Deal reached in NBA lockout
NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- NBA owners and players reached a tentative labor agreement Saturday that could have the league back on the basketball court by Christmas.
The players have been locked out since July 1 but early Saturday, after a 15-hour negotiating session, NBA players' union Executive Director Billy Hunter said, "We thought it was in both of our best interests to reach a resolution and save the game."
"We want to play basketball," NBA Commissioner David Stern said.
The owners and players, in separate votes, still must approve the deal, details of which were yet to be announced. Stern said he was "optimistic" the proposal will win approval.
The league is expected to go ahead with a 66-game schedule -- down from 82 games for each team -- beginning with three games on Christmas Day. The original NBA schedule called for one of those games to be a 2011 NBA Finals rematch having Miami playing at Dallas. Dallas won the NBA title last summer.
Key issues in the lockout were a split in revenues and a salary cap.
Federer to meet Tsonga for ATP title
LONDON, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga claimed spots in the ATP World Tour Finals championship Saturday with semifinal wins in London.
The two will square off for the eighth time this season after Federer downed David Ferrer 7-5, 6-3 in the day's first semifinal match and Tsonga put up a 6-3, 7-5 win against Tomas Berdych in the other.
It will be the 100th career title match for the Swiss superstar, who is seeking his sixth career win at the season-ending event. It also continues a late-season hot streak for Federer, who took his 16th straight match dating back to a loss to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the U.S. Open.
He joins Jimmy Connors (163), Ivan Lendl (146), John McEnroe (108) and Guillermo Vilas (104) as the only players in the Open Era to reach at least 100 finals.
Ferrer fell to 0-12 in his career against Federer, including a loss in the World Tour final in 2007 when it was held in Shanghai.
Tsonga, meanwhile, fired seven aces and won 90 percent of his first-serve points in his triumph over Berdych, who committed 13 unforced errors in the first set and never recovered.
Giants fan Stow gets holiday encouragement
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow has been receiving holiday wishes from the U.S. public after spending Thanksgiving with his family.
Stow's family Web site this weekend displayed a group shot taken at an undisclosed rehabilitation facility with Stow in the center, still confined to a wheelchair but looking happy and healthy as he continues to recover from a serious beating in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Times said.
The responses posted by visitors to the Web site applauded Stow for maintaining his dignity and resolve.
"The real man here is Bryan, because he is not letting this keep him down. To beat someone into a coma, you just need an evil spirit, but to recover from this evil act, it takes great strength and great resolve," one post said.
Stow suffered a serious head injury in the alleged assault last spring and was moved from a San Francisco hospital to a rehab center just last month.
The San Francisco Chronicle said Stow has been making steady progress in his occupational and speech rehabilitation.
Otto leads by three at South African Open
EKURHULENI, South Africa, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Hennie Otto took a 3-stroke lead at the South African Open Saturday with a 7-under 65.
Otto went to 14-under 202 after three rounds and is in position to win his second European Tour Sunday.
Nine South Africans were in the Top 14 on the leader board at Serengeti Golf Club.
"The SA Open is our national championship, you always want to do well in it," Otto said. "I'm in a better place than I used to be, and I'm going one way and that's not down."
Otto was in good form Saturday. After two early bogeys, he carded seven birdies and an eagle to grab the lead.
Retie Gooden was 1-under 71 for the day and held a share of second place at 11 under. Second-round leader Stephen O'Hara shot 74 and fell back into the pack in eighth place.
