FIBA says NBA players can play abroad during lockout

If NBA stars are serious about playing overseas, basketball's governing body says they will be welcomed. Just as long as they promise to leave once the lockout ends.

FIBA announced Friday that it would clear NBA players under contract to play in its leagues during the

work stoppage, provided the deals they sign come with opt-out clauses.

In a ruling that paves the way for players to earn paychecks, FIBA agreed with NBA and players' association officials that players are free to sign anywhere but do so at their own risk of injury.

"As the world governing body for basketball, we strongly hope that the labor dispute will be resolved as soon as possible, and that the NBA season is able to begin as scheduled," Patrick Baumann, FIBA's secretary general, said in a statement.

"In view of our role to promote basketball worldwide, we support any player wishing to play the game, wherever and whenever. We do so while obviously taking the interests, rights and obligations of all parties into account."

Union executive director Billy Hunter has endorsed the idea, with players feeling it will pressure owners at the bargaining table if they see their players have options elsewhere, and FIBA may have been faced with a legal challenge had it denied the players.

"Our players are gratified by today's announcement by FIBA, although it comes as no surprise," Hunter said in a statement.

The Detroit Pistons are giving Lawrence Frank another chance to lead an NBA team. A person with knowledge of the situation said the Pistons agreed to a three-year deal with Frank to be their new coach. The agreement includes a team option for a fourth year, according to the person, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the move.

TENNIS

Lisicki upsets Radwanska

Germany's Sabine Lisicki defeated her second straight seeded opponent at the Bank of the West Classic in Palo Alto, beating fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.

Lisicki will meet the winner of the late match between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.

Third-seeded Marion Bartoli of France advanced when Japan's Ayumi Morita retired after dropping the first set. 6-1. Bartoli will meet eighth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, who beat qualifier Marina Erakovic, 6-1, 6-1.

Top-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain put in a double shift at the Swiss Open in Gstaad, Switzerland, advancing to the semifinals after beating Jarkko Nieminen and Feliciano Lopez. Almagro will play No. 4-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain, and Marcel Granollers of Spain faces Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in the last four. … Fourth-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia defeated Italy's Andreas Seppi, 6-1, 6-3, to reach the semifinals of the Croatia Open at Umag. Cilic will next face another Italian, sixth-seeded Fabio Fognini. Second-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov and Juan Carlos Ferrero will meet in the other semifinal. … American Robert Kendrick was suspended for a year by the International Tennis Federation after testing positive for a banned stimulant at the French Open.

ETC.

North Carolina names interim coach

Everett Withers said he is excited to get started as interim coach of North Carolina's football team and sad to take over after the firing of Butch Davis.

Withers spent the last three seasons as defensive coordinator under Davis, who was fired Wednesday. Chancellor Holden Thorp cited the cumulative damage done to the university's reputation over the last year. The NCAA has reported nine potential major violations in its notice of allegations to the school.

The mentor for former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor was investigated and cleared by the NCAA in 2008 of allegations that he improperly acted as a booster while helping the player pick a college, according to records released Friday.

Less than three years later, Ted Sarniak was a central figure in coach Jim Tressel's downfall and Pryor's departure from Ohio State. The records show the NCAA ruled in favor of Sarniak, a hometown friend who went with Pryor on several recruiting visits.

"Our staff could not conclude that the benefits provided by [Sarniak] to the prospective student-athlete constituted a violation," the NCAA's Amy Huchthausen wrote in a letter dated Sept. 17, 2008, to Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith.

However, Sarniak was told he could no longer provide money, meals, tickets, presents or a cellphone to Pryor.

UCLA senior guard Jerime Anderson is scheduled for an arraignment at the Airport Courthouse on Sept. 27 to face charges of grand theft. He was accused of stealing a laptop Tuesday. Anderson has been suspended for the Bruins' opener against Loyola Marymount on Nov. 11 and barred from team activities.

— Ben Bolch

Timothy Peters took the lead late, then pulled away to win the NASCAR truck series race at Clermont, Ind. Peters, who made contact with another truck and forced a caution near the midpoint of the race, pushed into second place during the final 20 laps, then passed James Buescher on lap 194.

