Morning Briefing March 20, 2010
Miscellaneous
Oregon athletic director Mike Bellotti is stepping down after less than a year in the position to become a college football analyst with ESPN.
Bellotti was head coach of the Ducks for 14 seasons before he formally took over as athletic director last July. His resignation is effective April 5 and he’ll make his debut on ESPN on April 17.
Bellotti’s announcement Friday came as a surprise. At a hastily called news conference he said that working in television was something that he’d “thought about and maybe aspired to over the years.”
Baseball
Cliff Lee, the Mariners’ lefty ace, was diagnosed with a lower right abdominal strain that will cost him at least a week of spring training.
Lee was examined in Seattle by team physician Dr. Edward Khalfayan. Lee underwent an ultrasound and was given a platelet-rich plasma injection. The team said he would be re-evaluated in seven days.
Chris Heisey had a pinch-hit, two-run homer — the first of four off left-hander Jason Vargas — and the Cincinnati Reds powered their way to a 6-2 preseason victory over the Seattle Mariners at Goodyear, Ariz.
Basketball
Danny Granger scored 29 points in the Indiana Pacers’ 106-102 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Indianapolis in NBA action.
Spurs 147, Warriors 116: Manu Ginobili scored 23, leading San Antonio past visiting Golden State.
Celtics 94, Rockets 87: Paul Pierce scored 26, leading Boston at Houston.
Cavaliers 92, Bulls 85: LeBron James scored 29, leading Cleveland at Chicago.
Knicks 92, 76ers 88: Toney Douglas scored 22, leading host New York past Philadelphia.
Bucks 114, Kings 108, 2OT: Brandon Jennings scored 35, leading Milwaukee at Sacramento.
Lakers 104, