Friday's Sports In Brief

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) Joe Paterno's family says the ``healing is just beginning'' but that Jerry Sandusky's conviction on 45 counts in his sex abuse trial is ``an important milestone.''

The family of the late Hall of Fame coach released a statement, saying their hearts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

Sandusky was convicted of sexually assaulting 10 boys over 15 years. The accusations had led to the firing of Paterno, Penn State's beloved coach who died of lung cancer Jan. 22.

Penn State's Board of Trustees ousted Paterno for what was called his ``failure of leadership'' surrounding allegations about Sandusky.

BASEBALL

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling said that the collapse of his 38 Studios video game company has probably cost him his entire baseball fortune, and he placed part of the blame on Rhode Island officials, including Gov. Lincoln Chafee.

Schilling said during a 90-minute interview on WEEI-FM in Boston that he put more than $50 million of his own money in the company and that he's had to tell his family that ``the money I saved during baseball was probably all gone.''

Schilling said he hopes to return to work soon as an analyst for ESPN. He took a leave of absence from the network after 38 Studios filed for bankruptcy protection on June 7.

NBA

MIAMI (AP) - Heat star LeBron James is back on Twitter with more followers than ever.

The newly crowned NBA champion and finals MVP ended a nearly two-month break from social media, posting a 50-second video to thank fans for both their support and their patience.

James now has just over 5 million followers. He crossed that milestone a few hours after the Heat beat Oklahoma City in Game 5 of the finals to win the franchise's second championship.

James - whose Twitter handle is (at)kingjames - said he stopped tweeting during the playoffs in an effort to avoid distractions as he chased his first championship.

``I'm at a loss for words right now,'' James said in the video.

NEW YORK (AP) - San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker is suing a New York City club and its operators for $20 million over a scratched cornea he says he suffered during a fight involving singer Chris Brown and members of hip-hop star Drake's entourage.

The suit was filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan. It says the W.i.P club in SoHo and its operators were negligent in security and supervision, which allowed the fight to take place.

Chris Brown, his girlfriend and his bodyguard were among eight injured during the fight inside the club last week. Police say members of Drake's entourage stopped Brown as he was leaving. The fight escalated and bottles were thrown.

CYCLING

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Lance Armstrong filed a scathing response to the latest doping allegations against him, accusing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency of violating its own rules and possibly breaking federal law during its investigation.

The agency said Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs and other improper methods to win the Tour de France from 1999-2005.

In their 11-page document, Armstrong's attorneys complained they still haven't been allowed to see the evidence against him, including witness names and any expert analysis to support USADA's claim that 2009 and 2010 blood tests are ``fully consistent'' with blood doping.

GOLF

CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) - U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson says it was an easy decision for him to skip the upcoming British Open. Family comes first.

Simpson's wife, Dowd, is due to give birth to the couple's second child in late July, and he says he plans to be home in North Carolina with her when that happens.

The Open begins July 19 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in Lancashire, England, and Simpson said his wife is no longer cleared to travel with him.

Simpson called witnessing the birth of his first son, 16-month-old James, one of the greatest experiences of his life.

TENNIS

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) - After a two-year hiatus, Serena and Venus Williams are bringing their sister act back to Wimbledon.

The Americans are entered in doubles at the All England Club, their first tournament together since losing in the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinals. They won the Australian Open and French Open earlier that season, part of their 12 Grand Slam doubles trophies - to go along with the 13 won by Serena, and seven by Venus, in singles.

The only official doubles match either Williams has played since 2010 was in the Fed Cup in February, when Venus teamed with Liezel Huber to help the United States to beat Belarus.

RACING

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another is headed to stud duty in Japan.

A representative of Paul Reddam said that the owner has reached an agreement to sell the colt to Shigeyuki Okada of Big Red Farm on the island of Hokkaido. Financial terms were not disclosed. I'll Have Another will stand at stud starting with the 2013 breeding season alongside two-time Breeders' Cup Turf winner Conduit.

David Leach, who works for Reddam's CashCall Inc. in Anaheim, Calif., says the deal is contingent upon I'll Have Another meeting Japanese export requirements. The colt is tentatively set to leave for Japan in August.