A youth baseball team from Uganda lost its bid to become the first team from Africa to play in the Little League World Series because of discrepancies over players' ages and birth dates. Richard Stanley of New York, a league representative, said visa issues arose when ages and birth dates listed on documentation did not match those offered by parents, guardians or the players during interviews with officials at the U.S. embassy in Kampala.

Greece defeated China, 9-8, to win its first gold medal in women's water polo at the world championships in Shanghai. Earlier, Australia beat the two-time defending champion United States, 10-5, for fifth place.

Yao's retirement to squeeze league

BEIJING — Yao Ming's retirement could diminish the NBA's once-burgeoning popularity in China, with many fans saying they would no longer watch games.
"What's the point of watching NBA now?" said an online user called Lubingxia on Sina Weibo, a Chinese

Twitter-like site.
An online poll on Weibo by Monday lunchtime showed 57 percent of respondents would stop watching the NBA after Yao's retirement.
The 7-6 center is expected to announce July 20 at a news conference that he's retiring from the NBA after nine seasons because of leg and foot injuries.
He boosted the popularity of the basketball league in China and throughout Asia, spiking merchandise sales and TV ratings for games after the Rockets made him the top overall pick in the 2002 draft.
Yao, 30, missed 250 regular-season games over the past six seasons.
"He is one of the most influential people in today's society - especially to those born in the 1980s," said Ren Bo, 25, a sports trainer. "It's probably going to be awhile until we see another Yao Ming."
The news upset fans in China, where he has been praised as a role model for the past decade and strengthened that image by carrying his country's flag during the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"It is Yao Ming who makes the kids in China like basketball, and it's also Yao Ming who makes the kids know how a real professional basketball player should be," said Xu Jicheng, a longtime basketball commentator.
"I'm not thrilled about his retirement, but I will still support him," said Guo Ju Fei, 24, a small business owner. "Millions of Chinese still idolize him."
Some online comments conveyed sadness that Yao's retirement would mean the end of a great era and that fans would not get to see him compete at the 2012 London Olympics. There also was some anger that his injuries kept him from reaching his peak in the NBA.
"I still haven't recovered from the fact that Yao is retiring," wrote one online user going by the name of Xie Chen. "The feeling is worse than being dumped."
Others hoped a "miracle" would occur and that Yao would change his mind and remain in the NBA.
Many comments expressed gratitude to Yao for being a Chinese icon and an athlete his countrymen could be proud of.

