Allen Iverson cleared waivers and is free to sign with any team. The former NBA MVP was waived Tuesday after playing only three games with the Memphis Grizzlies and no team claimed him in the following 48 hours, making him a free agent. The New York Knicks are discussing whether they want to bring in the 34-year-old guard. Iverson was unhappy coming off the bench last season in Detroit and this season with the Grizzlies, so there isn’t expected to be much interest in him . . . John Thompson and the late Kay Yow were presented with the second annual Joe Lapchick Character Awards. New York City high school coaching legend Jack Curran was also recognized with the award given to coaches who have shown the character traits and coaching skills of the Hall of Famer who coached St. John’s and the New York Knicks.

Lorena Ochoa shot a 66 and has a one-shot lead over Reilley Rankin after the first round of the LPGA’s season-ending Tour Championship in Richmond, Texas. Michelle Wie, fresh off her first LPGA victory last week, shot a 72. She limped through her round on a sprained left ankle that she first injured at the Solheim Cup in August. She went for treatment after her round and withdrew about an hour later. Jiyai Shin, who leads Ochoa by 8 points in the race to become the tour’s player of the year, shot 70 . . . The LPGA Tour is adding a new $1.7 million tournament at La Costa Resort & Spa outside San Diego next year. The LPGA Classic Presented by J Golf will be played March 22-28 at the resort in Carlsbad the week before the Kraft Nabisco Championship . . . Steve Haskins shot his second straight 6-under 65 to take a four-stroke lead over Ronnie Black after the third round of the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz. Black, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, shot 64 . . . Robert Allenby shot a 7-under 65 for a one-shot lead after the first round of the Dubai World Championship. Allenby was one shot ahead of Lee Westwood, Chris Woods, and Camilo Villegas.

Los Angeles forward Landon Donovan was named the 2009 MLS most valuable player after helping lead the Galaxy to the MLS Cup final for the first time since 2005. Despite the accolades he’s garnered for being the best player in the US, this is the first time Donovan has won the top award in MLS. Donovan scored 12 goals and had six assists during the regular season, helping the Galaxy rally for the best record in the Western Conference . . . The Galaxy canceled their postseason tour in Germany, blaming the promoter for not meeting obligations. The Galaxy were scheduled to play FC Kaiserslautern of Germany’s second division on Thanksgiving Day and a second opponent Dec. 1, also in Germany . . . Ireland appealed to France and FIFA to replay their World Cup playoff, which ended in a 1-1 draw, after an obvious hand ball by Thierry Henry set up the deciding goal. France advanced to next year’s World Cup in South Africa, 2-1, on total goals. FIFA declined to comment specifically on Ireland’s protests but pointed to its rule forbidding second-guessing of on-field decisions by referees.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said he’s ready to negotiate a showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, suggesting potential locations and acknowledging that his Filipino star is willing to fight at 147 pounds. Arum is waiting to hear from Golden Boy Promotions chief Richard Schaefer, who is acting as an intermediary between Top Rank and Mayweather Promotions, two companies with an acrimonious relationship. “I have to have discussions with our side, and when the time is right, I will be talking to Bob,’’ Schaefer said . . . Tyson Gay and Sanya Richards both won the Jesse Owens Award for a second time. Gay tied or lowered his American record in the 100 meters three times in three months this year, with a best of 9.69 seconds. Richards won the 400 and ran the anchor leg to help the US capture the 1,600 relay at this year’s world championships . . . Italian cyclist Davide Rebellin plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after being stripped of his Olympic silver medal because of doping.