NBA: Odom, Lakers reach salary agreement

LAS VEGAS -- Lamar Odom and the Los Angeles Lakers had reached an agreement on annual salary before the Lakers pulled out of contract talks with their versatile sixth man, sources with knowledge of the talks said on Tuesday.

Sources said Odom and the Lakers had reached an accord entering the weekend on a per-season wage of $9 million for the 29-year-old. But Odom balked at L.A.'s unwillingness to extend an offer spanning more than three years in length and spent the past few days weighing his options.

The Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site earlier Tuesday night that Lakers owner Jerry Buss, upset that he was still waiting for Odom's response, has decided to take the offer off the table. But sources said Odom was never given a deadline to accept or pass on the Lakers' three-year, $27 million pitch.

Lakers spokesman John Black acknowledged to the Times that "talks have broken down for the time being" but conceded that a resumption in negotiations is "within the realm of possibility," which most rival teams would expect given Odom's importance during the Lakers' championship run last season and the fact that the only apparent issue between the sides is contract length.

Neither Odom nor agent Jeff Schwartz could be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Yet it's believed that Odom has indeed received offers from the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks that -- because neither Florida nor Texas imposes state taxes -- are not as far away in value from the Lakers' presentation as it would seem.

Odom would have the ability with either the Heat or the Mavericks to sign a three-year, $19 million contract and negotiate a new deal with full Larry Bird rights in the summer of 2012 or take a five-year deal worth $34 million to bank more overall money, along with the state-tax benefits, than he could in a new three-year deal with the Lakers.

Odom, though, has made it clear over the past several months that he has no desire to leave the Lakers, whom he joined in the summer of 2004 when L.A. broke up its three-peat duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant by trading O'Neal to Miami for Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant. He made $14.1 million last season to complete the six-year, $63 million contract he received from Miami in the summer of 2003, but one source close to the process says he has accepted the $5 million pay cut without fuss.

Although he initially chafed at his move to the bench, Odom ultimately flourished as a sixth man, averaging 12.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 32 minutes per game during the playoffs, when he frequently wound up partnering with Pau Gasol in the Lakers' frontcourt since young center Andrew Bynum was still developing.

Replacing Trevor Ariza with the more physical Ron Artest this offseason has given the Lakers someone to absorb at least some of Odom's minutes and responsibilities if he does leave. But Odom's departure would be undoubtedly celebrated by other playoff contenders in the West, since it's the luxury of having three long-limbed big men to flank Kobe Bryant -- Odom, Gasol and Bynum -- that makes L.A. so unique. Odom also ranks as one of Artest's closest friends in the game, so his continued presence would theoretically help Lakers coach Phil Jackson and Bryant manage the mercurial Artest.

Asked in a Monday telephone interview with the L.A. Times why a deal was not yet done, Odom said: "I don't know. That's why there are negotiations. I don't know. Of course I hope they can get it done. It's negotiations. Both sides are going to give and take. That's part of it. I don't know how long it's going to take. ... The Lakers have been too good to me to rub people over there the wrong way. The Lakers have been nothing but great to me, and I want to keep the relationship great."

In the event that the talks are not resuscitated, L.A. would have to count on the unpredictable Artest and the up-and-down Bynum to fill the void.

One source close to the process said Odom, in that scenario, would likely favor a return to the Heat, which would be a strong statement by Miami management to 2010 free agent-to-be Dwyane Wade. The Heat could theoretically sign Odom, trade for Utah's Carlos Boozer and then re-sign Boozer in the summer of 2010 without needing salary-cap space because Miami would own Boozer's Bird rights. Those moves would set Wade up to be flanked by two quality forwards and almost certainly enhance the Heat's chances of convincing their star to stay.

Written by Marc Stein

Soccer: Real captain heaps praise on Ronaldo

MAYNOOTH, Ireland (AFP) - – Real Madrid captain Raul heaped praise Tuesday on his new teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, calling the Portuguese international winger "super nice" and a "hardworking".

"He is super nice, normal and very harworking," he told a news conference in Maynooth, Ireland where the club began a nine-day pre-season training camp on Tuesday.

"He is integrated. He seems very happy. In the media it seems like everything he does and says, every gesture, has a lot of meaning but he is much more normal than people think," the 32-year-old added.

Real signed Ronaldo from Manchester United last month on a six-year deal worth around 94 million euros (131 million dollars) and he will reportedly be paid 13 million euros each season, making him the most expensive player in the world.

The 24-year-old, was officially unveiled before some 75,000 ecstatic Real fans on July 6 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, is being protected by several security guards during his stay in Ireland.

Real will play a friendly match against current Irish champions Shamrock Rovers on July 20, two days before its training camp in Ireland ends.

Golf: World's longest course is in Australia

MELBOURNE (AFP) - – The world's longest golf course, stretching along 1,365 kilometres (848 miles) of desert highway with holes at 18 towns and service stations, is to open in Australia this year, organisers said Tuesday.

