Report: Davis set to sign with Clippers

Baron Davis is on the verge of signing a long-term deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, a day after the point guard shocked the Golden State Warriors by opting out of the final season of his contract to become a free agent. Though Davis refused to confirm an ESPN.com report that he agreed to sign with the Clippers yesterday, he left no doubt about his upcoming move to Southern California. "It's tough, but you have to do what's best," said Davis. "You have to do what's fair. I'm happy with where I'm going." The 29-year-old Davis, a former UCLA star who has never made a secret of his desire to play in his hometown, turned down $17.8 million for next season to become an unrestricted free agent. The ESPN report said Davis will receive a five-year deal worth an estimated $65 million . . . The NBA hired retired Army Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Johnson as senior vice president of referee operations, a newly created position to help strengthen the league's officiating programs following the Tim Donaghy scandal . . . Chris Paul's agent, Lance Young, will travel to New Orleans today to try to complete a contract extension that would keep the All-Star and Team USA point guard with the Hornets for an additional 3-5 years . . . Guard Jose Calderon reached a preliminary agreement to remain with the Raptors for another season . . . Spurs guard Brent Barry opted out of his contract and became a free agent . . . Lindsay Whalen had nine assists and 14 points to help the Sun overcome a 14-point deficit to beat the Houston Comets, 78-68, in WNBA action in Uncasville, Conn. . . . Shameka Christon scored a career-high 28 points and the New York Liberty rallied for an 89-78 victory over the Sparks in Los Angeles. . . Diana Taurasi scored 28 points as the visiting Phoenix Mercury beat the winless Atlanta Dream, 97-79 . . . Candice Dupree had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Chicago Sky past the host Minnesota Lynx, 73-71 . . . Becky Hammon had 19 points, 10 in overtime, to lead host San Antonio to a 79-72 win over the Detroit Shock . . . A late scoring burst by Ticha Penicheiro (17 points) led the Sacramento Monarchs to an 87-81 home win over the Washington Mystics.

Now branded with an asterisk, the ball Barry Bonds launched for his record 756th home run nearly a year ago landed in the Hall of Fame. The souvenir arrived in Cooperstown, N.Y., after a strange day of back-and-forth statements between its owner, fashion designer Marc Ecko, and the shrine. "We are very happy to receive the baseball as a donation, and not as a loan," Hall spokesman Brad Horn said. A driver walked up the front steps of the Hall, handing over the ball and a letter from Ecko saying it was an unconditional donation. The ball was marked, with the five-pronged asterisk dye-cut into the cowhide . . . Phillies starter Brett Myers (3-9), leading the major leagues with 24 home runs allowed, has agreed to be optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley . . . The Orioles placed shortstop Alex Cintron (strained left hamstring) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled Freddie Bynum from Triple A Norfolk . . . The Diamondbacks put left fielder Eric Byrnes on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring.

A judge has declared a mistrial in the assault case of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry. An eight-person jury in Cincinnati told the judge they were unable to agree on a verdict. Hamilton County Municipal Judge Richard Bernat then dismissed the jury and set a hearing for next Tuesday. Eighteen-year-old Gregory Meyer accused Henry of punching him in the face in March. Henry said he was acting in self-defense . . . Offensive lineman Demetrius Bell, a seventh-round pick and estranged son of former NBA star Karl Malone, signed with the Bills . . . Browns wide receiver Joe Jurevicius had his second knee surgery since January, a procedure that could prevent him from reporting to training camp on time . . . The Bears signed defensive tackle Marcus Harrison to a four-year contract.

UCLA coach Ben Howland, who has guided the Bruins to the Final Four each of the past three years, agreed to a new seven-year contract with the university. The deal, which adds one year onto the agreement he signed last October, runs through the 2014-15 season and includes a guaranteed $1.97 million for next season, rising to $2.3 million in the final year of the contract . . . TJ Sorrentine, who led the University of Vermont to an upset of Syracuse in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005, has been hired as an assistant coach at Brown . . . John Pont, who coached Indiana to its only Rose Bowl appearance 40 years ago and also coached at Northwestern, Yale, and Miami of Ohio, died yesterday at his home in Oxford, Ohio. He was 80. He was head coach at Yale from 1963-64.

Co-owner Chip Ganassi has shut down Dario Franchitti's race team because of a lack of sponsorship. The 2007 Indy 500 winner and IRL Series champion has struggled in his first NASCAR season driving Ganassi's No. 40 Dodge. Longtime sponsor Coors Light left at the end of last season, and Ganassi was unable to secure funding for Franchitti . . . . . . Light flyweight Luis Yanez was kicked off the US Olympic boxing team for skipping three weeks of residency training without getting permission or even telling USA Boxing where he was, national team coach Dan Campbell claims. "I gave him every opportunity, and if people knew all the stuff that he has done, they would be amazed," Campbell told the Associated Press. "He's one of the biggest liars I've ever met."