Tagliabue confident concerning security
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Friday he knew of no specific terrorist threat that had been made on the safety of the Super Bowl, but indicated intense security at future games would be, "part of our standard operating procedure."
Tagliabue also said at his annual pre-Super Bowl news conference that he did not anticipate any changes being made in the workings of instant replay and that the league was going to closely study the possibility of a future Super Bowl being played in New York.
Two days before the St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots meet in Super Bowl XXXVI, Tagliabue went through his annual session with the media in a manner more subdued than usual. Rather than giving a series of statistics concerning the league's growth, as he usually does, he paid a brief tribute to the events of Sept. 11.
"For our league," he said, "the past year meant a season more than just great football. It was a season of remembering the people the nation lost and of meeting new challenges together. Like all Americans, we stayed united, kept our priorities straight and came back strong. Citizens throughout America did the same."
As Tagliabue spoke, security personnel were in place throughout the city to protect the nation's most-watched sporting event.
"We feel very confident about the security that is in place," Tagliabue said in response to a specific question. "It grows out of the terrific job our teams did during the season with a very much stepped up emphasis on security.
"We have here the involvement of the Secret Service and FBI and the designation of this event as a national security event. I toured the Secret Service command center earlier this week and got a very thorough briefing and I have a very high degree of confidence that security will be world class and very, very effective.
"We have had no credible threat that has been brought to my attention. And we have both an understanding and an agreement with the Secret Service that if there were such threats, they would be brought to our attention.
"As to the future, I would think very much enhanced security will be part of our standard operating procedure in the NFL in both the regular and post season and during the offseason. It is our belief, which all the owners share, that we in the private sector have an obligation and responsibility to take our lead from the President and our government. They tell us that part of our job is to invest in security. Whether Super Bowls will be a mirror image of this week, that will be discussed in the future."
O'Neal leads fourth-quarter surge
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Shaquille O'Neal scored 10 of his 26 points in a fourth-quarter surge Friday night as the Los Angeles Lakers turned up the intensity and sped to a 100-85 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Much as they did in Wednesday night's win at Orlando, the Lakers hung around for three quarters before outclassing the Grizzlies with a 24-6 run in the final period.
O'Neal, who has been slowed by an arthritic toe, had 10 points during the burst. The 7-2 superstar made 12 of 18 shots and pulled down 10 rebounds.
Derek Fisher scored 21 points and Kobe Bryant added a quiet 13 for the Lakers, who improved to 3-1 on their five-game road trip. Bryant looked nothing like the unstoppable force that scored 56 points in a 120-81 home win over Memphis on Jan. 14.
Rookie Pau Gasol and Brevin Knight scored 13 points apiece for the Grizzlies, who have lost nine of their last 10 games.
Other NBA results: Washington 97, Atlanta 90; Indiana 92, New York 87; Minnesota 98, Boston 95 in overtime; Miami 88, San Antonio 83; Orlando 85, Detroit 8e; Charlotte 73, Houston 72; Phoenix 104, Golden State 98; Sacramento 132; Denver 96.
Alabama banned from bowls
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Alabama became the second Southeastern Conference school in as many to days to have its football program penalized by the NCAA.
The NCAA Friday prohibited the Crimson Tide from participating in the next two bowl seasons and gave them five years probation for rules violations.
Alabama, which has one of the most storied football programs in the nation, also will be subject to initial and overall grant-in-aid reductions in the football program beyond those
proposed by the school.
The Crimson Tide already had announced self-imposed penalties -- a reduction of 15 scholarships over a three-year period, including eight in 2002-03, four the following year and three the year after. Division I teams can award as many as 25 initial scholarships per year. The school said it would appeal.
On Thursday, the University of Kentucky was placed on three years probation and banned from a bowl game next season by the NCAA.
Baseball owners approve sales
MONTREAL, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Baseball's ownership committee Friday approved the sale of the Florida Marlins to Montreal Expos owner Jeffrey Loria and the sale of the Expos to Major League Baseball itself.
The decisions also pave the way for Marlins owner John Henry to take over the Boston Red Sox.
The committee met via conference call to endorse the sale of both financially troubled teams. The recommendations now must go to a vote by owners.
Owners are scheduled to meet near Chicago from Feb. 11-13.
Loria reportedly will pay $158 million to Henry to buy the Florida franchise. Henry leads a group that was approved by owners on Jan. 16 to purchase the Red Sox -- a deal contingent on the sale of the Marlins.
The group that will run the Expos will be a corporation or partnership of the remaining 29 owners, which will pay Loria $120 million.
According to the New York Times, MLB will loan Loria the other $38 million in order to facilitate the completion of both transactions.
NHL All-Star game set for today
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- The NHL All-Star Game will be played today, but with the Olympics just a week away, this year's contest has almost been reduced to an afterthought.
Some who will play in the Olympic tournament decided to pass on the 52nd annual contest that will send a team of North American stars against a group representing the rest of the world. Jere Lehtinen of the Dallas Stars underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday so he could recover in time to represent Finland at Salt Lake City.
"The All-Star Game was important to me, but getting back to play for my team and in the Olympics was even more important," said Lehtinen, who was replaced in the World team lineup by Espen Knutsen of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Knutsen's addition brought to 10 the number of nations represented at this weekend's festitivies.
Also missing will be Olympians Eric Lindros and Brian Rafalski, both of whom are recovering from sprained knees. Lindros was replaced in the North American lineup by New York Rangers teammate Mike York while U.S. Olympic team captain Chris Chelios of the Detroit Red Wings fills in for Rafalski.
Jones to defend light-heavyweight title
MIAMI, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Boxing superstar Roy Jones Jr. should face little resistance tonight as he looks to defend his undisputed light heavyweight crown against unknown, undefeated contender Glen Kelly.
With two of boxing's brightest stars, Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosley, suffering losses over the last four months, Jones (45-1, 36 KOs) can solidify his status as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Perez leads at Pebble Beach
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Pat Perez, who won the PGA Tour's Qualifying Tournament last year, fired a 7-under 65 Friday to move four shots in front at the midway point of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Perez recorded a 36-hole total of 13-under 131 with Lee Janzen alone in second at 135 after firing a 67. Jerry Smith was at 136 and Fred Couples, seeking his first win since 1998, was at 137.
Tiger Woods was tied for 48th after finishing 36 holes at 1-under 143.
In other golf news, Hale Irwin was granted a special exemption to play in this year's U.S. Open. It will be the 32nd consecutive year in which he has played in the tournament. Irvin, 56, has won the Open three times, most recently in 1990.
