Lemieux out for the season
PITTSBURGH, March 1 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh Penguins superstar center and owner Mario Lemieux, bothered by a bad hip since training camp, is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Lemieux, 36, was advised by team physicians Thursday to undergo a period of rest and rehabilition for the problem, which forced the Hall of Famer to undergo surgery in October.
Recent tests and evaluations have revealed a chronic tendinitis in a major hip flexor muscle as well as the hip capsule. Doctors advised Lemieux that continuing to play this season could lead to further damagae.
"While I am very disappointed that I can't be in the lineup, I am satisfied that we have identified the problem with my hip," Lemieux said. "The doctors have told me that this period of rest and rehabilitation is necessary so that I can make a full recovery and get back in the lineup next season."
Cavaliers rock Duke
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 1 (UPI) -- Roger Mason scored 22 points and Adam Hall added 21 Thursday night as the Virginia Cavaliers rallied from a late 15-point deficit for a thrilling 87-84 Atlantic Coast Conference victory over No. 3 Duke.
As a byproduct of the surprising result, Maryland clinched the undisputed regular-season title in the ACC.
Virginia (17-9, 7-8 ACC) had dropped seven of nine games and entered with its NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy. Things did not look favorable when Mike Dunleavy's basket gave Duke (25-3, 12-3) a 76-61 lead with just over eight minutes left.
But the Blue Devils went cold and the Cavaliers gradually chipped away, getting within 77-71 on a basket by freshman Keith Jenifer with 5:20 remaining. Hall had a three-pointer and a dunk to pull within one point with 3:18 to play.
Virginia had two empty possessions before Jenifer scored on a runner for its first lead of the game with 73 seconds remaining.
Mason made two free throws 23 seconds later and Hall added a pair that capped a 21-1 run for an 82-77 lead with 34 seconds left.
Jason Williams converted a three-point play with 22 seconds left to snap a drought of 7 1/2 minutes without a basket as Duke got within 84-82. Hall made one of two at the line and Williams was fouled while converting a follow shot with 12 seconds remaining.
But Williams, who was none of six at the line in a loss at Florida State on Jan. 6, missed the potential tying free throw, and Mason made two from the line for an 87-84 lead with six seconds to go.
Williams turned it over and Mason missed two free throws before Duke failed to get a clean shot off on its last possession.
Miller leads Cavaliers past Spurs
CLEVELAND, March 1 (UPI) -- Andre Miller made a tying three-pointer at the regulation buzzer Thursday night, then scored eight of his career-high 37 points in the extra session as the Cleveland Cavaliers surprised the San Antonio Spurs, 114-107.
The Spurs held a 100-96 lead before Miller made a jumper with 14 seconds left. The Cavaliers fouled Tim Duncan, who made one of two from the line, giving Cleveland a chance.
From the top of the arc, Miller tried to pass to Lamond Murray on the right wing. But the ball bounced off Murray's knee and right back to a wide-open Miller, who hit the three-pointer at the buzzer.
Two free throws by Duncan gave the Spurs a 106-103 lead in overtime before Miller took over. Working against Antonio Daniels, he made four foul shots and muscled his way for two short jumpers on the next four possessions, giving Cleveland a 111-106 lead with 51 seconds to go.
Other NBA results: Miami 100, New York 86; Phoenix 107, Indiana 100 in overtime; Utah 114, Memphis 70.
Flames win fight-marred game
CALGARY, March 1 (UPI) -- Jeff Shantz and defenseman Petr Buzek scored their first goals of the season and defenseman Derek Morris added his second Thursday night, allowing the Calgary Flames to hold on for a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues.
Shantz got a pass in the neutral zone from former Blues defenseman Igor Kravchuk and skated down the right side. He came in alone on ex-Flames goaltender Fred Brathwaite as Chris Pronger tried to hook him, but Shantz flipped the puck into the net 7:01 into the second period for his first goal since Feb. 18, 2001.
Buzek scored just 5 1/2 minutes later when his slap shot from the left faceoff circle beat Brathwaite.
Morris capped the scoring with 5:27 left when he fired the puck from the right point that bounced off Pronger at the top of the crease, hit Brathwaite and found the net for his first goal since Oct. 25, a span of 49 games.