Stanford a top seed in wide-open tournament

Two-time defending champion Connecticut might be favored going into the women's NCAA Tournament, but Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said the Huskies aren't nearly as big a favorite as they were last year.
"They're a great team, but I think it's going to be a very exciting tournament," she said after Monday's draw gave No. 1 seeds to her team, UConn, Baylor and Tennessee. "There's no clear-cut favorite."
For instance, Stanford beat UConn this season, but lost to Tennessee. Baylor beat Tennessee, but lost to UConn.
VanDerveer said some of the No. 2 seeds, and even a No. 3 such as UCLA, also have a chance in the Tournament, which begins this weekend.
The Cardinal (29-2) are in their 24th straight NCAA Tournament and will face UC Davis (24-8) in a first-round game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Maples Pavilion. At 6:30 p.m. Monday, the winner will face the winner of Saturday's earlier game between Texas Tech (22-10) and St. John's (21-10), one of nine Big East teams to make the field.
Stanford has a 24-4 record in NCAA Tournament games at Maples and has won its last 61 games on its home court. It is hoping for a fourth straight trip to the Final Four, which will be held in Indianapolis, April 3-5.
"Our goal, like a lot of teams' goal, is the national championship," said guard Jeanette Pohlen, the Pac-10 Player of the Year. As the conference tournament proved, she said, "A lot of people can step up; I'm very confident in this team."
Last year's Stanford team was thought to have an excellent shot at the national title, too. However, All-America center Jayne Appel entered the tournament with a sprained ankle. After an opening-game win over UC Riverside, she was found to have a stress fracture in her foot. Though she kept playing, she was severely hampered.
This team is at full strength, and the addition of Chiney Ogwumike to the starting lineup has made the Cardinal quicker and more athletic. Another freshman, guard Toni Kokenis, was the catalyst of the conference tournament title-game victory over UCLA on Saturday. She won't start Saturday in place of Lindy La Rocque, VanDerveer said, because of the spark she provides off the bench.
Because the Bruins also were placed in the Spokane Regional with Stanford, there's a chance the two teams could play for the fourth time this season. Stanford has won the three previous games, but VanDerveer said she was "shocked" that UCLA was placed in the same regional. She thought the Bruins should have been a No. 2 seed elsewhere.
Baylor, which features 6-foot-8 sophomore Brittney Griner, might face the same situation with Texas A&M in the Dallas region. The Bears beat A&M by a total of 15 points in their three games, including a three-point win in the Big 12 final.
Dallas will be the site of an emotional game. Middle Tennessee State, which is still dealing with the stabbing death of player Tina Stewart on March 2, was given an at-large berth and will play Georgia.With the Cal and St. Mary's men headed to the NIT, the Stanford women are the only Bay Area team in the Big Dance. The Cardinal won national titles in 1990 and '92 but haven't connected since then.
"The real key to success for us will be Kayla (Pedersen)," VanDerveer said. "I feel Kayla will break out in the NCAA Tournament."
The road to Indy
If the seeds hold, Stanford's path to the Final Four in Indianapolis:
First round, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, at Maples Pavilion - UC Davis (24-8), the fourth-place team in the Big West. The Aggies upset top-seeded Cal Poly by 17 points in the conference final.
Second round, 6:30 p.m. Monday, at Maples Pavilon - Texas Tech (22-10), which lost in the semis of the Big 12 tournament. Tech beat three ranked teams in one month, including then-No. 1 Baylor.
Third round, March 26, at Spokane, Wash. - Kentucky (24-8), featuring SEC Player of the Year Victoria Dunlap. The 'Cats finished second to Tennessee in the regular season and conference tourney.
Fourth round, March 28, at Spokane - Xavier (28-2), which has won 18 straight, rolling through the Atlantic 10. The Musketeers lost to Stanford in last year's Sacramento Regional final on Jeanette Pohlen's buzzer-beating basket.

Fennville pays tribute to Wes Leonard, wins emotion-packed game

In a touching, emotional tribute, just four players from Fennville were announced during pregame introductions Monday night before a Class C boys district tournament basketball game against Lawrence.

And just four players from Fennville walked onto the court for the opening tip in DeVos Fieldhouse at Hope College.The fifth Fennville player, Wes Leonard, was absent in body but not in spirit. Wes, 16, died Thursday night from cardiac arrest because of dilated cardiomyopathy, or an enlarged heart.After a dramatic pause, Wes’ replacement, Xavier Grigg, was introduced and walked onto the court.

The crowd erupted in applause, many wiping away tears. It was Fennville’s first game since Wes died.

Fennville started out slow but rolled to a 65-54 victory. The undefeated Blackhawks advance to the district semifinal Wednesday against Bangor at Bloomingdale, although there was discussion that the site could change.

“Wes was a brother to me,” said Xavier, who scored 18 points. “It’s hard to play without him. It felt weird. It wasn’t the same.”

Fennville Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer said he hoped the game would be “a celebration” and a “step in the healing process.”

And that’s what it was. A celebration of Wes. A celebration of sportsmanship. A chance for an entire west Michigan community to come together and grieve and scream and smile and try to return to normal, if only for a moment.

“Wes would have wanted to win, so I wanted to win,” said Adam Siegel, a Fennville senior who scored a game-high 22 points. “Wes was a big strong guy, so I tried to be big strong guy for him.”

A team decision

Since Wes died, the entire Fennville basketball team has been together almost nonstop, hanging out at coach Ryan Klingler’s house.

