He helped reveals the franchise unravels rise from NBA laughingstock to title contender " One of the highest things on my list is Donnie' s happiness " Pacers co- owner Herb Simon said " If that is what he wants, I' m very happy for him He has given us 24 years of incredible service. Guys got to make better decisions for their future " Orakpo said players should know their personal Web pages such as MySpace and Facebook can be sources of controversy " With the way the media and the Internet is evolving, everything you say can get you in trouble " Orakpo said. Pinkel is in his sixth year at Missouri after spending a decade as head coach at Toledo. Memphis took a 57- 48 lead into the break, but both teams struggled in the third period as the Pacers pushed Gasol, who had 23 first- half points including a four- point play, farther from the basket. I don' t think ESPN would push the game time back because of the bowl games, do you " Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.

Michigan State' s season was over, and it hadn' t done enough to wrestle away Notre Dame' s No 1 ranking . The Twins went 38- 25 from the day Casilla become the regular second baseman until the injury . Pachulia will join 2004- 05 rookies Josh Smith and Josh Childress, 2005 first- round pick Marvin Williams and Al Harrington as key players in the youth movement . After the sideline workout, he walked without a limp to the training room and left the facility without speaking to reporters " You can see the fire in his eyes that he really wants to practice with us and play . There were higher expectations for Idaho State coming into this year.

The Cavaliers routinely trailed by double figures at halftime, even at John Paul Jones Arena, where they went 9- 8, and fan interest waned as the team' s difficulties continued . Martin has said he knew the man, but denied having any involvement in the incident " I know the guy, but I didn' t direct nobody to go into the stands " he said Thursday " I was watching the game " He declined to comment about the incident after he scored a season- high 34 points Friday " That' s why I play, so I don' t have to listen to you all' s mouth " he said Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press . league founder Smith dies at 59 Comment Email Print Share Associated Press LOS ANGELES- Rod Smith, who founded a summer amateur basketball league that attracted such future NBA stars as Baron Davis and Paul Pierce, has died He was 59 . He was told his contract will not be renewed at the end of the season . Our annual fall celebration of all things bad extends from the gridiron to music( see above, television and films. The Angels declined to give a specific timetable beyond Guerrero' s next assessment, but Scioscia said he anticipated Guerrero being able to bat before he can throw " He would definitely be back in our lineup at that point, but right now it' s not in his best interest to do that " the manager said.

On the road, a locker will be set aside for him in remembrance " I' m proud to know him " Moseley said " I' m sure God' s proud to know him right now, too " Another passenger in the car, 24- year- old Jon Wilhite of Manhattan Beach, remained in critical but stable condition Friday and doctors believe he will survive, a hospital spokesman said . Now someone has to lose for us to have a chance to win the conference championship, but everything is right there " Tuesday' s Hoosiers practice was closed to reporters . Carpenter Carpenter, the NL Cy Young Award winner in 2005, was examined in Birmingham, Ala, on Monday by Dr James Andrews . Some of that might have been that he' d already had a spring practice with the Gamecocks and was well aware that he didn' t have Fred Taylor, Jevon Kearse, Reidel Anthony, Kevin Carter and Ike Hilliard running around in Columbia . C- Slumping Richard Childress Racing has reorganized its competition department, and the biggest change means a new crew chief for Jeff Burton in 2010. Seattle' s Danny Fortson left the game with a left groin strain in the third quarter Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.

Leach says Taylor' s bond was raised from$ 20, 000 to$ 50, 000 at the request of Jefferson County officials Leach said she had no record of an attorney for Taylor . Portland C Joel Przybilla was ejected midway through the third quarter after picking up his second technical foul Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press . The Rockies said he is day- to- day and will be evaluated Sunday " It grabbed me a little bit, so we' ll see how it feels tomorrow " said Holliday, who hit his eighth homer of the season in the first inning " I can' t really say how it feels right now . I take no chances with starting pitchers this time of year " The NL All- Star Game starter had given up only two hits and a walk He had thrown 54 pitches . A handful of fans behind the Lakers' bench even cheered every time Bryant scored They just didn' t have much to cheer about.

The Kings missed all six of their 3- pointers in the first half and started 0- for- 7 on 3s and finished 5- of- 18 Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press . It' s just an overall feeling that we needed to move the program in a different direction " The Bulls( 0- 9) dropped their 10th straight game dating to last season, losing 54- 13 at Miami( Ohio) on Saturday . It was the 12th time the Rockets have shot less than 40 percent and they are 5- 7 in those games . So I' m thinking " How the hell are we going to move the ball " That was painfully obvious to me during our two- a- day practices leading up the start of the 1990 season . The Wizards had no scoring off the bench until Michael Ruffin' s dunk with 1: 37 to play in the third quarter.

The NCAA Eligibility Center determined that Kecman may have received more than " actual and necessary " expenses while playing for the team, leading to his being ineligible for 12 games . Magic starting guard DeShawn Stevenson and reserve forward Pat Garrity missed the game to attend the birth of children Kelvin Cato didn' t play because of a sore back . Davis According to a San Jose Mercury News report on Monday, Warriors guard Stephen Jackson said that his friend expressed a desire to return to the Bay Area where he played for parts of four seasons " That' s all we talked about " Jackson said, according to the newspaper " I went to his house, spent some time with his mom and his grandmother He wants to come back . The way in which he runs the court makes him a perfect fit for the up- tempo attack North Carolina employs . All the great players are like that " James hit a 16- foot fadeaway jumper with 1: 03 remaining in the third quarter to reach 2, 000 That was his final shot.

