Emmitt Smith retires from NFL
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, announced his retirement Thursday.
"I think it's only fitting for me to leave the game, to move on with my life and to retire as a Dallas Cowboy," Smith said during a news conference at the site of Sunday's Super Bowl.
Smith signed a ceremonial contract with Dallas, allowing him to retire as a Cowboy.
The 35-year-old star played 13 years for Dallas and the past two for Arizona.
During his 15-year career, Smith, 35, was a three-time Super Bowl winner and an eight-time Pro Bowl selection.
His career totals include 18,355 rushing yards and 164 rushing touchdowns. He broke Walter Payton's all-time rushing record in 2002 and was named MVP of the league and the Super Bowl in 1993.
NHL talks go on, will continue Friday
NEW YORK, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- An eight-hour NHL negotiating session ended Thursday night and more talks were set for Friday amid a report the league season is about to be cancelled.
With the NHL's commissioner and the players' union chief sitting in on the talks, the lengthy meeting ended with no results to announce.
"In deference to the process, there will be no comment, and no further update is expected tonight," the NHL said in a statement.
The season-long lockout of players threatens to wipe out an entire campaign for the first time in the history of North American team sports.
ESPN quoted an unidentified owner Thursday as saying there would be no hockey this season and that an announcement could be expected before the end of the week.
But no such announcement came Thursday and an official from the NHL Players Association said another meeting would be held Friday.
Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow took part in Thursday's meeting. It was the first time they had participated in the talks in almost two months.
Spurs hold off Lakers
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Tony Parker helped repel a Los Angeles comeback Thursday night as San Antonio outlasted the Lakers, 103-91.
The game marked the debut as interim coach for the Lakers' Frank Hamblen, who moved into the job when Rudy Tomjanovich stepped down Wednesday.
Hamblen had been in charge for the two previous Los Angeles outings -- both wins -- prior to Tomjanovich announcing his resignation.
San Antonio led by 25 after three periods and it would have been 28 had not Caron Butler hit a three-pointer at the buzzer.
The Lakers, however, cut their deficit to seven points with less than four minutes to play.
A basket and two free throws by Parker finally slowed down the charge. Parker scored 22 points, Malik Rose had 19 and both Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan had 17 for the Spurs. San Antonio won its fourth straight.
The Lakers were led by Lamar Odom with 23.
North Carolina beats up on rival
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- A career-best 20 points from Marvin Williams sent No. 2 North Carolina coasting past North Carolina State Thursday night, 95-71.
The Tar Heels won for the 18th time in 19 games, improving to 18-2 for the season and to 7-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Wolfpack fell to 13-8 and 3-5.
Sean May added 16 points and Raymond Felton had 11. It was North Carolina's third straight win over its old rival.
North Carolina State was led by Julius Hodge with 18 points.
The contest was never in doubt with the Tar Heels racing to a 19-point lead at halftime.
North Carolina hit 60 percent of its shots from the field.
Hart leads windswept FBR Open
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Dudley Hart shot a 4-under 67 in high winds Thursday and had a one-shot lead when play was suspended in the first round of the FBR Open.
Winds were so strong that they caused golf balls to roll off the greens, so play had to be stopped for 90 minutes during the morning.
Only four players with morning tee times broke par at the TPC-Scottsdale course. There were 15 players with late tee times under par when play was halted because of darkness.
Stewart Cink and Hunter Mahan were a shot back at 3-under 68 while Heath Slocum was at 3-under with two holes to play and Charles Warren was 3-under with five holes remaining.
Hank Kuehne, the longest driver on the PGA Tour, shot a 2-under 69.
World No. 1 Vijay Singh was at even-par 71 and Phil Mickelson stood at 2-over with two holes to play.
The first round was scheduled to resume at 7:30 a.m. local time with some players having as many as seven holes to go before completing the round.
