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Published Date
NBA-SCHEDULE
Celtics handle revamped Heat
UNDATED (AP) - The Boston Celtics opened the NBA season tonight
by proving the old "Big 3" can beat the Miami Heat's new "Big
3."
LeBron James scored 31 points in his Heat debut, but teammates
Dwyane (dwayn) Wade and Chris Bosh accounted for just 21 as Miami
lost 88-80 in Boston. James shot 3-for-6 from three-point range and
hit 10 of the Heat's 27 baskets. Bosh and Wade were off the mark,
missing 20 of their 27 shots to help Miami shoot just 37 percent
from the field. It was not the performance Miami expected after
signing James and Bosh to free-agent contracts over the summer.
Ray Allen led the Celtics with 20 points, including a
three-pointer after Miami pulled within 83-30 with 70 seconds left.
Paul Pierce added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, who
led by as many as 19.
Shaquille O'Neal had a nice debut for Boston, chipping in nine
points and seven boards in 18 minutes. Rajon Rondo had five more
assists than did Miami's entire starting lineup, finishing with 17.
The two-time defending champs cap opening night. The Los Angeles
Lakers raised their newest banner in a very lengthy pregame
ceremony before hosting the Houston Rockets, who welcome back
center Yao Ming after a one-year absence following foot surgery.
Also going on right now, the Portland Trail Blazers are
entertaining Phoenix in a Western Conference battle. The Suns are
playing their first meaningful game since losing free agent Amar'e
Stoudemire to the New York Knicks.
NBA-ARENAS
Arenas a question mark for opener
WASHINGTON (AP) - A sore right ankle kept Washington guard
Gilbert Arenas from practicing for a third straight day. Coach Flip
Saunders says he'll "have to see what happens in the next 48
hours" to determine if Arenas plays Thursday night at Orlando.
Arenas sprained the ankle during training camp, then later
missed two preseason games with a strained right groin as he
attempts to come back from last season's 50-game suspension for a
felony gun conviction.
MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Milwaukee Bucks have exercised contract
options on general manager John Hammond and coach Scott Skiles.
Hammond was hired by the Bucks near the end of the 2007-08 season.
He won the NBA Executive of the Year award last season when the
Bucks went 46-36 and reached the playoffs for the first time in
four years.
NFL-NOTES
Romo, Garrard, Pacman and others
IRVING, Texas (AP) - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo won't
need surgery on his broken collarbone but is expected to miss
between six to eight weeks. Romo was injured by a hit from New York
Giants linebacker Michael Boley, who was untouched before he took
down the quarterback in the second quarter last night. Jon Kitna
will run the offense for the 1-5 Cowboys.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress has
been fined $35,000 for criticizing game officials after Sunday's
28-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Childress was particularly
upset with a replay reversal of a touchdown catch by Vikings tight
end Visanthe Shiancoe (vih-SAHN'-tay SHIHN'-koh) and two other
calls. He told the Vikings' postgame show on KFAN that it was "the
worst officiated game I've seen."
Meanwhile, Tarvaris Jackson says he's ready to be Minnesota's
starting quarterback again if Brett Favre (fahrv) is unable to play
this week. Favre's status is uncertain for Sunday's game at New
England. He has two fractures in his left ankle that could keep him
on the sideline for the first time since 1992.
CINCINNATI (AP) - Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam "Pacman"
Jones will miss the rest of his comeback season because of a neck
injury that might require surgery. The Bengals placed Jones on
injured reserve today with a herniated disk in his neck, an injury
suffered late in Sunday's 39-32 loss to Atlanta. His agent says
Jones will see other specialists before deciding whether to have
surgery.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David
Garrard (guh-RARD') has been cleared to practice and play after
passing post-concussion tests. Coach Jack Del Rio says that Garrard
would start Sunday's game at Dallas if he received clearance. The
Jaguars (3-4) don't have many choices.
Garrard sustained a concussion in a 30-3 loss to Tennessee last
Monday.
The Jags have also placed starting right tackle Eben Britton on
season-ending injured reserve. He suffered a torn labrum in his
right shoulder Sunday at Kansas City, will have surgery and be
sidelined at least four months.
MLB-WORLD SERIES
One day away
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The Giants and Rangers are getting ready
for tomorrow night's World Series opener.