The Nullarbor Links, which will span two time zones and measure more than the entire length of Britain, is expected to be completed next month and will host its inaugural tournament on October 22.

"We're very excited about it. It's been a long time coming and a lot of effort," project chairman Don Harrington told AFP.

"This is the longest golf course in the world. It's unique terrain, there's something for everybody."

The course, conceived five years ago "over a couple of beers," is meant to attract tourists to the Eyre Highway which traverses the desolate Nullarbor Plain and hugs part of Australia's southern coastline.

Golfers will stop at one roadhouse, play a hole, then drive on to the next tee -- 100 kilometres down the road in some cases. The par-71 course will take three or four days to complete with each player awarded a certificate.

Each hole will showcase a local attraction, from whale-watching to ancient fossil beds and a working sheep station, and include sights such as the Big Kangaroo statue at Border Village straddling South and Western Australia.

"There's a lot of history and you can see all of that on a golf course," Harrington said.

"Both Australian tourists and golfing enthusiasts around the world have shown support for what we're doing."

The course was the brainchild of Bob Bongiorno, who was managing a roadhouse at remote Balladonia when he came up with the idea.

Bongiorno, now living in Kalgoorlie at the course's western end, said he tried hitting a few balls when he first moved into the Outback but got sick of encountering spiders when trying to retrieve them.

There should be no such hazards on the synthetic greens of the Nullarbor Links, although golfers who hit a stray shot into the desert will face a monster sandtrap.

Tiger and Turnberry back in golfing business

TURNBERRY, Scotland (AFP) - – If history is any guide, there can only be one winner of the 138th Open Championship, which tees off here on Thursday.

Turnberry has a good claim to be regarded as the most picturesque of all the venues on the Open rota, but what really makes local chests swell with pride is the Ailsa Course's unrivalled ability to produce champions recognised by their peers as the world's best.

Tom Watson, who provided Turnberry with its finest hour when he edged Jack Nicklaus in the 1977 Duel in the Sun, Greg Norman with his first major win in 1986 and Nick Price eight years later: all of them giants of the game.

If the record is to continue, the only outcome can be a Tiger Woods triumph and the world number one, a conscientious student of the history of the sport he dominates, acknowledges there can be no excuses if he is not at the top of the leaderboard by the end of Sunday afternoon.

"The guys that have won before here were some of the best ball strikers of all time, or certainly in their eras," he said.

"It shows that you just can't fake it around this golf course. You just have to hit good golf shots."

Nobody does that quite as well as Woods and, having finished tied for 6th place in both the first two majors of the year, The Masters and the US Open, there is a sense that major title number 15 is now a little overdue for the world number one, who has won three times on the US tour since coming back from reconstructive surgery on his left knee.

Woods had only just gone under the knife when last year's Open was contested and he was too preoccupied with the initial, painful stages of his rehabilitation to pay too much attention to the action at Royal Birkdale.

He did however take in the climax of a tournament that saw Padraig Harrington clinch his second consecutive Open title with a nerveless display over the closing holes.

"When it really mattered, Padraig had to shoot a number and he did," Woods said of the Irishman who, a year later, is embarking on his quest for a third straight Open win beset by doubts over a swing that he is attempting to reshape.

The result, to date, have not been great: six missed cuts in his last seven outings on the US and European tours tell their own stories.

Despite the doubts in his mind, the Irishman says he feels close to turning the corner and is confident that, if he puts himself into contention, he will stay there.

"The one thing I know is if I get in the position, I can win," he says, justifiably given that he followed up last year's Open triumph by winnning the US PGA.

Woods and Harrington have both identified driving, or more accurately strategy off the tee, as one of the keys to victory on a layout ringed by rough that has been allowed to grow thick and tall as a result of an unusually wet and warm spring on Scotland's southwestern coast.

Woods, who famously used his driver only once in 72 holes when he won his third Open title at Hoylake three years ago, suggested the longest club in his bag could be equally idle here if the wind dictates it.

But he also acknowledged that more benign conditions will tempt a lot of players to try and carry the fearsome fairway bunkers in pursuit of positions to attack the pins.

As Harrington put it: "There will be rewards for guys who hit the ball long down the fairway because shorter irons will lead to birdies but with the rough the way it is, you want to hit those fairways at all costs."

The premium on long, straight driving has convinced many that Lee Westwood is the most likely man to become the first home winner of the world's oldest major tournament since Paul Lawrie won at Carnoustie in 1999.

Paul Casey, currently ranked three in the world, and Ian Poulter, the runner-up to Harrington last year, also look capable of joining the ranks of major winners but it is hard to make a compelling case for anyone other than Tiger.

O'Neal wants to bring kung fu in court

BEIJING (AFP) - – NBA All-Star centre Shaquille O'Neal has said he hopes to bring his martial arts skills to the basketball court, during a visit to China's Shaolin Temple -- the birthplace of kung fu.

