Brand producesoff the court
Meet Elton Brand, the producer. The Clippers star forward hit New York this week to discuss “Rescue Dawn,” his new Vietnam War flick and producing debut. The film, which opened Wednesday, features Christian Bale as a pilot who crashes in Laos on a top-secret mission, is captured, tortured and taken to a POW camp.
Imperioli gets tipsfrom Evil Empire
Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos,” was at Yankee Stadium to research a role. In the TV movie “For One More Day,” Imperioli told the New York Times that he’ll play a former major-league catcher who wonders what it would be like to see his mother one more time.
WIMBLEDON
Venus rises, Serena falls
Venus Williams dominated her fourth-round match against Maria Sharapova, 6-1, 6-3, to advance to a quarterfinal match against Svetlana Kuznetsova. Justine Henin took advantage of Venus Williams’ injured sister, Serena, advancing to the semifinals with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win.
ON TV
Women’s semifinals
Thursday: 7 a.m., ESPN2; noon, NBC
AND FINALLY …
– 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide won the 31st Wadsworth Memorial Handicap on Wednesday in Farmington, N.Y. The 7-year-old had not won in six straight outings. – Former Notre Dame G Matt Carroll agreed to a six-year, $27 million contract with the Bobcats. – The Sonics signed Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, the second and fifth overall draft picks. – The Thrashers re-signed Slava Kozlov to an $11 million, three-year contract.
