League suspends Mahorn, 10 players

The WNBA suspended Detroit Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn and 10 players yesterday for their roles in a skirmish with the Los Angeles Sparks earlier this week. Shock forward Plenette Pierson was suspended for four games, the harshest penalty, for initiating and escalating the altercation. Mahorn was suspended for two games, as were Shannon Bobbitt and Murriel Page of the Sparks. "As a team, we're incensed that Rick Mahorn was suspended," Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said. "He was trying to be a peacemaker and now he's being thrown under the bus." Players suspended for one game included Detroit's Kara Braxton, Tasha Humphrey, Elaine Powell, and Sheri Sam, along with Los Angeles's Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, and DeLisha Milton-Jones. Playing without Leslie, Parker, and Milton-Jones, the Sparks lost to the Connecticut Sun, 87-61, last night in Uncasville, Conn.

The Shock signed 50-year-old Nancy Lieberman, a Hall of Famer and one of their former coaches, to a seven-day contract although she said, "It's really a one-game deal. My motivation stems from the fact that I love this game and I never stopped playing it." Lieberman played nine scoreless minutes and had two assists in Detroit's 79-61 loss to host Houston last night. "I had a great time," said Lieberman, who missed her only shot, a 3-pointer in the fourth. quarter. Lieberman played seven minutes in the fourth quarter, when the game's outcome was decided. The Shock players tried to get her in a position to score every time down the floor at the end, but Lieberman could only get off one shot.

Two former high school classmates of disgraced NBA referee Tim Donaghy were each sentenced to more than a year in prison for their roles in a betting scandal. James Battista, a professional gambler and admitted drug addict, got 15 months in prison for making bets based on inside tips. Thomas Martino, the scheme's middleman, was sentenced to a year and one day for paying the referee thousands for the tips. Donaghy, 41, pleaded guilty last year to felony charges he took the cash payoffs from gamblers for picks on games, including ones he officiated, based on his behind-the-scenes knowledge. He faces up to 33 months in prison at sentencing Tuesday . . . The Warriors bolstered their backcourt, re-signing explosive guard Monta Ellis to a six-year, $66 million contract and retaining shooting guard Kelenna Azubuike by matching the Clippers' three-year, $9 million contract offer. Ellis is expected to take over at point guard for Baron Davis, who signed a free agent deal with the Clippers . . . The Nuggets signed Chris Andersen, bringing the forward-center back to Denver after three seasons with New Orleans.

Tribune Co. is inviting at least three potential buyers who each submitted bids for the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field near or above $1 billion to participate in a second round of proposals, according to a person involved in the process. Included in the second round are Internet billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban; the Ricketts family, which founded the brokerage that is now TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.; and a group led by Sports Acquisition Holding Corp. that includes former baseball home run king Henry Aaron and former Republican Congressman Jack Kemp. The last group is believed to be teaming with another bidder who submitted an offer in the initial round . . . The Cubs placed closer Kerry Wood on the disabled list for the 12th time in his 10-year career because of a blister on his pitching hand . . . New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martínez headed home to the Dominican Republic following the death of his father. Martínez's father, Pablo Jaime, died Wednesday at 79 after battling a form of brain cancer for more than a year . . . A California League game between Modesto and Visalia was postponed when a sheriff's deputy was stabbed during a nearby eviction that prompted a standoff. Tulare County Sheriff Sergeant John Gray was serving an eviction when he was attacked by suspect Melvin Nicks and stabbed once in the upper chest. Gray shot Nicks, who retreated into the home, and a standoff ensued. The home was less than a block from the stadium that serves as the home of the Visalia (Calif.) Oaks. The game was postponed during the standoff, as police and sheriff's deputies surrounded the home. Eventually Nicks left the residence and was arrested and taken to a hospital in critical condition. The sheriff's sergeant was treated and released . . . Former major league pitcher Chuck Stobbs, best known for giving up a 565-foot home run to Mickey Mantle in 1953, said to be the longest ever hit, died of throat cancer in Sarasota, Fla. He was 79. Obituary, E9.

US swimmer Jessica Hardy's first trip to the Olympics could be over before it began. The swimmer tested positive for a banned substance, leaving her just two weeks to pursue any appeals before the Beijing Games. Hardy was expected to be a medal threat in the 100-meter breaststroke, and to play an important part on the US 400-meter free relay team, and possibly the 400 medley relay. Hardy's agent, Evan Morgenstein, said Hardy told him, "I never did anything wrong. I never cheated." . . . The International Olympic Committee told Iraqi sports officials in a letter that it would uphold its ban imposed in June, barring the nation from the Beijing Games. The IOC was unhappy the government in Baghdad replaced its national Olympic panel with members not recognized by the IOC . . . US men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski says injured forward LeBron James (sprained right ankle) is a "95 percent no-go" for tonight's exhibition against Canada . . . FC Dallas midfielder Dax McCarty replaced defender Nathan Sturgis on the men's US Olympic roster, added to the soccer squad after the Real Salt Lake defender aggravated a hamstring injury. McCarty joined the team yesterday morning, a day before it was to leave for Hong Kong and the exhibition ING Cup . . . Andy Roddick followed Roger Federer out of the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Roddick was upset by Marin Cilic, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Defending champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Robin Soderling. Gilles Simon, who upset the top-ranked Federer Wednesday, advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Jose Acasuso . . . The Revolution announced individual tickets for the Aug. 30 game against David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy will go on sale today at 10. Tickets can be purchased by calling 877-GET-REVS or at Ticketmaster outlets . . . The Boston Blazers added 12 players in the National Lacrosse League expansion draft, led by goaltender Mike Poulin, defenseman Mitch Belisle, and forward Matt Holman, who played at the University of Hartford. The Blazers begin play in January.