San Francisco has home-field advantage, courtesy of the National
League's victory in this summer's All-Star game.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy (BOH'-chee) will hand the ball to Tim
Lincecum (LIN'-sih-kuhm) for Game 1. He'll be opposed by Texas
lefty Cliff Lee in a matchup of past Cy Young Award winners.
MLB-EXPANDED PLAYOFFS
Baseball playoff expansion possible
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Baseball's playoffs could be expanding in
two years.
Union head Michael Weiner says his members are open to adding
more wild-card teams for 2012 and possibly extending the division
series to a best-of-seven. Weiner says it's also possible players
would agree to cutting the regular season from 162 games. But, he
says that is more problematic because it would cost teams revenue.
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig (SEE'-lihg) appears to be
increasingly in favor of proposing more playoff teams during
collective bargaining with the union next year. Those discussions
will determine the postseason format for 2012 and beyond.
MLB-CUBS/SANDBERG
Source says Sandberg not expected to be part of Cubs' '11 staff
CHICAGO (AP) - The Chicago Cubs' 2011 coaching staff likely
won't include Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg.
A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press
that Sandberg is not expected to be part of manager Mike Quade's
(KWAH-deez) staff but can continue to manage the Cubs' Triple-A
Iowa affiliate if he wants. The Cubs need a bench coach after Alan
Trammell left today to take a similar spot on former teammate Kirk
Gibson's staff with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Carter leads Flyers
UNDATED (AP) - The Philadelphia Flyers were able to win a
matchup of two of the NHL's most disappointing teams this season.
The Flyers had dropped four of five before Jeff Carter provided
a goal and two assists in a 6-3 verdict over Buffalo. Danny Briere
(bree-EHR') and Claude Giroux (juh-ROO') each add a goal and an
assist as the Flyers moved back to the .500 mark at 4-4-1.
The Sabres have won just three of their first 10 games.
Also in the NHL, tough guy Colton Orr scored the tiebreaking
goal with 8:58 left as Toronto beat Florida 3-1. J.S. Giguere
(zhih-GEHR') stopped 21 shots to help the Maple Leafs improve to
5-2-1.
Ottawa whipped Phoenix 5-2 as Alex Kovalev contributed two goals
and an assist. Erik Karlsson and Kovalev scored nine seconds apart
in the first period, breaking the club record for fastest two
goals.
T25-NEWS
Careless hit costs Mississippi State linebacker a game
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - One of the nation's top college receivers
is in trouble.
Oklahoma State star wideout Justin Blackmon was arrested early
Tuesday on a suburban Dallas highway on a misdemeanor DUI
complaint. That leaves his status unclear headed into the final
weeks of the season.
Police say Blackmon was arrested at 3:45 a.m. after officers
used radar to determine he was driving 92 mph in a 60 mph zone.
Blackmon leads the Bowl Subdivision with 158.9 yards receiving
per game, catching 62 passes for 1,112 yards and 14 touchdowns.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi State linebacker Chris
Hughes has been suspended one game by the Southeastern Conference
for his hit to the head of a defenseless player during Saturday's
29-24 victory over Alabama-Birmingham.
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Police say star Oklahoma State wide
receiver Justin Blackmon was arrested early today on a DUI
complaint. A university spokesman says Blackmon and coach Mike
Gundy won't comment on the matter.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina cornerback Kendric
Burney has been cleared to play this weekend against William &
Mary. Burney recently completed a six-game suspension issued by the
NCAA for receiving improper benefits connected to trips, but missed
last weekend's loss at Miami due to what the school described as an
"unresolved issue."
TENNIS-WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS
No upsets on Day 1
DOHA, Qatar (AP) - World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki
(wohz-nee-AK'-ee) raced past Elena Dementieva (ehl-AY'-nah
deh-mehn-tee-AY'-vah) 6-1, 6-1 in the group stage of the WTA
Championships.
Wozniacki needs to win two of her round-robin matches in Doha,
to fend off a challenge for her top ranking from No. 2 Vera
Zvonareva. The Russian defeated Jelena Jankovic (yeh-LAY'-nuh
YANK'-oh-vihch) 6-3, 6-love.
The tournament features the top eight players in 2010, although
Serena and Venus Williams are absent because of injuries.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-10-26-10 2310EDT
