Lakers win showdown with Kings
SACRAMENTO, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant combined for 74 points Friday night, sending the Los Angeles Lakers soaring past Sacramento, 124-113.
Bryant scored 38 points while O'Neal had 34 to go along with 11 rebounds and a game-high six assists.
The Lakers won for the eighth time in 11 games and climbed to within two games of the .500 mark. Sacramento lost at home for just the fourth time this season.
The Kings were led by 36 points from Predrag Stojakovic, who fouled out in the game's final moments.
In Boston, Richard Hamilton scored 29 points and Chauncey Billups added 24 as the Detroit Pistons crushed the Boston Celtics, 118-66, handing the 16-time NBA champions their worst loss ever.
Boston's previous most lopsided loss came in a 114-69 setback to the Washington Wizards on Oct. 31, the second game of the season.
This one was worse as the Pistons led by as many as 60 in the final two minutes, more than doubling the Celtics at 118-58. Boston barely avoided the franchise low of 62 points, shooting just 29.9 percent from the field.
And in Toronto, the Raptors surprised the Indiana Pacers, 102-90, in a chippy game that saw Indiana coach Isiah Thomas and forward Al Harrington ejected following an altercation early in the fourth quarter.
With Indiana's Ron Artest serving the second of his four-game suspension for his confrontation with Miami coach Pat Riley, emotions boiled over again for the Pacers, who suffered their second straight loss.
With 8:02 left, Toronto's Morris Peterson became tangled with Harrington as the two players came downcourt. Apprarently thinking that he was tripped intentionally, Harrington charged at Peterson and the players exchanged shoves. Peterson also was ejected.
Things escalated when Thomas ran onto the court and tried to go after Peterson, shouting obscenities at him. Thomas was held back by Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens, likely saving him a suspension.
The Raptors avoided a season sweep by the Pacers, beating them for the first time in four meetings. Toronto improved to 2-1 since Vince Carter returned to the lineup.
Other NBA results: Philadelphia 104, Miami 99; Atlanta 96, Cleveland 91; New Jersey 89, New Orleans 72; San Antonio 109, Orlando 108; New York 108, Memphis 102; Houston 121, Minnesota 101; Utah 102, Golden State 94; Portland 107, Chicago 94; Phoenix 98, Los Angeles Clippers 92.
LeBron James ruled ineligible
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- High school basketball star LeBron James has been ruled ineligible for the rest of the season for accepting clothing as a gift.
James is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft this year.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled Friday that James has violated amateur bylaws when he accepted clothing with a value of about $850 as a gift from a store in the Cleveland area.
"Lebron capitalized on his talent and his skill to receive the gift," OHSAA commissioner Clair Muscaro said.
Muscaro said he first became aware of the violation Thursday and spoke with store personnel before making his decision. He said the store was to receive an autographed picture of James in return.
OHSAA rules forbid athletes from receiving any kind of apparel worth more than $100.
The OHSAA also ruled that James's team, Saint Vincent-Saint Mary of Akron, must forfeit its win Sunday because James played in the game after he forfeited his amateur status.
According to various reports, the merchandise was a pair of "throwback" jerseys. One was of Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Gale Sayers and the other of Washington Bullets center Wes Unseld.
Ames leads Hope Classic
LA QUINTA, Calif., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Stephen Ames continued his sizzling play in the California desert Friday, taking the lead after three rounds of the Bob Hope Classic.
Ames fired an 8-under-par 64 at the La Quinta Country Club to grab a one-stroke advantage over Jay Haas. Ames, seeking his first PGA Tour title, completed 54 holes of the 90-hole, celebrity-filled event at 22-under 194. He posted a 67 in the first round and a 63 in the second.
Haas, who will be eligible to play on the 50-and-older Champions Tour next season, shot a 5-under 67 at Indian Wells and was alone in second place. The winner of the 1988 Bob Hope Classic, Haas carded a career-best 11-under-par 61 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead heading into the third round.
Mike Weir, another Canadian, and Tim Herron were tied for third at 197, one stroke ahead of Chris DiMarco, Steve Lowery and J.L. Lewis.
Four courses, all with a par of 72, are utilized for the tournament.
In Hawaii, Hale Irwin fired a 6-under-par 66 to seize a share of the lead after the first round of the season-opening $1.5 million MasterCard Championship.
The Senior PGA Tour changed its name during the offseason and is now known as the Champions Tour. The MasterCard Championship has a field of just 36 golfers limited to winners from the last two seasons and major event winners since 1998.
Irwin shared the top spot with tour iron man Dana Quigley and Steve Veriato. The trio was one shot ahead of tour mainstays Larry Nelson and Jay Sigel.
A slim-downed Jack Nicklaus was among a group of eight at 4-under 68.
Michael Andretti to retire from racing
MOORESVILLE, N.C., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Michael Andretti's storied career will come to an end when the checkered flag drops at the Indianapolis 500 on May 25.