"When I was a kid, I saw a lot of Shaolin kung fu performances," O'Neal told Titan Sports, China's top sports newspaper, as he toured the temple in central Henan province on Monday.

"I always wanted to know if Shaolin kung fu was real or not. Now, at last I know -- the Chinese kung fu I saw on television, it was all real," the four-time NBA champion said in remarks translated into Chinese.

"When I go home I will study this and hopefully even use it when I'm playing basketball."

O'Neal -- who earlier this month signed a contract to play with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers -- has visited China numerous times and signed several endorsement deals here.

Known to the Chinese as the "Big Shark," the 37-year-old O'Neal has practised martial arts in the off-season for years.

On Monday, he met with the temple's top monks and watched a group of warrior monks performing martial arts exercises.

"I am really interested in snake-style kung fu," Titan quoted O'Neal as saying.

"When I retire, I hope to come back to the Shaolin Temple to study for a year. To come here just this one time is not enough."

State television showed crowds surrounding O'Neal, as he mimicked the hand movements that give snake-style kung fu its name.

When asked if he would be comfortable playing in Cleveland where the weather is colder than anywhere else he has played during his 17-year NBA career, the centre answered: "I think I can adjust to any kind of weather.

"In China you call me the big shark -- now you can call me the polar bear. I will be like a polar bear when it comes to fighting the cold."

NBA: Rockets acquire Aussie's Andersen

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) - – The Houston Rockets, seeking solutions up front with Chinese big man Yao Ming looking at a potential career-ending foot injury, have obtained the NBA rights to Australian David Andersen.

The Atlanta Hawks traded Andersen's NBA rights, obtained in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft, to Houston for a second-round pick and cash. The Aussie has never played an NBA game, spending his career in Australia and Europe.

Andersen, nearly 7 feet tall, averaged 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds last season to help Barcelona to the Spanish title and has played for Euroleague championship teams at Virtus Bologna in 2001 and CSKA Moscow in 2006 and 2008.

"David has been a winner with every team he has played for in Europe," said Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. "He is a very well-rounded player who possesses good offensive skills and a very good shooting touch for a big man."

Rockets coach Rick Adelman will need a big man if the worst fears come true regarding Yao, the 7-foot-6 superstar who has a hairline fracture in his left foot that could cause him to miss the upcoming season and might end his career.

"David is a versatile post player who should fit well in coach Adelmans system," Morey said.

Andersen, 29, played for Australia in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, averaging 6.5 points and 3.5 rebounds a game last year at Beijing.

Formula 1: Button says Brawn to get back in Hungary

By Alan Baldwin

NUERBURGRING, Germany - Jenson Button has spelt out in blunt terms what his Brawn GP team need to do after allowing Red Bull to bite another chunk out of their championship lead.

"We've got to kick some arse in Hungary and that's what we are going to try and do," the Formula One leader told reporters after finishing fifth on Sunday at a German Grand Prix won by Australian Mark Webber.

"Let's pray that we are quick there because if we are not we've got a problem," added Button, who had thought a podium finish was within his reach at the Nuerburgring.

Button leads Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel by 21 points, with Webber a further 1.5 points adrift, in the standings with eight of the season's 17 races remaining.

After winning six of the first seven races, the Brawn driver has finished sixth and fifth in the last two.

Red Bull, with both drivers now clear contenders despite the gap, have taken 24 points off Brawn in the last three races. Sunday was their third one-two of the season, and second in a row.

"The problem we have is to get quicker," Brawn team principal Ross Brawn said.

"We are not quick enough and we have to respond. Because if we don't, we will throw the championship away."

Button, whose car can be expected to go much better in Hungary's hotter temperatures after a damp and cold weekend, was concerned about the situation but not about to panic.

STAY CALM

"We could shout at the team about improving things but they know what they've got to do. We've got to stay calm, put the improvements on the car and get every bit we can out of it," the 2006 Hungary winner said.

"You have to worry but I don't think its 'Oh shit, we're going to lose the championship'," he added. "Its 'Come on, let's make the difference'.

"We've got some new parts for Hungary. I'm looking forward to that. I think our car will be strong there. We don't know how strong. We'll have to wait and see."

Webber's first Formula One victory, after three second places this season, put another name firmly in the reckoning as the third driver to win in a season turned upside down by new regulations.

Button congratulated the Australian, a friend and former team mate from when he was at Benetton and Webber was the test driver, for finally making the breakthrough after 130 starts.

"It puts another person in the mix doesn't it? Sebastian, Mark myself and Rubens , they are all closing in on me," he said.

"There are a lot of races to go so we do need to worry a bit. These two circuits temperatures. If we are not quick on a hot track then we have got to really worry."

Button can take some consolation that while both Red Bull drivers have been evenly matched, they are also likely to take points off each other while he has beaten team mate Barrichello in eight of the nine races so far.

