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Arena monthly honor goes to McPherson

Indiana Firebirds quarterback Adrian McPherson was named the Arena Football League rookie of the month for March.

The Bradenton native and former Florida State quarterback completed 71 of 119 passes (59.7 percent) for 904 yards, 16 touchdowns and one interception, leading Indiana to three straight wins.

He also rushed 17 times for 66 yards and eight touchdowns, putting him second in the league in rushing yards (144) and rushing touchdowns (11).

Pollard's Vision is the early 4-1 favorite for Saturday's $500,000 Illinois Derby. Eleven were entered for the 11/8-mile race at Hawthorne Race Course, a major stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby. Pollard's Vision, trained by Todd Pletcher for Edgewood Farm, has won two of nine starts and was third in the Louisiana Derby. Eibar Coa will ride Pollard's Vision.

BACK IN NEW YORK: Funny Cide returns to a New York track for the first time since his failed Triple Crown bid in last year's Belmont Stakes when he runs in the Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct on Saturday. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner faces five challengers in the 11/8-mile race.

Laura Chapot, 30, of Neshanic Station, N.J., riding Sprite, won the $5,000 Acorn Hill Farm Challenge at the Tournament of Champions in Tampa. It was the third time Chapot and Sprite won in this class at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Topping 24 horses, Chapot was the fastest of five clear rounds over the speed course. The 14-effort course included a triple at No. 6 and ended with a double at No. 11 with time allowed set at 75 seconds. Anne Kursinski of Frenchtown, N.J., riding Sincere, was second.

OLYMPICS: U.S. athletes will have increased security on their flights to the Athens Olympics and an evacuation strategy in case of a terrorist attack, the Washington Post reported. Larry Buendorf, the U.S. Olympic Committee's security chief, said it's likely armed air marshals will be on flights carrying athletes.

SAILING: Sweden's Gustaf Fresk and Aron Andersson maintained their lead in the Disabled Two-person World Championship on Tampa Bay. The Martin-16 sloops have completed six races. Second was John McRoberts and Paul Tingley of British Columbia.

HOCKEY: Krissy Wendell and Tricia Dunn scored twice each and the United States had 68 shots to beat Russia 8-0 at the women's world championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The United States, which faces Canada on Saturday, lost forward Shelley Looney for the tournament when she tore knee ligaments.

SOCCER: Brazil and Paraguay drew 0-0 in a World Cup qualifying match to leave Argentina atop the South American group standings after five games. Paraguay kept a Brazilian team that included Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Gilberto Silva scoreless in Asuncion to stay in second place, one point behind Argentina. Brazil hosts rival Argentina in the next round of matches, scheduled for June 1-2. ... Freddy Adu's first MLS game is nearly sold out. D.C. United hosts San Jose on Saturday.