Thibodeau added to Celtics' staff
BASKETBALL
The Celtics added veteran NBA coach Tom Thibodeau, known as a defensive specialist, to their coaching staff yesterday. In his 17 seasons as an assistant, the last four in Houston, Thibodeau has helped his teams finish in the top 10 in team defense 14 times. He helped the Rockets rank in the top five in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense in all four years he was with the team. Thibodeau, a native of New Britain, Conn., played four years at Salem State, then coached at his alma mater for four years, including one as head coach, before joining Harvard's staff in 1985 . . . Cappie Pondexter scored 26 points - including two free throws with 2.1 seconds left - to lift the Phoenix Mercury to a 102-100 victory over the Silver Stars at San Antonio in Game 1 of the WNBA Western Conference finals.
NHL
Berard tries comeback with Islanders
Defenseman Bryan Berard, who was the first overall selection in the 1995 NHL draft, accepted an Islanders' invitation to next month's training camp as a tryout. The Rhode Island native and former Bruin hasn't played a full NHL season in four years. The injury-plagued Bedard, 30, won the Calder Trophy with the Islanders in the 1996-97 season . . . The Stars re-signed left wing Jussi Jokinen to a two-year deal worth about $1.8 million per season.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Coen, Hatchell join elite company
Massachusetts junior quarterback Liam Coen was selected as one of 16 candidates for the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the top offensive player in Division 1-AA. Coen's teammate, linebacker Jason Hatchell, is a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the nation's top defender . . . Southern California center Matt Spanos has a torn right triceps and won't play in the Trojans' opener against Idaho tomorrow night.
GOLF
Bogey-free Steinhauer grabs LPGA lead
Sherri Steinhauer shot a 5-under-par 67 in windy conditions to take a one-stroke lead in the LPGA State Farm Classic in Springfield, Ill., while Annika Sorenstam was four shots back in defense of her last Tour title. Ai Miyazato and Marcy Hart opened with 68s. Steinhauer had five birdies in her bogey-free round on the Panther Creek Country Club course . . . Marc Warren made eight birdies for an 8-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Nicolas Colsaerts in the first round of the Johnnie Walker Championship in Gleneagles, Scotland. Jeev Milka Singh (67) birdied the last three holes to share third place with Miles Tunnicliff. Colin Montgomerie opened with a 69, defending champion Paul Casey shot a 71, and Darren Clarke had a 73.
BASEBALL
Surgery ends season for Phillies' Garcia
Two-time All-Star righthander Freddy Garcia had season-ending shoulder surgery, nearly three months after he threw his last pitch for the Phillies. Dr. James Andrews performed the operation on Garcia's labrum in Birmingham, Ala. The 31-year-old Garcia will be a free agent after this season . . . The Orioles recalled righthander Jon Leicester from Triple A Norfolk to shore up their bullpen . . . The Tigers acquired minor league righthander Chris Lambert from the Cardinals to complete the trade that sent lefthander Mike Maroth to St. Louis . . . The Rangers exercised their 2009 option on rookie manager Ron Washington's contract.
MISCELLANY
Rest of Beckham's season in jeopardy
David Beckham is expected to be out six weeks and could miss the rest of the Los Angeles Galaxy's season after being diagnosed with a sprained right knee. The English midfielder underwent an MRI that confirmed he sprained the medial collateral ligament, the team said in a statement. Beckham was injured in a tackle with Pachuca midfielder Fernando Salazar in the first half of Wednesday night's SuperLiga title match . . . Richard Sukuta-Pasu scored a pair of second-half goals, and Germany eliminated the United States from the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with a 2-1 victory in Cheonan, South Korea . . . Australia's sports doping agency has cleared five-time Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Ian Thorpe of doping charges that arose last year when urine tests showed elevated levels of testosterone and epitestosterone. "The evidence available does not indicate the use of performance enhancing substances by Mr. Thorpe," the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority said. "He has no case to answer."