"We've still got a 21 point lead so it's not that bad but if we continue like this we are not going to keep that lead," Button said.

Formula 1: Honda won't rejoin F1

TOKYO, July 13 - Formula One's growing restrictions have made the sport less attractive and reduced Honda's incentive to rejoin a series it abandoned due to the global economic downturn, the company's new chief executive said on Monday. Honda withdrew backing for its under-performing team last December, only to see new owners Brawn turn the outfit into championship leaders, and Japan's second largest automaker said it would consider a return once it had recovered financially.

"It was a real shame that we had to leave Formula One," Takanobu Ito, who took over as chief executive last month, told a media gathering in Tokyo.

"On the other hand, F1 is becoming less of a medium in which companies can test their various strengths and more of an event with mounting restrictions.

"There's little room for us to challenge new fields, so bearing in mind the current state of series, I don't think we have the desire to return, even if the economy improves."

Ito added that he had not heard anything about whether the Honda-owned Suzuka circuit would be asked to host the Japanese Grand Prix after Toyota's Fuji International Speedway gave up its hosting rights for 2010 and beyond last week. [ID:nSP378727]

Fuji had been scheduled to alternate each year with Suzuka, which is to host the race this year and in 2011. (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by John O'Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Boxing: Marquez, Mayweather to hold conference call

MANILA – Promotions for the mega fight “Number One/Number Uno” featuring Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. lost steam when the bout was postponed due to an injury sustained by Mayweather.

But preparations for the fight are on course again as an international conference call is set to take place Tuesday in the United States, according to PhilBoxing.com. Mayweather and Marquez will take part in the international conference call to promote their fight originally slated to take place on July 18.

The Mayweather-Marquez clash has been rescheduled to Sept. 19. It will be held at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather, the former No.1 pound-for-pound fighter, was getting all set for his comeback fight when he suffered a rib injury while training. He retired in June 2008 and came out of retirement last May, making his comeback announcement just hours away from the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton showdown. Mayweather is a five-division champion with six world championships.

Marquez, meantime, is a three-division champion with five world championship titles. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Oscar de la Hoya will attend the conference. De la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions, will be joined by Golden Boy chief executive officer (CEO) Richard Schaefer. Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, will also attend the conference. Mayweather vs. Marquez: “Number One/Numero Uno” is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in association with Marquez Promotions.

(ABS-CBN)

Tennis: Nadal to return in Montreal

Injured former world No.1 Rafael Nadal of Spain is set to return to Canada to defend his Rogers Cup title in Montreal next month. The current world No. 2 is “slowly recovering from his injury,” reported his official website RafaelNadal.com.

The Spaniard was not able to defend his Wimbledon crown because he pulled out of the grand slam citing tendinitis in both knees. His website added that Nadal went to Barcelona to undergo more medical exams under the supervision of Dr. Angel Ruiz-Cotorro.

The Spaniard underwent exams “to see the evolution of the insertion tendinitis of both Quadricipitals Tendons through an MRI and radiography.” “The evolution of his injury is positive and the player will continue with his physiotherapy and muscular work,” said Ruiz-Cotorro. The netter’s doctor added that Nadal “will resume his tennis activity in a progressive way.” Nadal is scheduled to return to the practice courts on Monday, July 20, to get ready for his Montreal title defense.

The Rogers Cup is an ATP World Tour Master event that will be held from Aug. 8 to Aug. 16 at the Uniprix Stadium. Nadal has already returned to Manacor to continue with his recovery plan. “I am really looking forward to practice again and to do again what I most like: to play tennis.” “I am happy with the way the tests went and of the positive evolution of the injury as the doctors are saying,” he remarked Nadal. “The event in Montreal is important and I expect to be there fit to play. Until then I need to continue to work on my recovery and practice well,” Nadal added. Nadal won the Rogers Cup in Toronto last year by defeating German Nicolas Kiefer, 6-3, 6-2.

NBA: Iverson could deliver another Clipper mess

LAS VEGAS - Why would the Los Angeles Clippers want to thrust Allen Iverson
into the life of gifted young guard Eric Gordon ? The answer is as simple as
it's flawed: box office over basketball. The worst owner in sports, Donald
T. Sterling, believes A.I. can do what No. 1 pick Blake Griffin has been
thus far unable - sell tickets.

Perhaps the Clippers could give winning a chance, but Sterling is hell-bent
on dysfunction. Everyone walked out of the Thomas & Mack Center late Monday
so impressed with the Clippers' young cornerstones, Griffin and Gordon. Yet,
Sterling, sitting courtside, couldn't see the truth unfolding before his
eyes. Iverson is a bad investment for the Clippers. Iverson is a shell of
himself now, and worst of all, he's the last to know.

Nevertheless, the Clippers are far behind in tickets sales over this time a
year ago, according to internal NBA data obtained by Yahoo! Sports. As of
July 6, the Clippers were significantly down in season ticket-renewals and
new plans. The NBA's analysis projected a 29.3 percent drop in ticket
revenue for Clippers for the 2009-10 season.

