International Capsules: More evidence points to Arguello death a suicide

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Investigators have released new evidence that points to suicide in the death of former boxing champion and Managua mayor Alexis Arguello.

The rising star of the governing Sandinista party, a movement he once bitterly opposed, died at his home of a single gunshot to the chest early Wednesday.

Assistant judicial police chief Glenda Zavala says traces of gunpowder were found on the 57-year-old Arguello's hands, suggesting he shot himself. There were no other signs of violence in the room where he was found.

Nicaraguans formed long lines Thursday at an open-casket ceremony at the Palacio de la Cultura in the capital. The Hall of Fame boxer was best known for his classic brawl with Aaron Pryor in 1982, which Ring Magazine called the "Fight of the Decade."

Phelps a popular pitchman even in non-Olympic year 

Nearly a year after his record Olympics, Michael Phelps still sells.

Subway, the sandwich chain, is banking on the swimmer's transcendent popularity when it launches the first commercials starring Phelps as its new pitchman.

"In many ways, Michael breaks the mold," said Tony Pace, the company's chief marketing officer. "Based on all the tracking we do, he's still incredibly highly regarded and his performance is still something people talk about."

Phelps won eight gold medals at the Beijing Games and Subway signed him to a deal not long afterward. The first ad will roll out Sunday as he prepares to compete at an event that usually doesn't draw much attention: the U.S. national championships, which begin Tuesday in Indianapolis.

That meet, and the world championships later this month in Rome, will be televised on NBC for the first time, a testament to Phelps' appeal.

"It's becoming a more mainstream sport," Phelps told The Associated Press during a telephone interview.

The Subway campaign also proves that Phelps' popularity as an endorser survived the publication of a photo showing him inhaling from a marijuana pipe last February.

"As Michael himself was disappointed, so were we," Pace said. "We didn't think it was reflective of who he was and what he's all about. We also thought because he was truly regretful, we thought he was going to be able to get beyond it."

Kellogg Co. dropped him almost immediately, but Subway stayed with him - even announcing it was doing so the day after he was suspended three months by USA Swimming.

"It just showed they stood by my side and are going to support me through a lot," Phelps said. "To be able to have someone like that who's going to be there through thick and thin means the most to me."

TV viewers will learn Sunday that Phelps favors a meatball sub with jalapenos. Pace said it's likely the company will use Phelps in promotions even during periods when he's not competing.

Phelps plans to enter three individual races at the national championships, though he's not saying which ones. He's been focused on improving his 100-meter freestyle, but he acknowledged that the schedule at the world meet might prevent him from swimming that event.

-- Rachel Cohen

U.S. team to wear Polo again at Olympic ceremonies

DENVER - The U.S. Olympic team will stay with the Polo look for the opening and closing ceremonies in Vancouver and London.

The U.S. Olympic Committee announced Thursday it was renewing its apparel deal with Ralph Lauren. The 2010 uniforms will be unveiled later this year.

The federation said the uniforms will "celebrate the rich history of the Olympic Games with a nod to the Lake Placid Games of 1932," with a classic uniform of red, white and blue.

This is not a cash deal for the USOC, which is trying hard to keep sponsors signed up through the 2012 Games and beyond. But the federation will get royalties from any retail sales of the items, and there is a bigger push at the USOC to sell parts of the uniform to the general public.

The hope is that Ralph Lauren will produce some piece of clothing that catches fire, much like the Roots berets did at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

"If you hit, you hit it really big," said Peter Zeytoonjian, the USOC's new managing director of consumer products. "We're hoping some of the stuff that's coming out from Ralph will actually resonate well with the costumers."

The uniforms worn at the Beijing Olympics got mixed reviews. Some thought the blue blazers, white berets and red, white and blue ties were a timeless look that added an air of sophistication to the athletes; others thought they should be drinking lemonade in the Hamptons while wearing those outfits.

They were available online and to visitors to the USOC's visitor and family center in Beijing. The goal over the next few years is to increase availability of all USOC-licensed products, as the federation tries to make more money selling Olympic-related items.

Zeytoonjian came to the USOC this summer after spending 10½ years at the NFL's consumer products group.

"In terms of what you see for merchandise, it is underplayed," he said. "We want to build consumer appetite for these products around the time of the games and at other key periods," such as during Olympic trials.

The USOC has recently lost General Motors and Home Depot as key sponsors and is trying to renew deals with Bank of America and AT&T. Ralph Lauren joins Acer, Adecco, Deloitte in reaching smaller deals with the USOC.

-- Eddie Pells

More youth, few surprises in Canada Olympic camp

CALGARY, Alberta - Sidney Crosby, left off the team as an 18-year-old in 2006, is among 46 players invited to the Canada Olympic hockey orientation camp next month.

Also chosen Thursday were the NHL's three Staal brothers, five goaltenders and Colorado forward Joe Sakic, who turns 40 next week and would be the team's oldest player if selected.

Executive director Steve Yzerman says the 23-man team won't necessarily be chosen from those attending, although all the 2002 and 2006 Olympians were in camp.

Among those not selected for the Aug. 24-27 camp in Calgary are forwards Steven Stamkos, Marc Savard and Jason Spezza, goaltenders Chris Osgood, Carey Price and Marty Turco and defenseman Brian Campbell.

British Olympic champs win at Henley Royal Regatta

HENLEY, England - British Olympic champions Andy Hodge and Peter Reed easily defeated Andrew Walker and John Huppi from Tulane Rowing Association in the Silver Goblet event for international coxless pairs at Henley Royal Regatta on Thursday.

Hodge and Reed - racing for local clubs Molesey and Leander - powered to an early lead that they never relinquished.

In the same event, Max French and Pete Stevens of Worcester Polytechnic Institute lost by five lengths to their English opponents from Oxford Brookes University and alumni club Taurus.

Mike Sivigny of G.M.S. club in New Milford, Conn., won the opening round of the Diamond Sculls for international single scullers. He'll face Belgium's Tim Maeyens, who finished fourth in the Beijing Olympic final.

The New York Athletic Club and Camp Randall of Madison, Wis., made a successful start in the Visitors' Cup, beating a composite from University of Queensland, Australia, and England's Cambridge University.

Four Score and Four Rowing Club from Hartford, Conn., made the quarterfinals of the Thames Cup for club eights.

Also Thursday in the Ladies' Plate for intermediate eights, MIT beat an experienced crew from Molesey, England, which included former Olympic champion Jonny Searle.

The lightweight eight from Princeton University looked impressive as it powered to a win in the Temple Cup against Newcastle University of England.