Briefs | NBA: Brian Scalabrine is diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome

NBA

Celtics forward, an Enumclaw High School graduate, is expected to miss about a month: Boston Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine is expected to miss about a month because of the effects of concussions that have bothered him this year.

Team spokesman Jeff Twiss confirmed Tuesday that Scalabrine has been diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. Scalabrine, 30, was a standout at Enumclaw High School and Highline Community College in Des Moines before playing at USC.

Boston coach Doc Rivers said April 1 has been set as a tentative return date for Scalabrine, who underwent further tests after missing Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons — the 12th time he sat out in a span of 15 games.

Scalabrine had two concussions in a week in January and sat out nine games. He returned and played three games before an injury against Denver last week that was first described as a strained neck but was likely another concussion.

Anthony serves one-game suspension: Denver's Carmelo Anthony was suspended for Tuesday's 100-95 road loss to Detroit because he rejected Nuggets coach George Karl's order to come out of Sunday's game in Indiana.

Bucks' Redd has knee surgery: Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd, 29, has had surgery to repair the anterior-cruciate ligament in his left knee that he tore in a Jan. 24 game.

Team officials said they expect Redd to be ready for the start of training camp next season.

Skiing

American Miller ponders retirement: Bode Miller won't ski again this season and has yet to decide on retirement.

"At this time I find more happiness doing other things than being on tour," the defending overall World Cup champion said in his online diary.

The 31-year-old from Franconia, N.H., has not won a race this season and already sat out the last two weekends. Miller was visiting his 1-year-old daughter in San Diego and resting his ankle, which he injured in a crash in December.

This season, Miller finished second three times and failed to earn a medal at the world championships in France last month. He ranked eighth in the overall standings but had a shot at the downhill title.

"I came into the season excited, with my mental and physical intensity where I wanted it to be," Miller said. "I had speed and raced hard all season but it didn't translate into the results we were hoping for."

Miller will miss races this weekend in Kvitjfell, Norway, and later events in Are, Sweden.

Soccer

Miami group decides to not pursue an MLS expansion team: Miami has dropped out of the competition to win a Major League Soccer expansion franchise.

In a statement, the league cited "adverse market conditions."

There are four cities in the running for two expansion spots for the 2011 MLS season: Vancouver, B.C., Portland, St. Louis and Ottawa.

Olympics

Rough economy causes USOC to reduce work force: Leaders of the U.S. Olympic Committee approved cutting the federation's work force by up to 15 percent as a way of saving more than $7.1 million in the 2009 budget.

Chief executive officer Jim Scherr said the decision was more of a pre-emptive move than a reflection on the USOC's less-than-full slate of sponsors. But he conceded the bad economy was too big an issue to ignore.

Scherr said there would be no reduction in USOC funding for individual sports. That budget stands at about $50 million. The federation also plans to maintain its support for Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid. The USOC employs 425 people.

Auto racing

Prosecutor contends Castroneves thought he was above the law: Helio Castroneves — two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, TV's "Dancing with the Stars" winner — believed in the "land of opportunity," until it came time to pay his taxes to the U.S. government, a prosecutor said.

Then, the multimillionaire driver thought he was "above the law," Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Axelrod said during opening statements in Castroneves' tax-evasion trial in Miami.

Castroneves is charged along with his sister, Katiucia, and a Michigan attorney, Alan R. Miller, in a conspiracy to evade paying taxes on more than $5 million from the driver's racing and licensing agreement with the Penske Team between 1999 and 2004.

College football

Bosworth is eligible for Hall: Former Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth, who went on to play for the Seahawks, and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard of Michigan are among 13 players eligible for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame for the first time.

NHL

Canucks win: Alex Burrows, who agreed to a four-year, $8 million contract extension before the game, scored twice to help the host Vancouver Canucks beat Minnesota 4-2. The Canucks have won 11 of their last 13 games.

Rangers acquire Avery: The New York Rangers claimed forward Sean Avery off re-entry waivers from the Dallas Stars.

Avery, 28, hasn't played in the league since his suspension in December for making a crude remark about other players dating his former girlfriends. He was a Ranger last season and scored 15 goals in 57 games.

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