Nets' Boone says he ready for opener

New Jersey Nets center Josh Boone returned to practice yesterday after missing more than a week because of a rapid heartbeat. The former University of Connecticut star met with coach Lawrence Frank after the workout and said he will be ready for tomorrow's regular-season opener at Washington. "I don't know if I'm starting or not, so I guess we'll see," said Boone, who added his stamina was good despite the layoff . . . The Knicks got down to the 15-player limit by cutting rookie Patrick Ewing Jr., the son of the team's career scoring leader. Ewing, a 6-foot-8-inch forward, was acquired from the Rockets Aug. 29, and had made a strong late bid to make the team. However, the Knicks opted to keep shooting guard Anthony Roberson . . . Rockets backup point guard Aaron Brooks will miss up to three weeks because of a bone bruise in his right ankle. Houston's first-round draft pick in 2007, Brooks was averaging 14.4 points and 4.1 assists this preseason . . . The Raptors exercised the fourth-year option on forward Andrea Bargnani, the first overall pick in the 2006 draft. He averaged 10.2 points and 3.7 rebounds last season . . . The Wizards exercised their third-year options two former first-round picks, forward Oleksiy Pecherov (2006) and guard Nick Young (2007) . . . The Lakers waived second-year guard Coby Karl, and announced they had picked up the fourth-year option on guard Jordan Farmar's contract . . . The Bulls re-signed forward Michael Ruffin, whom they waived last week.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin is considering retirement after a 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) loss to Juan Monaco in the first round of the Paris Masters. Safin, a former top-ranked player (he's now No. 31) and a three-time champion at the Paris tournament, wants a long break before making a decision. "I don't know what happened. Just couldn't find my rhythm and couldn't find the game," the 28-year-old Russian said. "I need to think everything through. I have no pressure and I have nothing to prove or show. I just want to be comfortable with my decision, whatever I will take." American Sam Querrey advanced to a second-round match against fourth-seeded Andy Murray when Marcos Baghdatis retired in the third set. Another American, Robby Ginepri, was bounced by Tomas Berdych, 6-4, 7-5 . . . Melanie Oudin upset third-seeded Sybille Bammer, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, in the Bell Challenge in Quebec City.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin will miss at least one game while in Russia to spend time with his ailing grandfather, ending his consecutive games streak at 203. The NHL's reigning MVP will sit out Washington's home game against Nashville tonight, and the Capitals were not sure when Ovechkin would return to the team . . . Blue Jackets goaltender Pascal Leclaire is expected to be sidelined at least a week with a sprained ankle.

Gymnasts will now have to start showing ID long before the Olympics. Beginning Jan. 1, all junior and senior gymnasts who represent their countries at most international meets will need a license from the International Gymnastics Federation. The licenses will include gymnasts' name, sex, country, and date of birth, and will be their proof of age for their entire career. The licensing system, approved by the FIG's executive committee at its Oct. 15-16 meeting, was in the works long before the Beijing Olympics. But it got new attention after questions were raised about the ages of China's gold medal women's team, with media reports and online records suggesting some of the girls could be as young as 14.

Billionaire booster T. Boone Pickens will give another $63 million to Oklahoma State University to finish athletic projects that were supposed to be paid for with a previous $165 million donation that took a hit during the economic downturn. Pickens also said he would be returning the $125 million remaining in the athletic department's fund to the university. Pickens's $165 million donation in January 2006 was the largest gift to a college athletic program. He intended to grow it through his investments so it would pay for an estimated $420 million in renovations and new construction on the campus, but Pickens's BP Capital energy encountered big financial trouble in recent months. The university said last week considerable funds remained despite reports the money had been largely or entirely lost . . . Colorado Rockies pitcher Luis Vizcaino was arrested in Tampa early yesterday after police said he was driving under the influence. The 34-year-old reliever was bailed out of jail later in the day. Police said Vizcaino was going 71 miles per hour in a 45-m.p.h. zone, and Vizcaino's blood-alcohol level was just over the legal limit . . . American Brandt Snedeker tied a course record with a 6-under-par 66 to take a four-shot lead after the first round of the four-man Kiwi Challenge in Wellington, New Zealand. Also competing for the $1.5 million top prize are Anthony Kim (70), Hunter Mahan (71), and Adam Scott (73) . . . Australian swimmer Grant Hackett, a two-time Olympic gold medal winner and the world record-holder in the 800 and 1,500 meters, retired from international competition . . . Formula One's governing body is moving forward with its plan to have a sole engine and transmission supplier beginning in 2010, saying some parties have shown interest in the bidding process. FIA intends to introduce rule amendments "requiring all competitors must use a standardized engine and transmission system" for the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons. Ferrari was not pleased with the decision, saying it could pull out of F1 if the changes go through.