Andretti announced his retirement Friday night at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. The son of the legendary Mario Andretti will concentrate on ownership of his IRL team -- Andretti Green Racing.
Andretti's retirement statement came only months after he joined forces with Kim Green and Kevin Savoree to purchase Team Green from Barry Green.
The trio has been immersed in the formation of AGR since it officially opened for business on Dec. 3. The team also announced it will field three cars at every IndyCar Series race this season and four cars at the Indianapolis 500.
Baseball punishes umpire
ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Umpire Bruce Froemming reportedly will not be allowed to work during baseball's opening series in Japan because he used an ethnic slur.
USA Today reported Friday that Froemming will likely be suspended and already has been taken off the two-game opening series between the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners in Tokyo on March 25-26.
The newspaper cited three unidentified league officials who claim they heard a recorded phone message in which Froemming directs a slur at umpiring administrator Cathy Davis. Froemming apparently was upset after being chided by baseball officials for booking his own transportation to Japan and not letting baseball's office handle it as he was instructed.
The baseball officials said that Froemming would likely be suspended for a week to 10 days for his remarks. USA Today added that baseball officials have a copy of the tape.
A spokesman for Major League Baseball would not comment on any possible suspension.
"It was a matter handled internally," Davis told USA Today.
The 63-year-old Froemming, who is entering his 32nd season and is baseball's most senior umpire, is no stranger to controversy. In 1996, he was reprimanded for taking a case of baseballs to the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse to seek autographs before a game he worked.
Olowokandi goes on injured list
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Clippers placed center Michael Olowokandi on the injured list Friday with a sprained left knee.
Cherokee Parks was activated to take his place on the roster.
Olowokandi will undergo a diagnostic arthroscopy on his injured knee Monday and miss at least five games. In 36 games this season, he is averaging 12.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks.
Olowokandi struggled in Wednesday's 77-75 victory over the Chicago Bulls, scoring only four points, and was benched in the fourth quarter after making just two of 15 shots.
Parks, who was placed on the injured list on Dec. 13 due to back spasms, has played in just seven games this season, averaging 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds.
The top pick in the 1998 draft, Olowokandi has endured knee problems on and off all season, missing all eight of the Clippers' preseason games with tendinitis. The Nigerian started the Clippers' first 17 regular season contests, but also was on the injured list in December and sat out five games with a sore left knee.
Blue Jays sign Kelvim Escobar
TORONTO, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Reliever Kelvim Escobar avoided arbitration with Toronto when he agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million contract Friday.
The Blue Jays had submitted a $3.5 million offer in arbitration. Escobar sought $4.6 million after making $2.3 million last season.
Escobar, 26, was 5-7 with 38 saves and a 4.27 ERA last season. The righthander appeared in a career-high 76 games in 2002 and recorded 85 strikeouts with 44 walks in 78 innings.
The native of Venezuela has a career record of 45-46 with 54 saves and a 4.66 ERA in 260 games, including 75 starts.
The deal with Escobar leaves outfielder Shannon Stewart as the only Blue Jay still eligible for arbitration.
Hurricanes lose Erik Cole
RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- The Carolina Hurricanes could be without right wing Erik Cole for two to three months.
It is further bad news for the Hurricanes, who are currently out of a playoff spot after reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history last season.
Cole suffered a broken bone in his left leg when he landed awkwardly after being checked by Tampa Bay's Dan Boyle in the second period of Carolina's 3-1 loss to the Lightning on Thursday night.
The 24-year-old Cole, who was going to play in the NHL YoungStars Game at All-Star weekend, may need surgery.
As a rookie last season, Cole had 16 points and 24 assists in 81 games. In the playoffs, he had six goals and nine assists in 23 games. This season, he has 14 goals and 13 assists in 53 contests.
Carolina (17-25-6-5) is 1-9-1-2 in its last 13 games and is 10 points from the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
All-American semifinals in Tokyo
TOKYO, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- For the first time in 14 years, the semifinals of the $1.3 million Pan Pacific Open tennis event will feature an all-American lineup.
Top seed Monica Seles will try to beat fourth seed Chanda Rubin for the fifth time in as many career meetings in their final four matchup Saturday. After teaming up in the Australian Open doubles competition, No. 3 Lindsay Davenport looks to improve to 12-0 lifetime against unseeded Lisa Raymond.
In 1989, Martina Navratilova faced Mary Joe Fernandez and Lori McNeil encountered Zina Garrison in the semifinals here. Navratilova went on to conquer McNeil in the championship match.
Seles and Rubin have met twice on clay courts and another two times on hard courts. While Seles has dominated their encounters on clay, Rubin pushed the former world No. 1 to a deciding set at the 1996 Australian Open semifinals and the third round of the 2000 U.S. Open.
Seles made the semifinals here for the third time in four attempts, posting a 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian qualifier Lina Krasnoroutskaya on Friday. Seles is playing in her first event since the earliest Australian Open exit of her career.
