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Piniella, Maddon win managerial awards

NEW YORK, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Lou Piniella of the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay's Joe Maddon Wednesday were named baseball's managers of the year.

Piniella, 65, a two-time winner in the American League (1995, 2001), captured the National League honor after guiding his team to a league-best 97 wins and the Cubs' second straight division title.

The Cubs were eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Piniella received 15 first-place votes, eight seconds and was third on four other ballots from members of the Baseball Writers Association. That was good for for 103 points, 36 more than Philadelphia's Charlie Manuel.

Maddon became the first Tampa Bay manager to win the American League award after finishing first on 27 of the 28 ballots.

The Rays, who had never won more than 70 games in their history, recorded 97 wins under Maddon this year. Tampa Bay won the AL East title and then downed Boston in seven games to capture the ALCS.

Tampa Bay fell to Philadelphia in the World Series.

Philadelphia records first road win

TORONTO, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Elton Brand led Philadelphia's hot shooting performance Wednesday and the 76ers won their first road game of the season -- 106-96 over Toronto.

Philadelphia halted a three-game losing streak with their initial road victory in four attempts.

Brand scored 25 points and hit 12 of 21 shots from the field. Philadelphia shot 53 percent as a team and did not trail after taking a 6-4 lead.

Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala added 18 points each for Philadelphia and Willie Green delivered 17 off the bench.

Toronto, which lost its second straight to fall back to the break-even point for the year, was led by Chris Bosh with 30 points.

Hansbrough doubtful for UNC opener

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A stress reaction condition in his right shin likely will force all-America forward Tyler Hansbrough to miss North Carolina's college basketball season-opener.

The Tar Heels, the top-ranked school in the pre-season coaches poll, are slated to face unranked Pennsylvania Saturday in Chapel Hill.

The 6-foot-9 senior, the reigning national player of the year, has not missed a game in three seasons. He has been sidelined since the last week of October.

"We've made the decision to hold (Tyler) out of action a little longer," Coach Roy Williams said on the school's Web site. "It's extremely doubtful that he would play against Pennsylvania, and I emphasize extremely doubtful. We will continue to evaluate him and have more information when it becomes available."

Hansbrough is second on North Carolina's all-time scoring list with 2,168 points. Phil Ford owns the school record at 2,290.

Major Sprint Cup merger announced

HOMSTEAD, Fla., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Dodge Motorsports manager Mike Delahanty announced Wednesday the formation of Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing on the Sprint Cup auto racing circuit.

The cost-cutting merger leaves the status of DEI rookie driver Regan Smith in limbo.

Reed Sorenson, currently a Ganassi driver, is moving to Gillett Evernham next season.

In a release from the site of the season-ending Ford 400 Sunday in Homestead, Fla., Dodge said it will support Ganassi Racing's decision.

Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing is expected to be a four-Chevrolet operation since DEI owner Teresa Earnhardt also owns part of the Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies engine shop that produces Chevrolets.

Report: Norman wants confidential divorce

MELBOURNE, Austria, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Greg Norman reportedly wants his soon-to-be ex-wife to sign a confidentiality clause regarding their pending divorce settlement.

The nine-figure settlement was revealed Wednesday in documents filed by Laura Norman's lawyers in Florida's Martin Circuit Court, The Melbourne Herald Sun reported Thursday.

A breach of the contract would mean Laura Norman would have to pay Greg Norman unspecified damages. The move is tantamount to a gag order, the report said.

Greg Norman has built a reported $600 million multi-national business empire. His lawyers told the newspaper the clause was not solely to protect their high-profile client, but was "for the benefit of both parties."

"These provisions are appropriate, fair and protect both parties," said attorney Howard Sharfstein.

Laura Norman filed a motion for emergency financial relief Aug. 13, claiming Greg Norman withheld funds for her legal fees and living expenses in an effort to "starve" her out, claiming harassment and intimidation.