Wade shooting for playoffs with rehab
MIAMI, March 5 (UPI) -- Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade has decided to forgo season-ending surgery and instead will attempt to rehab his dislocated shoulder in time for the playoffs.
The three-time NBA all-star fell short of guaranteeing a playoff return on Monday, but said he will do all he can to recuperate from the left shoulder injury he suffered in a Feb. 21 game against Houston, the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post said.
"My decision for the next two to three weeks is to rehab with the possibility of coming back, but with no guarantees," Wade said. "I'll find out after therapy and rehab how my body responds to things."
Since losing Wade to injury, the Heat (29-29) has gone 3-2. But for the season, the Southeast Division team has gone 4-8 without its star guard.
Wade, who missed seven games all of last season, made his decision after consulting with two doctors and Heat Coach Pat Riley.
The paper said Wade expects to have shoulder surgery once the season is concluded.
Wilson takes PGA event's playoff
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., March 5 (UPI) -- Mark Wilson knocked in a birdie putt on the third hole of a four-golfer playoff Monday and claimed the Honda Classic for his first PGA title.
Wilson, Jose Coceres, Camilo Villegas and Boo Weekley ended the 72-hole tournament tied at five-under-par 275 on Sunday but regulation play ended too late for the playoff to take place. Tournament officials scheduled the playoff for Monday morning.
Villegas and Weekley were eliminated on the second playoff hole Monday and Coceres and Wilson headed to the par 3 17th hole. Coceres put his tee shot within 9 feet of the hole and Wilson followed with a shot 10 feet from the cup.
Wilson made his putt but Coceres pushed his to the right, giving Wilson the championship.
"It feels good. I'm just thrilled. I hit a good putt there and it just caught the right edge," said Wilson, who earned $990,000 for the win. "I'm just tickled to death after what happened Sunday. I didn't think I should be here and to walk away with victory is something else."
Tar Heels' Hansbrough breaks nose
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 5 (UPI) -- North Carolina sophomore forward Tyler Hansbrough has a broken nose but the injury is not expected to keep him out of this week's ACC Tournament.
The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported Monday Hansbrough had a "small, non-displaced" fracture of his nose and would need a root canal to repair a tooth.
Hansbrough was injured late in Sunday's regular-season-ending 86-72 victory over No. 21 Duke. He was hit in the face by Duke freshman Gerald Henderson's elbow.
North Carolina Coach Roy Williams told the Observer he expected Hansbrough to be available when the Tar Heels, ranked eighth in the country, open ACC Tournament play Friday.
Hansbrough leads the Tar Heels in scoring (18.8 points a game) and rebounds (eight rebounds a game).
Churchill Downs, Magna join forces
LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 5 (UPI) -- Kentucky racetrack Churchill Downs reached an agreement with Magna Entertainment regarding broadcast of the track's races.
Churchill Downs formerly offered its races on TVG television but the events will now be seen on Magna's HRTV.
Magna's parent company, the Magna Corps., also owns several racetracks, including Santa Anita Park and Pimlico Race Course.
The deal also gives Magna access to races at Churchill Downs-owned tracks in New Orleans, Chicago and Florida.
The Louisville Courier-Journal said the deal also includes plans for Churchill Downs and Magna to start an "account-wagering service," which would make races at Churchill Downs-owned tracks available on XpressBet, which is owned by Magna.
"We believe the business initiatives we're launching will benefit customers in many ways, including the optimal distribution of simulcast content originating from Churchill Downs- and Magna Entertainment-owned racetracks to other tracks, OTBs, casinos and ADW (advance deposit wagering) providers," Churchill Downs' President and Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Evans said in a release.
Illinois State basketball coach fired
NORMAL, Ill., March 5 (UPI) -- Porter Moser has been fired as men's basketball coach at Illinois State.
Moser and the Redbirds just completed a 15-16 season, which gave the coach an overall record for 51-67 in six years at Illinois State. They were 22-50 in Missouri Valley Conference play under Moser.
"This isn't about wins and losses from a particular season," said Illinois State Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger. "This is about a program, and the management of that program. I have talked this over with (Illinois State) President (Al) Bowman and he concurs with the decision."
Moser took over at Illinois State in April 2003 after building a 54-34 record in three seasons at Arkansas-Little Rock. He was an assistant for five teams at the Division I level for 10 years before earning his first head coaching job.
