Bynum nearly ready to rejoin Lakers

Pioneerof the Nile and I Want Revenge are headed to next month's Kentucky Derby as early favorites, but The Pamplemousse won't be joining them in Louisville. The colt with the three-race winning streak won't run in the May 2 Derby, although his racing career isn't over. The Pamplemousse was scratched because of a tendon problem hours before Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, in which he was the 9-5 morning-line favorite. A prerace examination showed heat in The Pamplemousse's front left leg, and more exams yesterday revealed the lesion on the tendon. "He has a small lesion and we'll do the best thing by the horse," said Alex Solis II, one of the colt's co-owners. "The Pamplemousse will run again. His time off will be indefinite, but it will be longer than six months." Things look much more promising for Pioneerof the Nile and I Want Revenge, who came out of their preps in good shape. Trainer Bob Baffert said Pioneerof the Nile, which won the Santa Anita by a length, will depart for Louisville April 14. Pioneerof the Nile gave Baffert his record fifth Santa Anita Derby victory, breaking a tie with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. I Want Revenge also impressed in winning Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, in which the colt got caught flat-footed at the start, trailed the field, and then got through a wall of horses to win by 1 1/2 lengths. I Want Revenge heads to Churchill Downs today.

Andy Murray became the first Briton to win the Sony Ericsson Open by defeating Novak Djokovic, 6-2, 7-5, in Key Biscayne, Fla. The Scotsman used his vast repertoire of shots and took advantage of two wobbly stretches by Djokovic, who struggled with the 85-degree heat. Djokovic rushed his strokes at the start and fell behind 4-0. In the second set, Murray rallied from a break down at 1-4, overcame two set points, and won 10 of the final 11 points. Murray is the first three-time titlist this year on the men's tour thanks to a career-best 26-2 start, and since July his record is 57-7, best on the tour. The No. 4-seeded Murray committed only 19 unforced errors, patiently mixing the pace and direction of his shots to keep the No. 3-seeded Djokovic off balance.

Vladimir Sobotka scored twice and the Providence Bruins edged the Manchester Monarchs, 3-2, in their regular-season home finale. The Bruins close the regular season with three road games before opening the Calder Cup playoffs at the Dunkin' Donuts Center April 15 . . . Elin Holmlov and Erika Holst scored two goals each as Sweden routed China, 6-1, in the preliminary round of the women's world championships in Hameenlinna, Finland. Sweden, the 2006 Olympic silver medalists, plays Canada tonight for a place in the second round from Group B. In other games, Russia beat Japan, 3-1, in Group A and Kazakhstan edged Switzerland, 2-1, in Group C. The United States, which won its first world title in Sweden four years ago, beat Japan in its opener Saturday and plays Russia today for a spot in the second round.

Duncan Kibet of Kenya won the Rotterdam Marathon in a course-record time of 2 hours 4 minutes 27 seconds. James Kwambai, who had the same time, finished second in a Kenyan sweep of the top three places. Abel Kirui was third in 2:05:04. Nailya Yulamanova of Russia won the women's race in a personal-best time of 2:26:30 . . . Kenyan Vincent Kipruto set a race record at the Paris Marathon, winning in 2:05.47. Bazu Worka of Ethiopia was second (2:06:15), and David Kiyeng of Kenya third (2:06:26). Atsede Bayisa of Kenya won the woman's race in 2:24:42 . . . Tony Sanchez hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to rally Boston College - which trailed, 10-2, in the fifth inning - to an 11-10 win over visiting North Carolina State. Barry Butera had a triple and three RBIs for the Eagles (19-10, 7-6 Atlantic Coast) and Mike Belfiore got the win with two scoreless inning of relief . . . Tom Stack-Babich's run-scoring line drive off the wall in right in the 17th inning allowed Harvard to walk off with a 13-12 win over Princeton, giving the host Crimson (7-18, 5-3 Ivy) a doubleheader split. Princeton won the opener, 3-1 . . . Freshman Emily Roesch hit a game-winning two-run homer in the seventh inning, lifting Boston University to a 5-4 win over visiting Maryland-Baltimore County, giving the Terriers (23-10, 4-1 America East) a sweep of the softball doubleheader. BU won the opener, 2-1.