Briefs | NBA: League lines up $200 million to help teams

NBA

League lines up $200 million for teams: The NBA has lined up $200 million to distribute to teams interested in additional cash, which the league considers a sign it remains strong in a slumping economy.

Between $13 million and $20 million will be available to each of 12 teams that have expressed interest in the funds, commissioner David Stern said Thursday. The money can be used for any purpose, including helping teams deal with operating losses incurred because of the economy.

It should not, Stern said, be construed as a bailout. At a time when credit markets have been frozen, investors saw the NBA as a safe bet.

"It's exactly the opposite" of a bailout, Stern said. "This was a show of strength in the credit worthiness of the NBA's teams."

The NBA declined to name the teams interested in the money.

Nash out with injury: Steve Nash missed Phoenix's game against the Los Angeles Lakers because of an injured right ankle. The Lakers scored 70 points in the first half and won 132-106.

Cavs' Wallace breaks right leg: Cleveland Cavaliers forward Ben Wallace will miss four to six weeks after breaking his right leg in a 93-74 loss to Houston. Wallace said Yao Ming kicked him as the two were running down the court in the second quarter. X-rays showed a broken fibula.

Former Bulls player, commentator Van Lier dies: Norm Van Lier, one of the most popular players in Chicago Bulls history and one of the NBA's top defensive players in the 1970s, was found dead in his home just blocks away from the team's arena. He was 61. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Celtics guard arrested: Boston Celtics guard Gabe Pruitt apologized after he was stopped on a Hollywood street and arrested for investigation of misdemeanor drunken driving.

Tennis

Djokovic to semifinals, Murray pulls out: Top-seeded Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals of the $2.23 million Dubai Championship in United Arab Emirates with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Marin Cilic. No. 2 seed Andy Murray withdrew with a viral infection hours before his match.

Fish bests Spadea to advance at Delray Beach: Mardy Fish reached the quarterfinals of the Delray Beach (Fla.) International Championships with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Vince Spadea.

Venus Williams wins: Top-seeded Venus Williams and defending champion Flavia Pennetta remained on course to meet in the women's final of the Mexican Open in Acapulco. Williams overcame a midmatch stumble to put away Hungarian qualifier Agnes Szavay 6-2, 5-7, 6-1.

Skiing

Lost bib spoils U.S. chances in nordic combined: Bill Demong was disqualified from the ski-jumping portion of the nordic combined team event after losing his bib, giving the Americans just three valid results in the four-man competition. It left the favored team with no reason to ski in the deciding cross-country relay, opting instead to pull out and watch from their hotel as Japan took the gold at the nordic skiing world championships in Liberec, Czech Republic.

Miller extends break for another week: Bode Miller has extended his break from the ski circuit for another week to spend time with his young daughter. After skipping two races in Sestriere, Italy, last weekend, the defending overall World Cup champion also will sit out a giant slalom and slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, this weekend.

NHL

Brodeur blanks Avalanche: Goaltender Martin Brodeur recorded his 99th career regular-season shutout, making 24 saves in his first game since elbow surgery in early November as the host New Jersey Devils beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-0.

Penguins trade Whitney to Ducks: The Pittsburgh Penguins traded defenseman Ryan Whitney to the Anaheim Ducks for left wing Chris Kunitz and a junior prospect, less than two seasons into a six-year, $24 million contract.

Soccer

AC Milan, Beckham out of UEFA Cup: AC Milan and David Beckham were eliminated from the UEFA Cup, wasting a two-goal lead at home in a 2-2 tie against Germany's Werder Bremen.

Track and field

Two-time medalist Godina retires: Shot-put and discus thrower John Godina is retiring after a career in which he won two Olympic medals and four world championships. Godina, 36, won a silver in the shot put at the 1996 Atlanta Games, then a bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Figure skating

American Rippon wins men's junior title: Adam Rippon, 19, from Clarks Summit, Pa., won his second straight men's title at the World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Boxing

De La Hoya leaning toward retirement: Oscar De La Hoya said he's "leaning toward retirement" from boxing, but is getting pressure from people close to him to fight again. De La Hoya, 36, was soundly beaten by Manny Pacquiao in December, his fourth loss in his past seven fights.

Colleges

Rutgers hires AD: Rutgers named Tim Pernetti, 38, one of its former football players, to head an athletic department that has been the subject of recent investigations into its financial oversight, particularly in the football program.

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