Sports Log
It's unanimous: Tar Heels are No. 1
November 1, 2008
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BASKETBALL
North Carolina is the unanimous No. 1 pick in the Associated Press preseason men's Top 25. The Tar Heels, who are the first unanimous No. 1 since the preseason poll began in 1981-82, have the top six scorers - including national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough - back from a team that had a school-record 36 wins and reached the Final Four. Connecticut, which returns four starters, was No. 2, followed by Louisville, UCLA, and Pittsburgh . . . Hansbrough's father, Gene, says it's unclear if the UNC center will miss any regular-season games because of a leg injury. Gene Hansbrough said his son had felt pain in his right shin off and on for a few weeks before going to the team's medical staff. The team said Hansbrough will be out of practice indefinitely with a stress reaction, which can be a precursor to a fracture without proper rest . . . Disgruntled Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, who is scheduled to earn $21.9 million this season, was placed on the inactive list. The former All-Star asked coach Mike D'Antoni if he was going to play in last night's game against the 76ers. When told he would not be seeing action, Marbury reportedly requested to be put on the inactive list and D'Antoni agreed . . . Pacers forward Danny Granger signed a five-year contract extension reportedly worth $60 million. Also signing extensions were Pistons forward Jason Maxiell (four years, $20 million) and Trail Blazers swingman Martell Webster (four years, $20 million).NHL
Injury leaves Crosby's status up in air
Sidney Crosby has an undisclosed injury, and it's unclear if the Penguins star will be able to play tonight against St. Louis. Crosby left Thursday night's game at Phoenix with five minutes left in the third period. The injury appeared to be to Crosby's lower body . . . Alexei Cherepanov, the 19-year-old rising star and the Rangers' first-round draft pick who died Oct. 13 after collapsing during a game in Moscow, was playing illegally for his Russian club, a military officer said. Colonel Vladimir Karpenko, a spokesman for Russia's Railway Troops, said Cherepanov should have been serving his mandatory military service with his unit, not playing for the Omsk club Avangard . . . Alex Ovechkin, who is visiting his ailing grandfather in Russia, will miss the Capitals' game at Buffalo tonight, but is expected to return Monday. Washington defenseman Tom Poti will return tonight from a groin injury that forced him to miss five games . . . The league suspended Blue Jackets forward Jared Boll for one game because of an instigator penalty in the final minutes of Columbus's game at Colorado Thursday night.MISCELLANY
Nadal, Federer bow out with injuries
Top-ranked Rafael Nadal retired with a knee injury after losing the first set, 6-1, to Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters. Second-ranked Roger Federer pulled out before his quarterfinal against James Blake because of a stiff back, but said it wasn't serious . . . Leigh Steinberg, a prominent sports agent who has represented Drew Bledsoe and Troy Aikman and helped inspire the movie "Jerry Maguire," was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public in Newport Beach, Calif. Police said Steinberg, who has acknowledged a battle with alcoholism, was taken into custody Oct. 22 after they got a report about a man "screaming and attempting to climb a hill" above the Newport Auto Center . . . David Duval, winless in seven years and laboring at No. 233 on the money list, put together a strong round of 3-under-par 69 at the PGA Tour's Ginn sur Mer Classic in Palm Coast, Fla., that left him two shots behind Ryan Palmer (71, 6-under 138) entering the third round . . . Andy Bean fired a 6-under 66 in the second round for a 10-under 134 total and a one-shot lead over Nick Price (69) in the Champions Tour's 
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