UPI NewsTrack Sports

Spurs' Oberto out with irregular heartbeat

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- San Antonio forward Fabricio Oberto will miss at least the first two games of the season because of an irregular heartbeat, the Spurs announced Wednesday.

The 33-year-old player from Argentina told the Spurs' staff Tuesday he felt a fluttering in his heart and an EKG confirmed an abnormal rhythm, the Spurs said. He underwent treatment that restored normal rhythm, the team said.

Oberto will undergo daily EKG exams for the next five days to make sure his heartbeat is OK, the team said.

Spurs officials said they expect Oberto to be ready to play when the Dallas Mavericks visit San Antonio Nov. 4.

Colts expect Sanders back in lineup

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Bob Sanders, the star safety of the Indianapolis Colts, is expected to play Sunday after missing five games with a sprained ankle, Coach Tony Dungy said.

The Colts (3-4) will play the New England Patriots.

Sanders has been out since injuring his right ankle in an 18-15 win over the Minnesota Vikings Sept. 14.

Dungy said Wednesday he also expects running back Joseph Addai and cornerback Kelvin Hayden to be ready to play against the Patriots. Addai has missed two games with a hamstring injury, and a knee injury sidelined Hayden for three weeks.

Doctor: Stroke forced Olson's retirement

TUCSON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Arizona basketball Coach Lute Olson, who announced his retirement last week, was advised to do so because he had suffered a stroke, his doctor said.

Olson, 74, who coached the Wildcats for a quarter-century, had a stroke in the front part of his brain that caused depression and changes in judgment, Dr. Steven Knope said.

The stroke was confirmed after Olson had an MRI and other exams because he had not responded to treatment for depression, Knope said.

The coach is believed to have suffered the stroke within the past year, the doctor said.

"I can't tell you how disappointed he is that he can't be here," Knope said at a Tuesday news conference in Tucson. "He is frankly devastated and this is something that is simply beyond his control. This is not an issue of character strength or weakness or someone who just couldn't muster the strength to do one more season."

Olson announced his retirement Thursday. He was succeeded by Russ Pennell, who was named interim coach.

Arizona won the national championship in 1997 and reached the Final Four four times under Olson. His record with the Wildcats is 589-187. His career record, which included stints at Iowa and Long Beach State, is 780-280.

Report: Dwight Howard pays $8M for house

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard bought an 11,026-square-foot lakefront house in the Orlando, Fla., area for $8 million, real estate agents said.

The house, on three acres in Seminole County, was described as a "castle" by agent Karen Arbutine of Re/Max Central Realty in a story in Wednesday's Orlando Sentinel.

The purchase by the 6-foot-11, 22-year-old Howard might be the priciest in a county known for its luxury homes, agents said.

The property, known as the Chateau d' Usse, had been listed for $9.7 million.

Chocky Burks, director of new homes for Stirling Sotheby's International Realty, said features of the luxury dwelling include a swimming pool with a waterfall, a theater, billiards room, four-car garage and a secret room.