"That's the only reason [the Clippers] are even thinking of doing this," one
rival GM said. "Why else do this to Gordon?"

The most money available to Iverson would be a one-year deal at the
mid-level exception of $5.8 million. He still thinks he can restore his
starry reputation with a high-scoring season. Iverson still believes his
chance to get one more big contract will be born out of a lot of shots and a
lot of scoring. Those days are done for Iverson, who proved himself
unwilling, and maybe incapable, of playing a complementary role with the
Detroit Pistons last season.

When he couldn't be a starter, he gladly accepted banishment with a "back
injury." Alongside Baron Davis , the prospect of Iverson infringing on
Gordon's development is toxic. Gordon is 20 years old. He tried to play the
earnest kid when asked about the possibility of Iverson joining the
Clippers, but deep down, he has to understand this is the worst scenario for
his sophomore season in the pros.

Miami is offering less than $3 million a season to play with Dwyane Wade , a
circumstance that makes more basketball sense for the Heat. They need
another scorer, and young Miami guard Mario Chalmers isn't nearly the
prospect that Gordon is with the Clippers. The Memphis Grizzlies are
offering the mid-level, too, but they're just another desperate, wayward
franchise that thinks Iverson can still sell some seats.

It's no accident that two of the worst owners in the NBA, Sterling and
Michael Heisley, are pushing their basketball executives to chase one of
summer shopping's worst ideas: Allen Iverson. There's a reason these teams
are in the lottery every year, and here's another why they'll be back again.

Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith is serving a 30-day sentence in a New
Jersey prison for his role in an automobile accident that took the life of a
close friend, Andre Bell, in 2007. Several Denver coaches, including Adrian
Dantley, have flown to New Jersey for the 15-minute visitation periods
allowed Smith.

Nate Robinson has significant interest from Olympiakos of Greece, but a
source close to him says it's unlikely to seriously interest the New York
Knicks guard. Robinson wants to play for the Knicks, and a source says the
solution for the restricted free agent could be a one-year offer deal with
New York that leaves the team the flexibility it wants for the summer of
2010.

Detroit is still exploring ways to make a deal for Utah Jazz forward Carlos
Boozer , but the most likely scenario centers around the free-agent signing
of Drew Gooden , and distantly, Boston's Glen "Big Baby" Davis.

From the you-can't-make-it-up department: The NBA's commissioner and owners
gathered on Tuesday for an important board of governors' meeting. The
location? The Fantasy Tower at the Palms Hotel and Casino. No word whether
the Sacramento Kings' owners, Gavin and Joe Maloof, who own the Palms, are
providing for refreshments.

The Minnesota Timberwolves' coaching search continues to be endless in its
number of introductory interviews and meetings, a total that new
Timberwolves general manager David Kahn had promised could reach 15. Mark
Jackson is still the favorite, but an endless line of assistant coaches have
met with Kahn.

Spartak St. Petersburg of Russia was offering big money for an American
coach, and multiple sources say it unsuccessfully courted former USC coach
Tim Floyd. His condition for considering the job, one source said, was
getting 100 percent of his money in advance of the season. Several Russian
teams had financial problems a year ago that resulted in coaches and players
failing to get paid. Spartak declined, and Floyd passed on the job.

Maurice Cheeks has been offered a job on Scott Brooks' staff with the
Oklahoma City Thunder. He's still deciding.

New Jersey assistant Brian Hill leads new Detroit coach John Kuester's short
wish list for a top aide. The Nets have mandated slashes in assistant
coaching salaries, and Hill's departure could be welcome by the franchise's
ownership. Nevertheless, Nets coach Lawrence Frank values Hill, one of his
mentors, and would likely fight hard to retain him.

The D-League's expansion team starting play in Portland, Maine, is leaning
toward hiring Boston Celtics scout Austin Ainge as its next head coach,
sources said. He is the son of Celtics GM, Danny Ainge. .Idaho Stampede
coach Bryan Gates, considered the D-League's best coach, met with
Sacramento's Paul Westphal about a job on his new staff.

Tale of two debuts: Eagles soar, Archers fall

By Jasmine W. Payo

CONTRASTING RESULTS MARKED THE early campaign of last year’s UAAP finalists.

Ateneo kicked off its back-to-back championship bid with a thrilling triumph over the pre-season favorite, but fierce rival La Salle absorbed one of its worst losses in recent years.

Ateneo coach Norman Black said surviving a tough game from top contender Far Eastern U hardly set the tone for an easy road back to the Finals.

“It’s just a first win, that’s all it is,” said Black after the Blue Eagles pulled off a 63-59 escape against the Tamaraws last Sunday. “But this is big for us because we have a lot of respect for them and we know they’re very good.”

For his part, coach Franz Pumaren said the embarrassing loss doesn’t make the Green Archers any less a contender.

