Sports Briefs

Williams, who is ranked No. 7 in the world, would have been the top-ranked player in the tournament, which begins Monday.

The competition at Stanford University will still have 20 of the world's top 50 women players, organizers said.

"Even without Serena, the depth of this year's field is very strong," said tournament director Adam Barrett. "The overall balance from top-to-bottom should make for some very exciting tennis."

Williams made the quarterfinals at Wimbledon earlier this month, losing to Justin Henin. She has never won the Bank of the West Classic, though her sister Venus has taken the title twice.

Anna Chakvetdatze, the 20-year-old Russian who has risen to No. 8 in the world, now leads the field at the Stanford tournament.

Marion Bartoli, who has climbed to a career-best ranking of No. 11 after a standout performance at Wimbledon this year, also remains in the field.

Las Vegas gives developer chance to pursue sports arena proposal

LAS VEGAS -- A developer has gotten the civic go-ahead to pursue a proposal to build a sports arena as part of a $9.5 billion project to reshape 85 industrial acres downtown.

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday picked Michigan-based REI Neon LLC group over three competitors to build a long-sought arena that officials hope will become home to pro basketball and hockey teams.

Mayor Oscar Goodman, one of the biggest backers of attracting a pro sports franchise to the city, has in recent years endorsed other proposals for civic arenas larger and newer than the Thomas & Mack center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Sharks sign first-round pick Couture

SAN JOSE -- The San Jose Sharks signed first-round draft pick Logan Couture on Thursday.

Couture was the ninth overall selection in last month's draft, and the Sharks traded three picks to St. Louis so they could move up to take the high-scoring center from the OHL's Ottawa 67's.

He had 26 goals and 52 assists in 54 games in Ottawa last season. The Sharks plan to keep Couture with his junior club for at least one more year.

"We worked hard to acquire Logan in the draft, and we truly look forward to his progression as a player," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said.

AP argues for release of ballplayers' names linked to drug raid

SAN FRANCISCO -- The public, Major League Baseball players and the league would benefit if the names of players listed on a search warrant for former Arizona pitcher Jason Grimsley's home were revealed, The Associated Press argued in court papers filed Thursday.

In papers filed last week, federal prosecutors opposed making the players' names public, arguing that to do so would jeopardize the ongoing investigation based in San Francisco.