Fox San Antonio - Maximum Sports

Wednesday, November 11 2009, 05:13 PM CST

Fox San Antonio - Sports

Last Update on March 10, 2010 19:37 EST

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-CONFERENCE FINALS

UNDATED (AP) -- There will be two more automatic bids for the NCAA's field of 65 handed out tonight.

Robert Morris will take on Quinnipiac in the Northeast conference tournament final, and in the Big Sky championship game, Weber State will face Montana.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE

NEW YORK (AP) -- No. 22 Georgetown moved into the Big East tournament quarterfinals this afternoon with a 69-49 pasting of South Florida.

Jason Clark and Greg Monroe each scored 16 points for the Hoyas, who move on to face third-ranked and top-seeded Syracuse on Thursday.

NBA-SCHEDULE

UNDATED (AP) -- A 12-game winning streak has helped pull Dallas within striking distance of the Western Conference-leading L.A. Lakers. The Southwest Division leaders are 44-21 and head into tonight's contest against visiting New Jersey just three games behind the defending champions as the NBA season heads down the home stretch. The Nets are a league-worst 7-56.

Denver and Utah are involved in the closest division race in the NBA. The Northwest-leading Nuggets start their game at Minnesota, one-game better than the Jazz, who are at Detroit.

After three straight home victories, Charlotte is on the road at Philadelphia. The Bobcats are tied with Miami for seventh place in the East, a half-game better than idle Chicago in the race for the conference's final playoff berths. The Heat are home to the L.A. Clippers

Also tonight, Boston hosts a Memphis club that's won six straight on the road, Oklahoma City has won 14 out of 17 and sits sixth in the West ahead of its game against visiting New Orleans, San Antonio entertains New York and Toronto plays at Sacramento.

NBA-SIXERS-JORDON

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Philadelphia 76ers coach Eddie Jordan says he's not worried about a newspaper report stating he could be fired soon.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing unidentified sources, reported on Tuesday that Comcast-Spectator was ready to fire Jordan, likely after his first season with the team is complete.

The 76ers are 23-40 heading into Wednesday night's game against Charlotte, 8 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

NBA-SUSPENSION

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota Timberwolves forward Ryan Hollins has been suspended for two games after separate run-ins with Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki and DeShawn Stevenson on Monday.

Hollins punched Stevenson while boxing him out on a free throw in the second quarter. He then struck Nowitzki in the head with his left forearm late in the fourth quarter, drawing a Flagrant-2 foul and an ejection.

T-wolves coach Kurt Rambis said he liked Hollins' aggressiveness, but not some of his decision-making.

Hollins has been starting in recent weeks and is averaging 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

NHL-HEAD HITS

UNDATED (AP) -- NHL general managers have developed the framework for a new rule that punishes hits to the head.

The new rule would allow referees to assess a minor or major penalty for blindside hits targeting the head.

It must be approved by the competition committee and has not yet been given a specific name.

The GMs agreed unanimously on the new penalty in light of several recent instances of players injured on checks to the head.

NHL-THRASHERS/CHELIOS

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Thrashers have a newcomer in 48-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios.

The 11-time All-Star has played in more games than any other American-born NHL player, and he joins the Thrashers after getting five goals and 17 assists in 46 games with Chicago of the AHL. The team recalled Chelios on Wednesday.

The Thrashers are looking for Chelios to provide a spark and help snap a three-game losing streak. Atlanta plays at Columbus on Thursday night.

Chelios has played 25 NHL seasons, winning three Stanley Cups and three Norris Trophies as the league's top defenseman.

NHL-SCHEDULE

UNDATED (AP) -- Buffalo can regain sole possession of first place in the NHL's Northeast Division with a point tonight against visiting Dallas. The Sabres have won two straight and are tied with idle Ottawa for the division lead. The Stars are five points out of the final postseason berth in the West.

The league-leading Washington Capitals bring an 18-1-1 home record over the last 20 games into their outing against visiting Carolina. The one loss came at the hands of the Hurricanes, who are still way out of the playoff chase despite having won eight of their last nine games.

Central-leading Chicago enters its game against visiting Los Angeles two points behind idle San Jose atop the Western Conference standings.

The New York Rangers start their contest at New Jersey, three points back of idle Boston for the last playoff berth in the East.

And Northwest Division leader Vancouver wraps up an NHL-record 14-game road trip in Phoenix.

HOCKEY-CROSBY'S GEAR

TORONTO (AP) -- It turns out Sidney Crosby's missing Olympic stick and glove were never stolen -- just misplaced.

Hockey Canada says the gear was accidentally put in a shipment bound for the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in St. Petersburg, Russia. It ended up getting intercepted in Toronto.

The stick and glove were misplaced after the frenzy following Crosby's overtime goal against the United States in the gold-medal game on Feb. 28.

MLB-GARCIAPARRA RETIRES

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Nomar Garciaparra has retired as a member of the Boston Red Sox.

The 1997 American League MVP signed a one-day contract with his former team then announced he's ending his 14-year career. Garciaparra will become an analyst for ESPN.

The shortstop played parts of nine seasons in Boston, winning batting titles in 1999 and 2000. But he may be most famous in Red Sox lore for being traded as part of a four-team deal in 2004. That move helped lead to the club's first World Series championship in 86 years.

Garciaparra spent the past five seasons with the Cubs, Dodgers, and A's. The six-time All-Star had a .313 career average with 229 home runs and 936 RBIs.

MLB-ROCKIES/JIMENEZ

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy has named Ubaldo Jimenez his Opening Day starter.

The assignment had been expected since the start of spring training. Tracy said he waited until the day after Jimenez had a strong start to make it official. He pitched three scoreless innings Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

NFL-NEWS

UNDATED (AP) -- The Tennessee Titans have agreed to an $11 million, three-year contract with Will Witherspoon as they revamp their linebacking corps.

Witherspoon was released by the Philadelphia Eagles last week after being acquired from St. Louis in a trade last October.

General manager Mike Reinfeldt says Witherspoon likely will play outside linebacker.

Tennessee's two outside linebackers from last season were David Thornton, who's recovering from shoulder and pectoral surgery, and Keith Bulluck, an unrestricted free agent coming off a torn ACL.

In other NFL news:

-- Derek Anderson has apologized to Cleveland fans after calling them "ruthless," and adding they "don't deserve a winner" following his release from the Cleveland Browns. Anderson was let go by the Browns yesterday, ending an uneven five-year stint.

-- Free agent running back LaDainian Tomlinson will visit with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday. The 2006 MVP was released by the San Diego Chargers last month. The Vikes are in need of another running back since backup Chester Taylor signed with the Chicago Bears.

-- The Bengals are trying to reach a deal with free agent receiver Antonio Bryant, who visited Cincinnati Tuesday but left without an agreement. It's the team's latest attempt to find a complement for Chad Ochocinco . The 29-year-old Bryant had career highs with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns for Tampa Bay in 2008, but was slowed by knee problems last year.

-- Versatile offensive lineman Wade Smith has agreed to terms with the Houston Texans, according to his agent. The four-year deal includes $5.25 million in guaranteed money in the first year. Smith is an eight-year veteran who started 16 games over the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Great Weekend Ahead

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