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The Morning Briefing March 18, 2010

| March 17, 2010 9:00 PM

Baseball

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington admitted he made a “huge mistake” when he used cocaine and failed a Major League Baseball drug test last season.

In his first public admission, he apologized Wednesday for his behavior, eight months after he told Rangers president Nolan Ryan, who turned down Washington’s offer to resign.

Washington said he used cocaine only once and called it “stupid” and “shameful.”

The failed test was first reported by SI.com.

Washington said he told the commissioner’s office and Rangers officials about using cocaine before he had a routine drug test.

Nelson Cruz hit two home runs, and Josh Hamilton and Chris Davis also connected as the Texas Rangers scored eight times in the first six innings and cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners in preseason play at Peoria, Ariz.

Devils 5, Penguins 2: At Newark, N.J., Patrik Elias scored and had an assist, leading New Jersey past Pittsburgh.

Flames 3, Avalanche 2: At Denver, Rene Bourque scored twice, leading Calgary past Colorado.

Ducks 4, Blackhawks 2: Bobby Ryan scored twice, leading host Anaheim past Chicago.

Basketball

Fed up by his antics on and off the court, Seton Hall fired basketball coach Bobby Gonzalez after a 19-win season.

The dismissal came roughly 12 hours after the coach known as “Gonzo” endured an 87-69 loss in the opening round of the NIT, a game in which Seton Hall forward Herb Pope was ejected for hitting Texas Tech player below the belt and Gonzalez picked up his seventh technical foul of the season.

Paul Pierce scored 29 points and the Boston Celtics cruised past the visiting New York Knicks 109-97 in NBA action.

Cavaliers 99, Pacers 94: LeBron James scored 32, leading host Cleveland past Indiana.

Warriors 131, Hornets 121: At Oakland, Calif., Anthony Tolliver scored 30, leading Golden State past New Orleans.

Clippers 101, Bucks 93: Chris Kaman scored 20, leading host Los Angeles past Milwaukee.

Jazz 122, Timberwolves 100: At Salt Lake City, Kyle Korver scored 20, leading Utah past Minnesota.

Rockets 107, Grizzlies 94: Aaron Brooks scored 31, leading host Houston past Memphis.

Mavericks 113, Bulls 106: Caron Butler scored 27, leading host Dallas past Chicago.

Raptors 106, Hawks 105: Chris Bosh hit the winning shot with 2.1 seconds left and Toronto beat visiting Atlanta.

Bobcats 100, Thunder 92: Stephen Jackson scored 20, leading Charlotte past visiting Oklahoma City.

76ers 108, Nets 97: Andre Iguodala scored 20, leading host Philadelphia past New Jersey.

Magic 110, Spurs 84: Vince Carter scored 24, leading host Orlando past San Antonio.

Football

The Seattle Seahawks signed former Tampa Bay linebacker Matt McCoy to a $630,000, one-year contract, adding depth to their defense and special teams.

NFL owners will vote next week whether to allow each team a possession in overtime in the playoffs if the team winning the OT coin toss kicks a field goal on the first series.

If the team that falls behind by three points on the first series also kicks a field goal, then the game would continue under current sudden death rules.

The proposal is only for the postseason.

— The Associated Press