Nets' Kidd strikes back at speculation

Jason Kidd insisted a migraine caused him to miss a New Jersey Nets game Wednesday against New York, brushing aside reports he was staging a personal one-day strike to induce a trade or force a new contract. "I didn't miss a game due to unhappiness, that's the first thing to clear up," the All-Star guard said yesterday. Kidd said he was hit in the mouth Tuesday night in a game against Cleveland, and he later developed a migraine. A source had told the New York Post that Kidd was "on strike." Yahoo reported that he was looking to be traded to Cleveland to play with LeBron James. There also were reports that Kidd wanted his contract renegotiated. Kidd insisted he never asked to be traded . . . The Knicks' struggles on and off the court didn't keep the team from remaining the NBA's most valuable franchise for the third straight year, according to a list compiled by Forbes. The Knicks were valued at $604 million, up 3 percent from the previous year despite a spate of losing, an embarrassing defeat in a sexual harassment lawsuit, and continuing questions about the future of coach Isiah Thomas. The Los Angeles Lakers decreased in value 2 percent, down to $560 from $568 million, but remained second, with the Chicago Bulls ($500 million) third. The Celtics ($391 million) were 11th.

Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson said he will extend his leave of absence through the end of this season, citing undisclosed family matters that require his attention. In a statement released by the university, Olson said he plans to return to coach the Wildcats for the 2008-09 season. Athletic director Jim Livengood said assistant coach Kevin O'Neill will continue to serve as interim coach for the rest of this season . . . Former Fresno State women's basketball coach Stacy Johnson-Klein was awarded $19.1 million in a sexual discrimination lawsuit that alleged she was fired because she advocated for women's rights. The university argued Johnson-Klein was fired in 2005 because she was dishonest, potentially dangerous, and abusive to her players and assistant coaches . . . The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team should lose all 79 of its victories during the four-year tenure of former coach B.J. Smith, an NCAA committee has ruled. The university is appealing. Among cited violations: improper transportation of prospective players from airports and on official visits; prospects receiving summer lodging without paying rent.

Football coach Jim Grobe will return next season to Wake Forest, having apparently rebuffed an attempt by Arkansas to hire him to replace Houston Nutt. Grobe, who is 45-39 in seven seasons at Wake, said he is not receiving a raise or a contract extension to stay with the Demon Deacons . . . LSU football coach Les Miles has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the Tigers through 2012. The deal was approved by the LSU board's athletic committee, apparently ending any chance of Miles leaving for Michigan to replace Lloyd Carr, who retired last month . . . Texas A&M indefinitely suspended two football players after their arrests a day earlier on felony robbery and drug counts. Yemi Babalola was charged with two aggravated robbery counts and one count of misdemeanor marijuana possession, according to College Station police. Brandon Joiner was charged with three drug possession counts, one a felony . . . The University of South Alabama's board of trustees voted unanimously to start a football program. It plans to field a team starting in 2009 and join the Football Bowl Subdivision by 2013 . . . William & Mary's new logo sheds the two feathers the NCAA deemed offensive to American Indians. The new logo updates the familiar "W&M" monogram and uses the school's more traditional colors of green and gold instead of the more recent green and yellow.

Mark Recchi, a career 510-goal scorer who was waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this week, was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. It is uncertain whether Recchi must report to the Penguins' top farm club. Recchi has not played in the minors since 1990. If the Penguins recall him - which they can do without him playing for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - another NHL team can claim Recchi for half of his $1.75 million contract.

The Pirates released former starting second baseman Jose Castillo, 26. Pittsburgh's second baseman from 2004-06 was demoted to a utility role last season and used infrequently by former manager Jim Tracy . . . The Arizona Diamondbacks and infielder Augie Ojeda avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $550,000 . . . Renault was not penalized, despite being found guilty of having confidential information about Formula One rival McLaren. In September, McLaren was fined $100 million for using confidential data from Ferrari. In a statement on its website, the governing body said it "found Renault F1 to be in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code but imposed no penalty." . . . University of Delaware defenseman Robert Smith was the top pick by the Chicago Machine in the Major League Lacrosse supplemental draft. The Boston Cannons, who traded their first-round pick to San Francisco, took midfielder Brian Myers of Towson in the second round. Brian Jacovina, a midfielder from UMass, was the seventh overall pick by Denver.