Nets' owner lines up arena financing ... Fiesta Bowl to salute Hall inductees... Roethlisberger top AFC player ... Stewart named top NFC player ... Sports news from United Press International.
NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time this season and the fifth time in his career.
GLENDALE, Ariz., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- This year's inductees to the College Football Hall of Fame will be honored during a pre-game ceremony at the 2010 Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- The New Jersey Nets' owner said Wednesday he has closed on $511 million in public financing needed to proceed with a new arena in New York's Brooklyn borough.
SEATTLE, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Quincy Pondexter scored 25 points and had 13 rebounds to lead No. 19 Washington past Texas A&M 73-64 in the finals of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.
HOUSTON, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Carl Landry returned to the Houston lineup Tuesday and scored 27 points to lead the Rockets to a 108-99 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Daniel and Henrik Sedin both registered a goal and two assists Tuesday to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators.
DENVER, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and an assist and the Anaheim Ducks scored four straight third-period goals to rally to a 4-2 win over Colorado.
LAS VEGAS, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Max Hall threw three touchdown passes Tuesday to lead Brigham Young to a 44-20 win over Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- JaJuan Johnson scored 16 points and contributed three steals and four blocks Tuesday for No. 4 Purdue, which crushed Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 90-63.
LAWRENCE, Kan., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- No. 1 Kansas preserved its unbeaten record and extended its home winning streak to 49 games Tuesday by downing California 85-69.
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Jamal Crawford led Atlanta to its seventh win in eight games Tuesday, putting up 26 points in a 112-87 Hawks' rout of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
MEMPHIS, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Zach Randolph scored 33 points and Marc Gaol and O.J. Mayo added 22 each Tuesday, pacing the Memphis Grizzlies in a 121-108 win over struggling Golden State.
CHICAGO, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Dany Heatley scored early in the first period Tuesday and the San Jose Sharks, behind the goaltending of Evgeni Nabokov, stayed ahead and edged Chicago 3-2.
BOSTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Ray Allen scored 23 points, Paul Pierce had 21 and the Boston Celtics won for the 13th time in their last 14 games Tuesday, topping the Indiana Pacers 103-94.
Pitcher Vazquez rejoins Yankees ... Saints cut kicker John Carney ... ID thief hits Chicago hockey great Mikita ... Report: Montana's Hauck new UNLV coach ... Sports news from United Press International.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The University of Alabama at Birmingham, led by Jamarr Saners with 18 points, won its 10th straight game Tuesday, knocking off No. 16 Butler 67-57.
NEW YORK, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The New York Knicks, led by Al Harrington with 20 points, almost lost a 22-point lead Tuesday but held on and escaped with an 88-81 win over the Chicago Bulls.
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- DeAndre Hersey grabbed an offensive rebound and sank a shot with 1.8 seconds to play Tuesday, giving South Alabama a 67-66 upset win over No. 18 Florida.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Gilbert Arenas scored 12 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday, carrying the Washington Wizards to a 105-98 comeback win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Lori Anne Madison, 6, of Woodbridge, Virginia, spells out the letters in her word as she competes during the opening round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 30, 2012, in National Harbor, Maryland. Madison, the youngest known qualifier in the history of the contest, correctly spelled the word "dirigible*", a lighter-than-air aircraft, to advance. UPI/Mike Theiler