With 5:10 left, a full-scale brawl erupted when the Blues retaliated for Bob Boughner's check on Doug Weight that sidelined the St. Louis center for the rest of the game with a bruised right knee.
There were 139 penalty minutes assessed, including game misconducts to Jamal Mayers, Reed Low and Bryce Salvador of the Blues and Dave Lowry, Robyn Regehr and Clarke Wilm of the Flames.
Other NHL results: Carolina 6, Boston 2; Ottawa 3, New York Rangers 0; Pittsburgh 4, Columbus 3 in overtime; San Jose 5, Washington 2; Nashville 3, Edmonton 2; Colorado 2, Phoenix 1 in overtime; Dallas 4, Vancouver 3 in overtime.
Red Sox fire Dan Duquette
FORT MYERS, Fla., March 1 (UPI) -- Less than 24 hours after taking over the franchise, the new owners of the Boston Red Sox Thursday fired General Manager Dan Duquette.
Red Sox vice president of baseball operations Mike Port will serve as interim general manager.
In a record $660 million sale that included Fenway Park and the New England Sports Network, ownership of the Red Sox was officially transferred Wednesday to a group headed by John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino.
It had been widely speculated that the new owners would dismiss Duquette, who will be paid for the rest of his contract through January 2004. No timetable has been set for the hiring of a general manager.
John Madden moves to Monday Night Football
NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- It will be Monday Night Football with John Madden instead of comedian Dennis Miller.
Fox released Madden from the final year of his contract after the sides could not agree on an extension and the popular NFL commentator agreed to a four-year deal with ABC. He will team with Al Michaels in the Monday Night Football booth.
"Every broadcaster would love an opportunity to be part of Monday Night Football," Madden said. "This is something that came very quickly."
Madden's arrival spells the end for Miller and analyst Dan Fouts in the Monday Night booth. Sideline reporter Eric Dickerson will also leave the show.
Madden, 65, has been the top analyst at Fox since it took the NFC package away from CBS in 1994. But Fox recently decided to replace Pat Summerall, Madden's partner at CBS and Fox for the last 21 years, as the network's top play-by-play man.
Madden thought it was time for a change as well and his representatives at International Management Group requested permission for Madden to be released from the remaining year of his contract, which was worth $7.5 million.
Despite sagging ratings, Monday Night Football is still considered the sport's top showcase for announcers and ABC will televise the Super Bowl next season.
DiMarco leads Genuity Championship
MIAMI, March 1 (UPI) -- Chris DiMarco, who has been one of the world's top players during the past six months while climbing to No. 10 in the global rankings, fired a 7-under 65 Thursday that gave him the lead after one round of the Genuity Championship.
Tiger Woods, seeking his first win of the season, was close behind at 67.
"It could have been a little bit better, but I am not going to be disappointed," said Woods, who had birdies at Nos. 14, 15 and 17. "I played well today and it was nice making a couple of putts coming in."
DiMarco, winner of the Phoenix Open, attacked the Doral Resort and Spa course with birdies on the first three holes.
He was one shot better than a quartet that included Vijay Singh of Fiji and Ernie Els of South Africa.
Ravens trim more starters
OWINGS MILLS, Md., March 1 (UPI) -- The Super Bowl champions from two years ago continue to vanish at an alarming rate.
More than $20 million over the salary cap in mid-February, the Baltimore Ravens completed their purge Thursday, waiving Pro Bowlers Shannon Sharpe and Rod Woodson along with five other starters.
Sharpe is the NFL's all-time leader for tight ends in catches and yards and Woodson was named to the league's 75th Anniversary Team at cornerback before making the switch to safety. But age and high salary cap tags ended their days in Baltimore.
The Ravens also waived receiver Qadry Ismail, fullback Sam Gash, defensive end Rob Burnett, tackle Kipp Vickers and defensive tackle Larry Webster. Defensive tackle Tony Siragusa had already announced his retirement.
Baltimore had $7 million shaved off its cap when the Houston Texans claimed starting linebacker Jamie Sharper and returner Jermaine Lewis in the expansion draft.
But that left the Ravens with plenty of payroll paring left to get under the $71.1 million salary cap by Friday.
In other salary cap moves Thursday, the Buffalo Bills waived quarterback Rob Johnson and the New York Giants released linebacker Jesse Armstead.