But it was forgotten when the parties met face- to- face " At the end of the day, it' s not about who won or who lost " McCourt said " It' s about having the negotiations end up in a good place " Ramirez gets$ 10 million this year, and$ 15 million in deferred money with no interest . Brennan' s first connection with star wide receiver Davone Bess occurred nowhere near a football field . Snyder left Monday night' s game after being hit in the groin area by a foul tip and underwent an MRI on Tuesday . Hermida was among the players mentioned in reports as possible trade bait for the Red Sox " You going to Boston " teammate Dan Uggla shouted at Hermida " I don' t know I guess so " Hermida said with slight smile . While promoting " Apocalypto " his new movie, he drew parallels between the collapsing Mayan civilization depicted in the movie and the current situation in the United States " I don' t mean to be a doomsday guy " Gibson said " But the Mayan calendar does end in 2012, boys and girls.

The Sixers informed Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis this week he was no longer a candidate Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press . Lately, though, the Buckeyes have been even better on the sofa than they were earlier this year on the road] EnlargeJoe Robbins/ Getty ImagesJim Tressel has watched as other teams have helped Ohio State' s title cause . Fry is the fourth Clemson starter lost for the season to injury . He said Saturday after the 49- 18 win over Michigan State that he planned to return in 2009 . Saunders and Pistons coach Larry Brown are also candidates for the Lakers if their Jackson pursuit fails.

5 tackles for losses, two sacks, two interceptions, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery Paschal, a native of Charlotte, was born a Tar Heel fan His father, Doug, played at UNC from 1976- 79 His mother, Jeanne, is also a Carolina grad Heather Dinich covers ACC football for ESPN . The Nuggets had a scare in the third quarter when Carmelo Anthony sprained his right ankle . PHOENIX( AP- Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns got the best of Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets in a matchup of perhaps the best two point guards in the NBA . From the beginning, we hoped we would like him " Baddour said " The only question was, was he a good fit for the University of North Carolina, and was[ North Carolina] a good fit for him? At the first meeting, we could tell coach Davis was special and he was right for[ the school " Davis is perhaps best known for returning the Miami Hurricanes to national prominence, going 51- 20 from 1995- 2000 despite severe scholarship reductions and a one- year postseason ban because of a lack of institutional control . I probably lost 15 in a row early in my career, but I could imagine what it would have been like to lose five in a row with these guys " Webber reached double figures in all three categories with 90 seconds left in the third for his fourth triple- double of the season and the 21st of his career.

The Hornets were disappointed by turnout last month at the first of six games scheduled in Baton Rouge, which were considered a gesture toward maintaining the team' s connection to Louisiana and its intended return to New Orleans next season . But Smith was adamant he' d done nothing wrong, arguing that the two- time series champion forced him below the line in a desperate blocking attempt " You' re darn right I did . Right- hander Bob McCrory was optioned to Norfolk after Wednesday' s night' s 8- 6 loss to Tampa Bay . We don' t have a drawer somewhere filled with extra tickets " Ohio State uses a scanner system at the entrance gates which prevents anyone from getting in without a valid ticket . 1 Ohio State all but unstoppable this season- and helped him win The Associated Press Player of the Year honor announced Tuesday " I am a quarterback " Smith said " through and through " There' s no doubt about that anymore In fact, he might be the best to ever play at Ohio State. They have put the two tickets up for sale on eBay, hoping the payout helps defray the$ 12, 500 cost to begin processing their adoption paperwork. That' s ridiculous to get all those players on that team " The Suns completed their first season sweep of Los Angeles since 1992- 93, when they had their best regular- season mark of 62- 20.

Reggie Theus, Sidney Green, Ricky Sobers and Glen Gondrezick have also had their jerseys retired by the Rebels Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press . Events include rookie and legends exhibitions, and three- point and slam- dunk shooting competitions " The NBA and Las Vegas are made for each other " Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid said " We know how to market a product " Reid noted Las Vegas regularly hosts championship fights, NASCAR races and National Finals Rodeo events- plus baseball, basketball and hockey exhibition games . 1 ranking a bit longer than it did way back in 1983, when it still had " State " attached to its jerseys The Tigers remained No . Dallas scored the first eight points of the game and led by as much as 15 in the first quarter, but Utah gradually came back and took a few slim leads before the Mavericks finally shut down the Jazz in the second half " I thought in the first half they really kept in the game by getting to the foul line " said Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 16 of his 29 points in the second half to lead Dallas " They really attacked the offensive glass and I thought in the second half we just took those things away We tried to keep them in front of us in the penetration We tried to keep them off the line Don' t do all those ticky- tack fouls . Houston led 28- 24 after the first quarter and scored 13 straight points to start the second and the Sonics never threatened again. Torre, in his second season as skipper of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was Jeter' s manager in the Bronx from 1996- 2007 and still holds fond feelings of the their time together " I communicated with him.