NFL: Big Ben open to Plax signing

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has been in touch with former teammate Plaxico Burress and said it would be “awesome” to have the receiver rejoin him, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported. “I’ve talked to Plax a number of times in the last couple of weeks,” Roethlisberger said. “I told him, ‘Hey, if you came back here that would be awesome, but I’m just happy to see you playing again’ because he’s a good guy.”

CWS: Vanderbilt ousts North Carolina

Taylor Hill and Corey Williams combined on a four-hitter, Connor Harrell and Curt Casali homered and Vanderbilt eliminated North Carolina from the College World Series with a 5-1 victory. Vanderbilt (54-11) beat the Tar Heels for the second time in the CWS and will play Florida tomorrow. The Commodores need to beat the Gators twice to reach next week’s best-of-three finals.

ETC.: Tornado hits Churchill Downs

No horses or humans were hurt when Churchill Downs was hit by a possible tornado, knocking down parts of barns and chasing out horses that ran loose before being corralled.

* NBA players and owners are about $7 billion apart over a 10-year span in their most recent proposals, union officials said last night. The current CBA expires June 30.

* FIFA had “compelling” evidence that Mohamed bin Hammam and Jack Warner conspired to bribe voters in the organization’s presidential election before it suspended them from world football’s governing body.

* Federal prosecutors are due in court today to discuss whether to schedule another perjury trial for Barry Bonds. A jury convicted Bonds of obstruction of justice April 13.

* Angels outfielder Torii Hunter is day to day after he injured his left ribs running into the wall during a 6-5 win over the Marlins. . . . Ian Kennedy (8-2) lowered his ERA to 2.16 as the Diamondbacks beat the Royals, 3-2.

* Bubba Watson defends his title at the Travelers Championship, which tees off today in Cromwell, Conn.