus took the title several weeks ago. Both sisters advanced this past weekend and will face each other in the Open’s quarter-finals this week if they each get one more win. “I think that, definitely, the Wimbledon win helped me…if I don’t have a perfect practice, I don’t get really upset about the whole tournament,” Venus says. The sisters are the only two former champions still competing in the tournament.

The NBA champion Boston Celtics will receive a formal fan celebration today at 11 a.m. Players from the 2008 squad that crushed the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the finals Tuesday night will appear on 16 World War II amphibious “duck boats” in a rolling rally through downtown. Former Celtics greats, team dancers and championship trophies from Boston ’s previous glory years will ride on two flatbed trucks. Boston is celebrating its first NBA title in two decades.

A-Rod first got advice from Cincinnati Reds great back in ’06

Alex Rodriguez and retired baseball great Pete Rose have shared a running dialogue about hitting for more than two years. Since their first meeting in January 2006 – when A-Rod asked Rose, “How’d you get all them hits?” – the pair reportedly has formed an unlikely bond. Rose says he told A-Rod that he got 4,256 career hits without watching a single frame of film. The Cincinnati great claims that he remembered every pitch ever thrown his way, while Rodriguez has relied on the wonders of technology to perfect his batting. Yankees star A-Rod remains among the top hitters in the Major Leagues.

Bengals’ Johnson expects quick recovery from procedure

After keeping teammates and coaching staff guessing about his plans for the season, following trade talk, Chad Johnson’s disappearing again. But this time it’s for ankle surgery. The Bengals star will undergo the procedure before Cincinnati ’s camp begins next month. He’s expected to report on time, following a full recovery.