Ref Terry McAulay heads Super Bowl crew
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Referee Terry McAulay will head the Super Bowl officiating crew.
McAulay, a computer scientist and Louisiana State University graduate, has been an NFL official for seven seasons. He will be working his first Super Bowl when the New England Patriots go against the Philadelphia Eagles at Alltel Stadium Sunday.
Others in the seven-man crew are umpire Carl Paganelli, linesman Gary Slaughter, line judge Mart Steinkerchner, field judge Tom Sifferman, side judge Rick Patterson and back judge Tony Steratore.
Sifferman will be working his third straight Super Bowl. Others who have officiated in the championship game are Steinkerchner and Patterson, once each.
Alternate officials are Ed Hochuli, Garth DeFelice and Larry Rose. The replay assistant is Al Hynes.
Dodgers sign Japanese star Nakamura
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Thursday they have signed Norihiro Nakamura, "one of the elite players in Japan," to a minor league contract.
The 31-year-old Nakamura will be invited to spring training with the Dodgers.
Nakamura is the all-time home run leader of the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes.
"We are very excited about the acquisition of one of the elite players in Japan," Dodgers General Manager Paul DePodesta said. "He made a great impression on many of our staff members ... and we expect him to compete for a spot on our major league roster."
Three share lead in Australia golf
VICTORIA, Australia, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Trevor Immelman, Steve Webster and Peter Lonard shared the lead at 6-under-par 65 Thursday in the first round of Australia's Heineken Classic.
The entire field was unable to complete the round, which was delayed following heavy rains and then suspended because of darkness.
John Bickerton, Carmilo Villegas and Brad Lamb were at 66.
Ernie Els, who has won the event three years in a row, was in a group tied for 70th place after shooting a 1-over 72.
Mystics' Dales-Schuman retires
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Washington Mystics guard Stacey Dales-Schuman says she retired from basketball because the game was no longer fun for her.
The former first-round pick out of Oklahoma made the announcement Wednesday. The Washington Post said she plans to continue her job as an analyst for ESPN.
"Over the past couple of seasons my passion and spirit for playing basketball has slowly diminished," Dales-Schuman said. "Leaving the game is not an easy decision to make, but one that I am fully comfortable with for both myself and my family."
Dales-Schuman, 25, averaged 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest in three seasons in the WNBA. She was an all-star in 2002.
