LITTLE ROCK — BASKETBALL Parker signs extension
Tony Parker swore he didn’t want to leave the San Antonio Spurs, and he has a new contractto finally prove it. The Spurs signed Parker to a multiyear extension Saturday that preserves their threetime NBA champion core of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and the star point guard, and puts an abruptend to what would’ve undoubtedly been a season of speculation. The extension is for $50 million over four years, according to Parker’s website. Rumors swirled over the summer about where the 28-yearold former All-Star might end up after this season, but Parker has insisted that he and his wife, actress Eva Longoria Parker, wanted to remain in San Antonio. The French star entered his 10th season saying this was likely the three’s last chance at a fourth championship together because of Duncan’s age. Duncan will be 35 when the playoffs begin, and the final year of his contract is threatened by a potential lockout next season.
Point guard Stephen Curry will miss Golden State’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers with a sprained right ankle. The Warriors said Saturday that the former Davidson College star will not make the trip to Los Angeles for today’s game. He is listed as day to day. Curry was hurt while trying to get around a pick set by Blake Griffin in the third quarter Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. He did not return to the game.
FOOTBALL Favre expects to start
Brett Favre expects to start for the Vikings against the New England Patriots in today’s game despite two fractures in his left ankle. ESPN reported Saturday that Favre said in a telephone interview his injuries have healed significantly and that he plans tostart, which would extend his record streak of consecutive regular-season starts to 292 games. Favre was on the field for drills Friday, with limited participation in practice for the first time thisweek. He wore a wrap on his injured ankle.
Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams (Wynne) did not make the trip to St. Louis and will miss today’s game against the Rams with an injured foot. Williams hobbled off the field in the final minute of Carolina’s victory over San Francisco last weekend and hasn’t practiced since. The team has provided no update on the injury and Williams hasn’t talked to reporters. Saturday’s decision means Jonathan Stewart will likely start against the Rams as the Panthers try to jump-start the league’s 23rd-ranked rushing offense.
Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai is doubtful for Monday night’s game against Houston after missing another practice Saturday. Indy’s top rusher has not practiced since injuring a nerve in his left shoulder Oct. 17 at Washington.
The Arizona Cardinals activated linebackers Gerard Hayes and O’Brien Schofield on Saturday and released wide receiver Onrea Jones and linebacker Alex Hall. Hayes was on the physically unable to perform list and Schofield was on the nonfootball injury list. Hayes, sidelined by a back injury, had 62 tackles in 14 games last season. Schofield, a fourth-round pick this year from Wisconsin, missed the Cardinals’ offseason workouts and training camp after injuring his left knee at practice in preparation for the Senior Bowl.
BOXING N’Dam wins WBA title
France’s undefeated Hassan N’Dam unanimously outpointed the Republic of Georgia’s Avtandil Khurtsidze on Saturday night to take the vacant WBA interim middleweight title in Paris. The 26-year-old N’Dam, a Cameroon-born fighter recently granted French citizenship, received winning scores of 117-111, 115-114 and 115-114 from the judges to improve to 25-0. The 31-yearold Khurtsidze lost for the second time in 26 fights. N’Dam became the interim WBA champion. Kazakhstan’s Gennady Golovkin is the recognized title holder.
GOLF
Crane leads in Malaysia
Ben Crane of the United States birdied three of his last four holesto take a two-shot lead in the Asia Pacific Classic on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 36-year-old Crane finished with a 5-under-par 66 in the third round for a 16-under total of 197. He was two strokes ahead of Sweden’s Carl Pettersson, who also shot a 66. Singaporean veteran Mardan Mamat had a 65 for a share of third place with four other players, another two shots back. Brian Davis, fellow Englishman Luke Donald and American duo Ryan Moore and Ricky Barnes were also tied for third.
South Korea’s Song-Hee Kim birdied four holes in a row on the front nine Saturday and finished with her second consecutive 4-under-par 68 for a one-stroke lead over defending champion Na Yeon Choi in the LPGA Hana Bank Championship. Winless in 73 LPGA Tour starts, Kim finished second in the LPGA Championship in late June, then lost a playoff to Choi the following week in the Jamie Farr Classic. Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) istied for 13th after her second 1-under 71 in as many days. Lewis’ round included three birdies and two bogeys. Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) shot a 3-over 75 . Her round included five bogeys and two birdies.
Larry Nelson made a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole Saturday for a 4-under-par 67 and a onestroke lead over Jay Don Blake, Steve Lowery and Chien Soon Lu in the AT&T Championship in San Antonio, the Champions Tour’s final full-field event of the year. The 63-year-old Nelson, who won the last of his 19 Champions Tour titles in 2004, rebounded on 18 after lipping out a 4-footer and settling for bogey on No. 17. He had a 10-under 132 on the Oak Hills Country Club course in the event’s final year at the A.J. Tillinghast-designed layout.
Graeme McDowell and Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland took a four-stroke lead at the Andalucia Masters in Sotogrande, Spain, after a windy third round sent scores soaring. McDowell, the U.S. Open champion, shot a 1-over-par 72, while Maybin had a 70 to reach 6 under. Conditions were so difficult at Valderrama that only six players were under par at the end of a day that began with 13 in minus territory.
Brendan Steele put himself in great position to earn a 2011 PGA Tour card, shooting a 7-under-par 65 Saturday to take a fivestroke lead in the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship in Charleston, S.C. No. 30 on the money list entering the tournament, Steele needs only to move into the top 25 to earn a spot on the big tour. The winner will receive $180,000 from the $1 million purse. The 27-year-old former California-Riverside player had a 14-under 202 total on the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course. James Hahn (67) and Colt Knost (70) were tied for second. Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) is tied for fourth after firing a 4-under 68. His round included five birdies and one bogey and he is seven shots behind Steele. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) shot an even-par 72 in a round that included six birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.
TENNIS
Clijsters advances to final
U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters was unhurt in a “scary” car accident before her match Saturday and advanced to the WTA Championships final in Doha, Qatar, by defeating Samantha Stosur 7-6 (3), 6-1. Clijsters said a truck “came out of nowhere” at a roundabout and hit the right front door of her official WTA Tour car. Clijsters said she was not injured, but her manager suffered minor cuts. Clijsters will face top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki in the season-ending final today. The 20-year-old Dane routed No. 2 Vera Zvonareva 7-5, 6-0 in the other semifinal. Wozniacki is the youngest player to reach the final since Maria Sharapova won at 17 in 2004. Clijsters won the only previous match against Wozniacki in the 2009 U.S. Open final.
Defending champion Ivan Ljubicic beat Albert Montanes of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (4) Saturday and will play Gael Monfils of France in the Open Sud de France final in Montpellier. The fourth-seeded Ljubicic never faced a break point and sealed the victory with his 18th ace. He won every point on his serve in the tiebreaker.
Defending champion Jurgen Melzer and Andreas Haider-Maurer set up the first all-Austrian final for the Bank Austria Trophy in Vienna in 22 years. The top-seeded Melzer beat Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-4 and Haider-Maurer defeated Michael Berrer 7-6 (6), 6-7 (1), 6-3 Saturday in the other semifinal.
Sports, Pages 28 on 10/31/2010