Chargers practice in Tempe, await word

The San Diego Chargers worked out in Tempe, Ariz., waited, and wondered yesterday where and when they will play their next game. The Chargers are scheduled to play at home against the Houston Texans Sunday, and a decision from San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders on the availability of the stadium, which is being used as an evacuation center for people fleeing the wildfires in the San Diego area, had been expected yesterday. However, no word came. "No decision has been made at this time," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. "When a decision is made, we will certainly let you know." The Chargers will again work out at the Arizona Cardinals' facility today . . . Quarterback Alex Smith will start for the 49ers Sunday against New Orleans, coach Mike Nolan said. Smith, out since Sept. 30 with a separated right shoulder, went through his second full day of practice, leading the 49ers' first-team offense with no apparent discomfort . . . Paramedics treated offensive lineman Damane Duckett at the 49ers' training complex after he became dehydrated during an afternoon workout, spokesman Aaron Salkin said. Duckett was taken to a hospital for precautionary evaluation, but was alert and responsive . . . Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas will miss Sunday's game against the Giants in London because of whiplash from a car accident last weekend after Miami's 49-28 loss to the Patriots . . . David Carr practiced for the second straight day, but Carolina coach John Fox still held off naming him the starting quarterback ahead of Vinny Testaverde for Sunday's game against Indianapolis . . . Ten-year veteran Todd Bouman signed a one-year contract with the Jaguars, giving them a backup quarterback to Quinn Gray while starter David Garrard recovers from an ankle injury . . . Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma missed practice for the second straight day with a knee injury that could sideline him for New York's game against Buffalo and possibly longer . . . The Vikings signed punter Chris Kluwe to a six-year deal, extending his contract through the 2013 season . . . Defensive tackle Corey Simon, 30, retired after trying to resume his career with the Titans, saying practice and games started wearing on his body . . . A hearing in Las Vegas to determine whether suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones will face trial for his alleged role in a strip club melee has been postponed.

Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, who was involved in a suspicious match earlier this year, said he was warned for not playing hard enough by the chair umpire in his loss to Marian Cilic at the St. Petersburg Open in Russia. Davydenko won the first set in 27 minutes, but drew a rebuke from chair umpire Jean-Philippe Dercq in the third set before succumbing, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. "When I made a double fault, he gave me a notice for a wrong behavior on the court as if I was throwing the match," Davydenko said. "I was surprised. I've never heard anything like this before." The ATP is investigating, and has spoken to Davydenko about an August match in Poland in which online gambling site Betfair voided bets involving the Russian because of irregular betting patterns . . . Roger Federer beat Juan Martin Del Potro, 6-1, 6-4, to advance to the quarterfinals at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, his home tournament. Also, 6-foot-10-inch Ivo Karlovic served 24 aces in beating fourth-seeded James Blake, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, to also reach the quarterfinals . . . Third-seeded Marion Bartoli beat teenager Tamira Paszek, 6-2, 6-1, to reach the quarterfinals of the Generali Ladies in Linz, Austria.

The Tour de France will have revamped rules and a slightly less mountainous but hopefully more exciting course in 2008, including a geographical high - the 9,193-foot Col de la Bonette-Restefond, Europe's highest mountain pass. And for the first time since 1966, the race will start with a full road stage - 121 miles from Brest to Plumelec in Brittany - instead of an opening individual time-trial race against the clock . . . Bode Miller could miss the season-opening World Cup race because of a back injury. The 2005 overall World Cup champion hurt his back skiing earlier this month. The World Cup season starts this weekend on the Rettenbach glacier in Austria, with a women's giant slalom tomorrow and a men's GS Sunday . . . The NCAA vacated two of Arkansas's national championships in track and field and placed the school on three years' probation after investigating violations involving sprint star Tyson Gay and a former assistant coach . . . Michigan State football players SirDarean Adams, T.J. Williams, and Jeremy Ware have been charged with unarmed robbery in the parking lot of a store in East Lansing, Mich. They were arraigned Wednesday in District Court in Mason on a felony robbery charge in the April 21 incident . . . Rodney Ferguson ran for 146 yards and John Sullivan kicked four field goals, leading New Mexico to a 34-31 victory over Air Force at Albuquerque . . . Florida State athletic director David Hart Jr. resigned . . . Chris Rolfe scored the lone goal to lead the host Chicago Fire to a 1-0 victory over D.C. United in a Major League Soccer playoff . . . US light heavyweight Christopher Downs's victory at the World Boxing Championships in Chicago was overshadowed by news that two Ugandan boxers and an Armenian fighter left their teams. It appeared the missing athletes left voluntarily. Their names weren't immediately available.