Pacers deny Walsh is headed to Knicks

March 26, 2008

The Pacers insist former chief executive Donnie Walsh has not agreed to oversee basketball operations for the Knicks after the season. "Donnie said this morning there's nothing clear about his future," Pacers spokesman David Benner said yesterday. "When there is he'll make a statement. He hasn't agreed to anything with anybody." Walsh, the Pacers' chief executive and president since 1988, said Monday he would step aside after this season, but he would not comment on his future. The Pacers have turned over operation of the troubled franchise to Larry Bird . . . Chris Webber is ending his comeback attempt with the Warriors and will retire after 15 seasons in the NBA. Warriors spokesman Raymond Ridder said Webber will make the announcement today . . . Oklahoma City officials and Sooners football coach Bob Stoops wooed commissioner David Stern, Nets owner Lewis Katz, Pacers owner Herb Simon, and Lakers vice president Jeanie Buss at a visit to Ford Center in an attempt to bring the Seattle Supersonics to the city.

Suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, appearing on Michael Irvin's Dallas radio show, was both contrite and defiant in discussing his six arrests since being drafted three years ago, taking responsibility for "bad decisions" while disputing details of the police reports. He spoke about the Titans in the past tense, said he wanted to be a Cowboy, and expressed confidence NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would reinstate him

Brandon Marshall could miss up to four months of offseason preparations after slicing his right forearm in a freak accident. The Broncos made their first public comments on their star receiver's injury. After initially downplaying the injury that required surgery, Marshall has acknowledged it was the result of horseplay with family members and a misplaced fast-food bag. He said he slipped on the bag Saturday while wrestling with family members at a Florida resort and put his right arm through a home entertainment center. In a statement, Broncos head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos confirmed reports Marshall "sustained right forearm lacerations to one artery, one vein, one nerve, two tendons and three muscles. All have been repaired, and his right forearm and elbow will be immobilized for six weeks," Antonopulos said. "Rehabilitation will begin in six weeks. Full recovery is expected to take three to four months." That means Marshall might be ready to resume football activities in time for the start of training camp in late July . . . The Rams agreed to terms on a one-year contract with former Patriots wide receiver Reche Caldwell, adding depth to the position. The 28-year-old Caldwell played for the Redskins last season . . . The Steelers signed former Titan and Panther Justin Hartwig to a $3,725,000, two-year contract, making him the second free agent center they have added in as many offseasons. Last year, the Steelers signed Sean Mahan away from Tampa Bay by giving him a $17 million, five-year contract that included a $4 million signing bonus. They plan to use Mahan as a backup at several positions, including guard and center . . . Rich Seubert signed a three-year extension with the Giants, keeping the starting left guard under contract through 2012 . . . The Texans released center Steve McKinney, one of the franchise's original players, and re-signed punter Matt Turk. . . . The Lions signed free agent linebacker Gilbert Gardner to a one-year deal. The 6-foot-1-inch, 228-pound Gardner spent last season with the Titans . . . The Vikings re-signed linebacker and special teams star Heath Farwell and signed free agent cornerback Benny Sapp to one-year deals. Sapp played the last four with Kansas City. COLLEGE FOOTBALL South Carolina quarterback suspended South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia, 20, has been suspended from the team after being ticketed for underage drinking in his third run-in with police in about a year. Athletic department spokesman Steve Fink says Garcia will not be allowed to practice or meet with the team until Aug. 15. His attorney said Garcia paid a $257 fine Monday after he and two other players were charged with underage drinking over the weekend. Coach Steve Spurrier said he would let the university hand out the latest discipline for Garcia. "His fate is out of my hands," said Spurrier. "He's had a lot of chances here, and we'll see what happens." . . . Arkansas linebacker Freddie Fairchild was suspended from the team after he was charged on suspicion of beating a woman in Fayetteville. Fairchild was arrested Monday, and later released, on misdemeanor charges of suspicion of third-degree battery and false imprisonment. His arraignment is April 23. Coach Bobby Petrino said the 21-year-old was suspended pending a review of whether he violated team rules . . . Hawaii cornerback Keenan Jones has been suspended after being charged with unauthorized entry into a car and second-degree assault in separate incidents involving his girlfriend. He was released Saturday after posting $15,000 bail. Coach Greg McMackin said Jones, who appeared in 11 games last season, will be suspended indefinitely until the investigation is completed. DOPING WADA will assist Pound in lawsuit The World Anti-Doping Agency will help defend Dick Pound, its former president, against a lawsuit filed by the International Cycling Union. The UCI lodged a complaint in a Swiss court last week over what they call Pound's "continual injurious and biased comments." The dispute is based on comments by Pound criticizing the role of the UCI and former president Hein Verbruggen in the fight against doping in cycling. Pound regularly clashed with Verbruggen and the UCI over the doping scandals that have rocked the sport . . . Chemist Patrick Arnold testified he supplied steroids meant to be undetectable to Tammy Thomas, a former elite cyclist who is accused of lying to the BALCO grand jury in San Francisco about her alleged performance-enhancing drug use. Arnold created the designer steroid THG that Thomas and slugger Barry Bonds are accused of taking. Patrick also testified that when Thomas tested positive, he tried to help her devise a cover story - that she had taken the morning-after pill . . . Zab Judah wants Shane Mosley to agree to blood testing before their nontitle welterweight fight May 31 in Las Vegas. Mosley, who has admitted taking steroids before a 2003 bout but claims it was inadvertent, says he'll agree to testing. HOCKEY Roy and son suspended following brawl Quebec Remparts coach Patrick Roy and his son, Jonathan, were suspended a total of 12 games for a brawl during a game Saturday against the host Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The former NHL goalie was suspended five games for conduct related to the fight and Jonathan, a goaltender, was suspended seven games for barreling into opposing goalie Bobby Nadeau and repeatedly hitting him. The elder Roy denied playing any role in the melee, although he appeared to urge on his son with a wave before he attacked Nadeau. Chicoutimi player Sebastien Rioux was suspended six games for leaving the penalty box to fight Roy. Chicoutimi coach Richard Martel received an automatic two-game suspension for his player's conduct. The brawl broke out near the end of the second period of Game 2 of their playoff series with the Sagueneens leading, 7-1. The younger Roy apologized for making a rude gesture to the crowd but not for hitting Nadeau, who led the QMJHL this season with a 2.63 goals-against average in 46 games. MISCELLANY Australian Rice swims off with record Stephanie Rice set the 200-meter individual medley world record at Australia's Olympic swimming trials in Sydney, her second world record of the meet. Rice, 19, finished in 2 minutes 8.92 seconds, trimming 0.80 seconds from the record set by Wu Yan Yan of China in 1997. "It's beyond comprehension. The 200 IM world record has stood for a long, long time," Rice said. "I actually didn't know who held the world record." The performance followed her record in the 400 IM Saturday night . . . J.B. Holmes shot a 4-under 68 to win individual honors and help Isleworth defeat Lake Nona Golf and Country Club for the Tavistock Cup in Orlando, Fla. Isleworth prevailed in the two-day, Ryder Cup-styled event between pros from the two central Florida clubs, 19 1/2-11 1/2. Lake Nona's Ian Poulter shot 69 to finish second, one stroke ahead of Isleworth players Mark O'Meara and Tiger Woods . . . Roger Federer won the ATP Tour's player of the year award for 2007. He also won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for the fourth consecutive year and the Fans' Favorite Award for the fifth consecutive time . . . Channel 4 will be the local outlet for the Boston Marathon April 21, and Versus will handle the national feed, according to the BAA. The race will begin with the Elite Women's start at 9:35 a.m. .content>