“We were kind of tentative and jittery on opening day, but I’m still confident we’ll be okay,” said Pumaren.

The Archers, missing main cogs Rico Maierhofer and JV Casio, took one of their worst beatings in a 65-46 loss to the University of the East Warriors last Saturday.

“It’s a very challenging situation on my part right now,” admitted Pumaren. “We don’t have a single dominant player. The players just have to accept the fact that when they look over their shoulders, there’s no Casio or Maierhofer. But I’ve been in situations like this, I think we can still pull through.”

Black similarly expects improvements from his Blue Eagles even if his core, led by reigning MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, remains in top form.

Ginebra leads 3-2 series over San Miguel

MANILA, Philippines - David Noel finally outplayed Best Import awardee Gabe Freeman, sparking Barangay Ginebra past San Miguel Beer, 106-98, and moving the Gin Kings within a victory of clinching the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings pulled away by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, then rallied behind Noel, Ronald Tubid and Eric Menk after the Beermen came within a point at 72-71 in the third period.

A four-point play by Tubid and a drive by Menk boosted Ginebra’s lead to 78-71 before Noel stretched this to 85-72 as he scuttled a last-ditch rally by the Beermen.

Noel sent Freeman out of the game with a sixth foul with barely three minutes left to play.

The free throw that Noel scored as he completed a three-point play gave the Gin Kings an insurmountable 98-89 lead.

With a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series, Ginebra can clinch the championship with another win tomorrow, also at the Big Dome.

A victory by SMB will force a Game 7 on Friday.

A Ginebra championship now looks certain since 19 of the 28 teams that prevailed in Game 5 after a 2-2 tie went on to win the title.

Five nights after bungling three straight charities that could have won Game 4 for Ginebra, Noel finished with a game-high 29 points. Freeman wound up with 16.

Noel had Freeman in foul trouble early and later said this was the only way to slow down his San Miguel adversary.

He said he’s looking forward to end the series tomorrow, but added he’s ready for a Game 7.

“We’ll go practice tomorrow and see what happens,” said Noel.

Chico Lanete made his five-minute, second-quarter stint special, shooting all his nine points from beyond three-point range to give the Ginebra offense a boost in closing out the period.

From a tight first 10 minutes, the Kings scampered off to leads of as many as 16 points in the dying minutes of the first half, with Lanete, virtually a nonfactor offensively in the first four games, draining his third trey for 56-40.

Noel also had two triples for the Kings in the second period and Helterbrand and Eric Menk one each as Ginebra made 7-of-12 attempts from that distance and finished with 33 second-quarter points.

Aside from two Danny Ildefonso dunks, the Beermen were relatively quiet in the second quarter as Freeman sat out all but two minutes of the period after getting his third foul.

The Best Import winner committed two fouls in the first quarter and was never a factor offensively the rest of the way. He went to the bench with just four points while Noel had 13.

The 13-point margin was Ginebra’s biggest lead at halftime in this series. The Kings pulled it off even with Cyrus Baguio and Sunday Salvacion, two usually reliable marksmen, going scoreless.

Dondon Hontiveros was also saddled with early foul trouble, committing his third on Willie Wilson with 43.8 seconds left in the second period.

Tubid scored 10 points in the first period as the defending champions took control early until the halftime buzzer.


The scores:

GINEBRA 106—Noel 29, Menk 18, Lanete 14, Tubid 14, Helterbrand 9, Wilson 8, Mamaril 6, Reavis 5, Salvacion 3, Pacana 0, Baguio 0.

SAN MIGUEL 98—ortez 23, Freeman 16, Ildefonso 14, Villanueva 9, Hontiveros 9, Pennisi 7, Custodio 6, Washington 6, Pena 5, Racela 3, Gonzales 0, Pingris 0.

Quarters: 23-18, 56-42, 71-68, 106-98

David Beckham pledges to stay in L.A.

David Beckham, right, talks with a trainer as Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan stretches behind him following a team practice Monday at the Home Depot Center. Beckham practiced with the team for the first time since leaving AC Milan.
Beckham returns to practice with the Galaxy and puts mini-feud with teammate Landon Donovan behind him. He says his family is happy here and he intends to stay through his contract.Just when we thought the David Beckham experiment -- to borrow a popular phrase -- would soon be coming to an end, there were signs Monday that it could be a longer-running production than expected.

So don't be surprised if Beckham and his Galaxy teammate and new best pal Landon Donovan appear together in Major League Soccer's All-Star game in Sandy, Utah, on July 29. It might well happen.
Although they have not exactly kissed and made up, their mini-feud is history. At least for now.

Look too for Beckham to probably be heading back on loan to AC Milan in January, and then to return to the Galaxy for at least a few months, and possibly for a season or two, once the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is over.

In other words, the Home Depot Center in Carson, strangely enough, just might be where the 34-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid star ends his storied soccer career.

