NBA ushers in new Jordan era
NEW YORK, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Michael Jordan's highly anticipated return to the National Basketball Association hogged the spotlight as the NBA began a new season Tuesday night.
Jordan and his new team, the Washington Wizards, were in New York to take on the Knicks, a team Jordan victimized time and again as a member of the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.
During the Jordan era the Bulls eliminated New York five times from the NBA playoffs and Jordan burned the Knick nets for 55 points in 1995.
The Wizards are a far cry from the Bulls and not much is expected of them this season. But, Jordan, though older and a little heavier since his retirement in 1998, showed he can still score in pre-season action.
The Knicks meanwhile were without Marcus Camby, who was expected to miss six games with a foot injury.
But, while the attention was on Jordan's second comeback, the Los Angeles Lakers were given a solid chance of winning their third straight NBA title. The Lakers opened at home against Portland while Philadelphia, which lost to Los Angeles in the title game last season, was at Minnesota in other highlights of the opening night 12-game schedule.
Yankees call on Clemens
NEW YORK, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- After being stifled by the Arizona Diamondbacks' two aces, the New York Yankees turned to five-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens for Tuesday night's Game Three of the World Series.
Clemens set a major league record when he won 20 of his first 21 decisions to put himself in position for an unprecedented sixth Cy Young Award. However, after the 20-1 start, the 39-year-old righthander went 0-2 in his last three outings.
But, as Yankee Manager Joe Torre said, "Roger's the key."
Arizona surprisingly countered with Brian Anderson, a struggling lefthander who won only four games all season.
But, theD'Backs hoped he would follow in the footsteps of his dominating teammates Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson who held the Yankees to one run in the first two games, played in Phoenix, for a 2-0 lead with the Series moving to New York.
TheYankees meanwhile knew they had to get their hitting back on tract and that they would have to find a way to beat either Schilling or Johnson in order to come back for another championship.
Capriati wins at Munich
MUNICH, Germany, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Jennifer Capriati opened the season-ending Sanex Championships on Tuesday with a victory and
held on to her No. 1 ranking.
In the first match of this $3 million indoor event, Capriati, the top seed, rallied past Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Had Capriati fallen, Lindsay Davenport would have moved past her into the No. 1 spot. Davenport, seeded second this week, has won three straight titles in as many weeks to move
within 61 points in back of Capriati in the WTA Tour rankings.
Capriati, who won the Australian and French Opens this season, took the top spot away from Martina Hingis of Switzerland in October to become the ninth woman to hold the No. 1 ranking.
Seniors champ shares good fortune
ATLANTA, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Six years ago, Allen Doyle's main source of income was a modest driving range in LaGrange, Ga. Now, after three full seasons on the Senior PGA Tour he's much better off but isn't forgetting the leaner times.
Doyle has won more than $6 million on the tour, including the 2001 money title with $2.55 million.
Grateful for his success, Doyle, 53, and his wife Kate have decided to donate to charity the $1 million tax-deferred annuity he earned for capturing the Senior Tour's season-long performance championship, the Schwab Cup.
Doyle also will fund 10-year scholarships for children of policemen or firefighters who perished in the World Trade Center attack.
