Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — FOOTBALL

NFL, union hold mediation

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, union Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and membersof their negotiating teams participated in a second consecutive sixhour session with a federal mediator Saturday, trying to spur progress less than two weeks before the league’s labor deal expires. For the second dayin a row, the two sides convened at the office of George Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a U.S. government agency. They met with Cohen for the first time Friday after agreeing to the mediation, which is not binding but is meant to initiate progress in bargaining. The plan calls for several days of negotiations with Cohen, who asked participants to not make any public comments on the process. Neither Goodell nor Smith stopped to take questions as they left the meeting. The current collective bargaining agreement runs out March 3. The players believe that team owners are preparing to lock them out as soon as the following day, which could threaten the 2011 season. The NFL has not lost games to a work stoppage since 1987. Among those joining Goodell on Saturday: NFL counsel and lead labor negotiator Jeff Pash; league senior vice president and treasurer Joe Siclare, and outside lawyer Bob Batterman, who was working for the NHL when itlost its entire 2004-05 season to a lockout. Smith was accompanied by at least a dozen people Saturday, a much larger union contingent than was seen Friday. In addition to Kessler and another lawyer, Richard Berthelsen, the union was represented by Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, New York Jets fullback Tony Richardson, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch and formerplayers Pete Kendall and Sean Morey.

Ollie Matson, a Hall of Fame running back who was once traded for nine players during his 14-year NFL career and won two medals at the 1952 Olympics, has died. He was 80. Matson died Saturday of respiratory failure surrounded by family at his home in Los Angeles, his nephew Art Thompson III told The Associated Press. Thompson said Matson had been mostly bedridden for several years due to a form of dementia. He said Matson hadn’t spoken in four years.

BASKETBALL

Griffin wins dunk contest

Los Angeles Clippers rookie Blake Griffin leaped over a car and threw down a two-handed dunk to the accompaniment of a gospel choir, winning the slam dunk contest in style before his hometown fans at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on NBA All-Star Saturday.Griffin caught a pass out of the sunroof from teammate Baron Davis and cleared the 2011 Kia Optima’s hood while the Crenshaw Select Choir sang “I Believe I Can Fly” at midcourt. Griffin beat Javale Mc-Gee of Washington and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan. In other events, Miami’s James Jones held off Boston teammates Ray Allen and Paul Pierce in the three-point shootout and Golden State’s Stephen Curry won the skills challenge.

GOLF Baddeley takes lead

Aaron Baddeley made only one mistake in shifting weather at Riviera, posting a 4-under par 67 to grab a one-shot lead over Fred Couples and Kevin Na in the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles. The 51-year-old Couples and his ailing back held up good enough in the cold and occasional rain. He made only one blunder on the par-4 10th when he chipped over the green. He finished with a 70 to give himself a shot at winning one more time at Rivieraand becoming the oldest PGA Tour winner in nearly 36 years. Vijay Singh, who turns 48 Tuesday, birdied two of his last three holes for a 67 and was only two shots behind. Baddeley missed a 4-foot par putt on the 12th, but otherwise was solid. He is seeking his first victory since 2007. Bryce Molder (Conway) missed the cut, concluding a second-round 75 Saturday morning to finish at 5-over 147. The second round was suspended late Friday because of darkness. Scores, 11C.

Top-ranked Yani Tseng shot a 2-under par 70 for a one-shot lead after the third round in the LPGA Thailand in Pattaya. A 4-foot eagle putt on her finishing hole on the Pattaya Old Course at Siam Country Club lifted the Taiwanese star to a 9-under 207, one better than American Michelle Wie (71) and second-round leader IK Kim (72). Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 71 Saturday and is at 4-under 212 for the tournament. Stacy Prammanasudah (Conway) shot a 75 and is1-under 215.

HOCKEY Blues, Avalanche deal

In a trade between struggling teams in the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche acquired 2006 No. 1 pick Erik Johnson and Jay McClement from the St. Louis Blues for Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk. The Avalanche, who dropped nine consecutive before Saturday night’s game with San Jose, also received a first-round pick in 2011 or 2012. Colorado will surrender a conditional second-round selection in 2011 or 2012 in the deal announced early Saturday.

Chicago Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville was released from the hospital after being treated for gastrointestinal bleeding brought on by a small ulcer. He is resting at home and a full recovery is expected, team physician Dr. Michael Terry said in a statement Saturday. It is not clear when the 52-year-old coach will return. The Blackhawks’ next game is today against Pittsburgh. Assistant Mike Haviland has beencoaching the team. Quenneville, who coached the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup championship last season, has missed two games since being hospitalized Wednesday.

The Edmonton Oilers placed disgruntled defenseman Sheldon Souray on re-entry waivers on Saturday, making him available to the other 29 NHL teams at a discounted price. Souray has been playing for Hershey of the American Hockey League this season after a falling out with the Oilers’ management. The 34-yearold veteran demanded a trade in the offseason, but was told by the team to stay away from training camp. Souray is earning $4.5 million this season and next season. If a team claims him, the Oilers would pay half of what is left on his contract.

TENNIS

Wozniacki in Dubai final

Caroline Wozniacki, set to regain the No. 1 ranking, beat Jelena Jankovic 7-5, 6-3 Saturday at the Dubai (United Arab Emirates) Championships to reach her first final of the year. The top-seeded Dane downed Jankovic for the first time and will play for the title today against Svetlana Kuznetsova. The 16th-seeded Russian defeated Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-4, 6-4 in the other semifinal.

Robin Soderling of Sweden will play Marin Cilic of Croatia in the final of the Open 13 today in Marseille, France. Soderling beat Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 7-5, 6-1 and Cilic saved a match point before downing Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-2, 1-6, 7-5 in Saturday’s semifinals. The top-seeded Swede has won 16 of 17 matches this year, clinching titles in Rotterdam last weekend and in Brisbane last month.

Andy Roddick beat Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 6-3, 6-4 Saturday in the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis to advance to his 50th career tournament final. Roddick will play Milos Raonic of Canada, a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 winner over Mardy Fish.