"I intend to stay until the end of my contract and maybe further," Beckham said Monday about his plans with the Galaxy. "I've always said that. I've always said, even when I went to Milan, that I'm committed to the Galaxy and to MLS, and that hasn't changed."

In Beckham's view, Los Angeles has its pluses.

"My family is happy here," he said. "The kids are happy. . . . There are always going to be people speculating whether we're going to go back to England or Europe, but I can't say enough about how happy my kids and my family are here."

Sweetness and light were not what the dozens of reporters, photographers and television crews that showed up at the Home Depot Center on Monday morning wanted to hear. They were tracking the blood in the water. They wanted more on the Donovan-Beckham spat.

It was not forthcoming.

A meeting with Beckham, Donovan and Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena at a time and place no one would reveal had put a lid on the controversy that bubbled over when Donovan was quoted making unflattering remarks about Beckham in a new book, "The Beckham Experiment," by Grant Wahl.

"It's over," Beckham said. "I'm not going to talk about what was said. That's between me, Landon and the manager. But it's finished. It's over. So we move on.

"We spoke, the two of us, and also Bruce, and like I said, it's finished."

Donovan, while not exactly apologizing, said he was sorry for the fuss that his honestly stated opinions in the book caused, including describing last season as "miserable" and saying he wanted to see Beckham benched if he was not going to show some effort.

"There's a lot of things I regret," Donovan said Monday. "I regret the way that I went about this and I regret some of the things I said. For me, it's not a fiasco. I knew what I was doing. I was not the smartest in those moments."

Donovan indicated he and Beckham had patched things up.

"We're getting past it, we're moving on," Donovan said, adding that any lingering ill will had not been evident during practice. "Being on the field was great. It was fun. It was good to have him back."

Longtime Galaxy star and current assistant coach Cobi Jones had his own take.

"It's an awkward situation," Jones said. "Landon has recognized that he handled it the wrong way. That's what it's all about. For me, everything should be within the team and the organization. You don't go outside of that.

"I think Landon realizes that. I think David's handling it the right way. They're going to keep it within the group."

For Beckham, with a family vacation in the south of France and a 10th wedding anniversary trip to the Seychelles Islands behind him, his immediate future is clear.

He and the Galaxy leave for New Jersey today for a Thursday night game against the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium. After that comes a Sunday evening friendly against AC Milan in Carson.

Beckham said it might be a while before a decision is made on where he goes in January.

"I think we've got a couple of months," he said. "Obviously, Milan have expressed that they want me to go back. So I don't see any reason why that would change, but we'll have to wait and see. I hope to be going back there."

If AC Milan does change its mind, which seems unlikely, there have been nibbles for Beckham from some teams in England's Premier League.

"We've had a few phone calls from a few Premiership clubs, but obviously none that I can talk about," he said.

Odom hopeful to stay in LA

Lamar Odom sounded frustrated and hopeful at the same time.

He sounded frustrated he hasn't been able to come to terms with the Lakers on a contract. But he sounded hopeful he and the Lakers will get a deal done.
At the end of the day, Odom was asked, does he expect to be back playing for the Lakers next season?

"I don't know," Odom told The Times in a phone interview. "That's why there are negotiations. I don't know. Of course I hope they can get it done.

"It's negotiations. Both sides are going to give and take. That's part of it. I don't know how long it's going to take."

The Times has reported that Odom and his agent, Jeff Schwartz, are seeking $10 million a season. The Lakers have offered Odom a deal north of $9 million a season for the first three years.

Odom and Schwartz are seeking more money and years.

"I can't discuss that," said Odom, who attended a screening party Monday night for the DVD featuring the Lakers' 2008-09 championship run. "You talk about money, it's touchy. It's a touchy subject.

"The Lakers have been too good to me to rub people over there the wrong way. The Lakers have been nothing but great to me, and I want to keep the relationship great."

Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who improved on his offer of $8 million a season to Odom, is getting frustrated and is thinking about pulling the deal off the table soon.

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak talked at halftime of a game between the Lakers and Clippers on Monday in Las Vegas at the summer league, saying that the talks with Odom left him "not as hopeful as I was on Friday."

When asked why, Kupchak said, "Just a feeling you get."

"Right now, I'm not sure we're on the same page."

Odom was asked whether it was true the Miami Heat had made him an offer.

The Heat has only the midlevel exception of $5.8 million but might be willing to give Odom a five-year, $34-million deal. Miami signed Odom to a five-year, $65-million contract in 2003 before trading him to the Lakers in 2004 in a deal involving Shaquille O'Neal.

"I don't know how to answer that question," Odom said about Miami being a suitor. "I'm pretty sure there might be other teams. I just won a championship."

Odom joined teammates Derek Fisher, Luke Walton and Jordan Farmar at Club Nokia at LA Live for the screening of the championship video.

Walton and Farmar said they didn't expect Odom to attend the screening because of his ongoing negotiations.

