Monday's Sports Briefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Aaron Lewis has apologized for botching the lyrics of ''The Star-Spangled Banner'' during his performance before Game 5 of the World Series.

The lead singer of the metal band Staind turned country singer published a note on his website Monday after stumbling during his rendition of the national anthem the night before in San Francisco.

''All I can say is I'm sorry and ask for the Nation's forgiveness. My nerves got the best of me and I am completely torn up about what happened,'' he wrote. ''America is the greatest country in the world.

''The Star-Spangled Banner means so much to so many, including myself. I hope everyone can understand the intensity of the situation and my true intent of this performance. I hope that the Nation, Major League Baseball and the many fans of our national pastime can forgive me.''

After starting with ''O say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed,'' Lewis diverted from the lyrics. Instead of singing ''at the twilight's last gleaming'' he sang ''were so gallantly streaming,'' words that appear later in the song.

HORSE RACING

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - Shared Belief was made the early 9-5 favorite on Monday in a field of 14 for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, a race featuring a strong contingent of seven 3-year-olds taking on older foes. Shared Belief is 7-0 in his career, with all of his races coming in California.

Shared Belief's most recent win was in the Awesome Again at Santa Anita last month for co-owner and sports talk host Jim Rome. The colt drew the No. 6 post for the 1 1/4-mile race on the same track.

''He's got speed all around him and we'll be able to follow them into the first turn,'' said Hall of Famer Mike Smith, the winningest jockey in the Breeders' Cup who will ride Shared Belief.

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome will break from the No. 13 post as the 4-1 second choice. He has lost two straight races and one of his owners has said the colt will be retired if runs poorly on Saturday.

SOCCER

ROME (AP) - Retired women's soccer star Mia Hamm and Boston Bruins president Cam Neely were nominated to Italian club Roma's board of directors Monday.

Roma is traded on the Milan stock exchange and the nominations were made at a club shareholder meeting.

The 42-year-old Hamm helped the United States to two World Cup titles, including the inaugural edition in 1991 in China, and won the women's FIFA world player of the year award in 2001 and 2002 - the first two times that honor was given.

Hamm is not a club investor, Roma said.

The 49-year-old Neely was a forward for the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins. He became the Bruins' president in 2010.

Roma was bought by a group of four Boston executives three years ago and Richard D'Amore, a member of that group, rejoined the board. Former club president Thomas DiBenedetto and New York lawyer Joe Tacopina, who recently became president of second-division club Bologna, left the board.

MARATHON

NEW YORK (AP) - NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will run the first three miles of the New York City Marathon on Sunday as part of a 24-person relay of basketball luminaries.

Dikembe Mutombo will cross the finish line for the group, which is promoting the benefits of active lifestyles. After crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn, Silver will pass a baton to Chris Mullin, the Brooklyn native who starred at St. John's in Queens before a Hall of Fame NBA career.

Other current and former NBA and WNBA players taking part are Charles Oakley, Bernard King, Tiny Archibald, Allan Houston, Jason Collins, Swin Cash, Sam Perkins, Darryl Dawkins, Steve Smith, Greg Anthony, Teresa Edwards, Ruth Riley, Katie Smith, Felipe Lopez and Albert King.

Executives from the league, Knicks and Nets will also run, along with broadcaster Mike Breen.

Each celebrity will be joined by a local youngster for his or her one-mile leg.