“He’s had them for days since this happened,” said DeLonda McGee, whose son DeMarcus McGee is a senior and scored 14 points. “He is feeding them in the mornings. We are invited to go over with them, but it’s a team thing. That team is like 13 brothers. They just came together.”

(Page 2 of 3)

Klingler let his team members decide whether they should play the game or not. Some thought they should not play in the state tournament and let the season end with a perfect 20-0 record, and the memory of Wes making the last shot to beat Bridgman before he collapsed on the court.

On Saturday afternoon, the players met with Wes’ parents and asked permission to play. The boys lined up and hugged Wes’ mother, Joslyn Leonard.

“They are like 17-year-old men,” DeLonda McGee said. “I have never seen a group of kids like this group.”

DeMarcus was so close to Wes that he considered him a brother. Wes was a white kid from Kansas, DeMarcus a black kid from Chicago. They both moved to Fennville in middle school and became best friends.

DeLonda McGee told her son: “Wes is there on that court. You guys just can’t see him. But he’s there. Just go out there and do what Wes wants you guys to do.”

A show of unity

Early Monday afternoon, the Fennville players and coaches came out of the locker room wearing matching black T-shirts. The front of each shirt read: “Never forgotten.”

The back of the shirt had Wes’ No..35 and his name.

When the members of the Lawrence Tigers came out for pregame practice, they wore identical shirts. It was something the superintendents of both school districts decided to do, as a show of unity.

Several players from Lawrence were in attendance Thursday, scouting Fennville, when Wes died, according to Lawrence Superintendent John Overley. “They were very, very distraught and numb,” he said of the Lawrence players. “We went into the practice on Friday and they were standing around in a circle, just trying to come to grips with it.”

Weeldreyer acknowledged that Lawrence was in a no-win situation, trying to play the game. But Overley said it was important for his own players to play. “Getting back out onto the court helps them, just as it will help Fennville,” Overley said. “That’s where they feel at home.”

Surprises and support

There were several surprises behind the scenes. Michigan State University basketball coach Tom Izzo met with the Leonard family and both teams on Monday afternoon before the game.

(Page 3 of 3)

Jim Leonard, Wes’ uncle, said that Wes’ parents did not know about all the national reaction to their son’s death. “Until today, they really had no idea what was going on outside the four walls of their home,” Jim Leonard said. “We have been sheltering them from all of this.”

During pregame warm-ups, the crowd went silent as members of Wes’ family took their seats, including his father and mother, Gary and Jocelyn Leonard.

“It was very overwhelming to say the least,” Jim Leonard said. “I don’t know how they could describe the sorrow and the amount of love and support, not just from Fennville but pretty much all of west Michigan.”

The crowd was announced at 3,472, and most of those tickets were sold in the two communities. Fennville has a population of 1,404, Lawrence has 989.

“Thank you, Lawrence!” the Fennville student body chanted, for moving the game to Hope. “Thank you, Lawrence!”

Many in the crowd were close to Wes. There was a friend over here, a football teammate over there. And his girlfriend sat in the front row. Selena Beltran-Pena, 16, had dated Wes for three years.

“It’s hard, but I came here to support the boys,” Selena said.

She was at the game when Wes died, and she said it was the worst moment of her life. “The last few days have been like hell,” Selena said. “It’s rough, but I’m trying to stay calm around other people. I’ve had tons of support from the entire community. Just talking about it has really helped.”

As she talked, the basketball team walked onto the court, locked arm in arm.

All of the players wore black T-shirts, but Wes’ little brother, Mitchell, wore a white T-shirt. He is only an eighth-grader, but he went through warm-ups as an honorary member of the team.

Selena thought it was good for the team to play.

“I think it’s what Wes would want,” she said, “for them to go as far as they can. With him or without him.”

Keeping strong

After the game, both teams formed two lines and hugged each other.

Many players from both teams were crying.

Lawrence coach Curt Mead hugged Klingler and shouted: “Keep strong. You can win it.”

At a post-game press conference, Klingler said he was amazed by his team and by the Leonard family.