"I didn't expect it to be a two-day process." Odom said. "I expected it to be drawn out because it's negotiations. You never know how things will go."

Kupchak was asked whether he was ready to give up on the talks.

"Perhaps," Kupchak said. "I'm surprised it's taken this long to get to this point. Obviously, I have a lot more information than you guys do."

Odom was asked what would happen if he doesn't get a deal from the Lakers.

"I don't know. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, it might be sunny," Odom said. "Who knows what's going to happen? But I remain hopeful that it gets done."

Times staff writer Lisa Dillman contributed to this report.

Gortat to stay in Orlando

The Orlando Magic will keep Marcin Gortat by matching the five-year, $34-million offer sheet extended to him by the Dallas Mavericks, the Orlando Sentinel first reported Monday.

The Magic made the announcement Monday.

"Having quality big men is an absolute must in our league, and Marcin has worked very hard to fit into that category," Magic general manager Otis Smith said in a statement. "He provides tremendous depth to our frontcourt and we're happy to bring him back."

Gortat's agent, Guy Zucker, said the center "was definitely very disappointed today." He said Gortat was back in his native Poland, where he'd already been telling everyone he was headed to the Mavericks.

Gortat was hoping to play alongside Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki and, most of all, compete with Erick Dampier for the starting job. Dampier is going into the final year of his contract.

In Orlando, Gortat will likely see spotty playing time behind Howard.

"It was definitely about the opportunity to find out how good he can really be," Zucker said. "We had requested that Orlando not match the offer. We stated the fact that he sincerely wanted the chance to carve his own path, be his own man, so to speak, which is not going to be realistically possible in Orlando."

Gortat averaged just 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season and 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds during the Magic's run to the NBA Finals, but his opportunities in Orlando were limited behind All-Star center Dwight Howard.

The 6-foot-11, 240-pound center made about $700,000 last season, his first full year in the NBA. He likely will remain in a backup center role or play sparingly alongside Howard at power forward.

But Gortat earned the big pay raise in large part because of some highlights in the Magic's playoff run.

Gortat filled in for Howard in the Game 6 clincher against Philadelphia in the opening round after Orlando's All-Star was suspended, adding a few powerful dunks that earned him the nickname the "Polish Hammer" from teammates. He also had a pair of blocks on Cleveland's LeBron James in the conference finals, and he saw his minutes increase in the Finals because of the size of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The decision is a bold and costly one for the Magic, who will plunge further into luxury-tax territory than many rivals anticipated after their recent trade for Vince Carter by first signing Brandon Bass away from Dallas to a four-year deal worth a reported $18 million and then matching on Gortat.

Retaining Gortat and adding Bass will likely take the Magic's payroll into the $80 million range for next season, which would force Orlando to cut a luxury-tax check of more than $10 million in July 2010 barring roster moves between now and June 30 of next year to lower that figure.

Report: Clippers talking to Iverson

The makeover of the Los Angeles Clippers may include a former scoring champion.

The team is in "very serious" talks with Allen Iverson on a contract, the Los Angeles Times reported on Monday. It was reported on Sunday that Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley, while still hopeful of signing Iverson, regards the Miami Heat as the "odds-on favorite" to land the former MVP. The Charlotte Bobcats were also reported to have interest.

Iverson is a 10-time All-Star who has led the league in scoring four times. He has averaged 23.5 points and 5.4 assists per game over his 13 seasons but posted a career low 17.4 ppg average last season.

A bad back limited Iverson to 57 games last season between the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons. He was also embroiled in controversy when he bristled at coming off the bench for Detroit.

The Clippers may be prepared to offer their full mid-level exception of $5.8 million on a one-year contract. The Grizzlies are reportedly willing to offer something in the same neighborhood, but the Heat are thought to be interested in paying him less than half of that figure.

The Clippers drafted Blake Griffin with the first overall pick in this year's NBA draft. They also traded forward Zach Randolph to the Grizzlies for swingman Quentin Richardson.

US cagers win world jr. crown

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The United States broke an 18-year gold medal drought when it beat Greece 88-80 Sunday to win the FIBA under-19 world basketball championships.

Tyshawn Taylor had 18 points and five steals to lead the United States to its first victory at the world junior tournament since it claimed the gold medal at Edmonton, Canada in 1991.

“It was a tough game. Greece played their hearts out but I think in the end we wanted it more,” Taylor said.

“They did what we expected, made a lot of big shots but we managed to tough it out.

“When we played Croatia (in the semifinals) they made a big run at us in the third quarter, as Greece did, but we managed to hold on and the same thing happened tonight.”

The teams were tied 19-19 after the first quarter but the United States gained a crucial break with an outstanding defensive performance in the second period, outscoring Greece 27-11 to lead 46-30 at halftime.

Greece made a concerted comeback in the third quarter, outscoring the Americans 21-14 to cut their lead to 60-51 at three-quarter time. /AP