NBA season starts Tuesday
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The 2009-10 NBA season begins Tuesday with the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers playing in one of four opening-night games.
The Lakers are at home against the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston is at Cleveland, Washington is at Dallas and Houston at Portland.
Los Angeles beat the Orlando Magic in five games in last season's championship series.
Orlando opens its season at home Wednesday against Philadelphia.
NBA teams play an 82-game regular-season schedule.
The league's All-Star Game is scheduled for Feb. 14 in Arlington, Texas.
Rain may dampen World Series
NEW YORK, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Forecasts call for a storm accompanied by tropical moisture, fog and drizzle to cross the Mid-Atlantic states Tuesday before the start of the World Series.
Accuweather.com said the field at Yankee Stadium may be wet for Game 1 Wednesday night between the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies, although the system may move out in the Atlantic before drenching northern New England.
Temperatures in the mid-50s are expected, Accuweather.com forecasters predict.
Cloudy, wet weather is in the forecast for Game 2 in the Bronx Thursday evening and Philadelphia may see rain during Game 3 scheduled Saturday night.
Last year, Game 5 played in Philadelphia was suspended because bad weather and Game 3 began after a 91-minute rain delay.
Michigan gets NCAA 'inquiry' notice
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The University of Michigan confirmed Monday it has received an NCAA "Notice of Inquiry" indicating an investigation into its football program will continue.
Reports before the football season indicated the Wolverines may have violated NCAA rules by exceeding an off-season training limit of 20 hours a week under Coach Rich Rodriguez.
Some players said in a Detroit News report in August they practiced for more than 20 hours. Six players told the Detroit Free Press they didn't want to be identified, fearing repercussions from coaches.
"We know the practice and off-season rules and we stay within the guidelines," Rodriguez said Aug. 30.
"As I said at the onset of this review, we place the highest importance on the well-being of our student-athletes and the integrity of our program," Mary Sue Coleman, the school's president, said in a news release Monday. "We continue to work with the NCAA to ensure that a thorough and objective investigation occurs."
La Russa to return as Cardinals' manager
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Tony La Russa will return as St. Louis Cardinals manager next season, the team announced Monday.
La Russa who has managed the club for 14 years, agreed to a one-year contract with an option for a second year.
"It's a great place to manage," La Russa said at a news conference. "Selfishly, I wanted to be the guy that enjoys it again in 2010."
The Cardinals won the World Series under La Russa in 2006.
La Russa has managed in the major leagues for 31 years. He previously managed the Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. Overall, his teams have a record of 2,552-2,217.
The Cardinals also announced that former home run slugger Mark McGwire, who retired as a player in 2001, was hired as hitting coach, replacing Hal McRae. It is McGwire's first coaching position.