“They have showed me, you can rise up,” Klingler said. “My gosh, the strength they showed and the strength the Leonards showed, being here tonight, just blows my mind. That exemplifies Wes Leonard.”

Klingler let his team members decide whether they should play the game or not. Some thought they should not play in the state tournament and let the season end with a perfect 20-0 record, and the memory of Wes making the last shot to beat Bridgman before he collapsed on the court.

On Saturday afternoon, the players met with Wes’ parents and asked permission to play. The boys lined up and hugged Wes’ mother, Joslyn Leonard.

“They are like 17-year-old men,” DeLonda McGee said. “I have never seen a group of kids like this group.”

DeMarcus was so close to Wes that he considered him a brother. Wes was a white kid from Kansas, DeMarcus a black kid from Chicago. They both moved to Fennville in middle school and became best friends.

DeLonda McGee told her son: “Wes is there on that court. You guys just can’t see him. But he’s there. Just go out there and do what Wes wants you guys to do.”

A show of unity

Early Monday afternoon, the Fennville players and coaches came out of the locker room wearing matching black T-shirts. The front of each shirt read: “Never forgotten.”

The back of the shirt had Wes’ No..35 and his name.

When the members of the Lawrence Tigers came out for pregame practice, they wore identical shirts. It was something the superintendents of both school districts decided to do, as a show of unity.

Several players from Lawrence were in attendance Thursday, scouting Fennville, when Wes died, according to Lawrence Superintendent John Overley. “They were very, very distraught and numb,” he said of the Lawrence players. “We went into the practice on Friday and they were standing around in a circle, just trying to come to grips with it.”

Weeldreyer acknowledged that Lawrence was in a no-win situation, trying to play the game. But Overley said it was important for his own players to play. “Getting back out onto the court helps them, just as it will help Fennville,” Overley said. “That’s where they feel at home.”

Surprises and support

There were several surprises behind the scenes. Michigan State University basketball coach Tom Izzo met with the Leonard family and both teams on Monday afternoon before the game.

Jim Leonard, Wes’ uncle, said that Wes’ parents did not know about all the national reaction to their son’s death. “Until today, they really had no idea what was going on outside the four walls of their home,” Jim Leonard said. “We have been sheltering them from all of this.”

During pregame warm-ups, the crowd went silent as members of Wes’ family took their seats, including his father and mother, Gary and Jocelyn Leonard.

“It was very overwhelming to say the least,” Jim Leonard said. “I don’t know how they could describe the sorrow and the amount of love and support, not just from Fennville but pretty much all of west Michigan.”

The crowd was announced at 3,472, and most of those tickets were sold in the two communities. Fennville has a population of 1,404, Lawrence has 989.

“Thank you, Lawrence!” the Fennville student body chanted, for moving the game to Hope. “Thank you, Lawrence!”

Many in the crowd were close to Wes. There was a friend over here, a football teammate over there. And his girlfriend sat in the front row. Selena Beltran-Pena, 16, had dated Wes for three years.

“It’s hard, but I came here to support the boys,” Selena said.

She was at the game when Wes died, and she said it was the worst moment of her life. “The last few days have been like hell,” Selena said. “It’s rough, but I’m trying to stay calm around other people. I’ve had tons of support from the entire community. Just talking about it has really helped.”

As she talked, the basketball team walked onto the court, locked arm in arm.

All of the players wore black T-shirts, but Wes’ little brother, Mitchell, wore a white T-shirt. He is only an eighth-grader, but he went through warm-ups as an honorary member of the team.

Selena thought it was good for the team to play.

“I think it’s what Wes would want,” she said, “for them to go as far as they can. With him or without him.”

Keeping strong

After the game, both teams formed two lines and hugged each other.

Many players from both teams were crying.

Lawrence coach Curt Mead hugged Klingler and shouted: “Keep strong. You can win it.”

At a post-game press conference, Klingler said he was amazed by his team and by the Leonard family.

“They have showed me, you can rise up,” Klingler said. “My gosh, the strength they showed and the strength the Leonards showed, being here tonight, just blows my mind. That exemplifies Wes Leonard.”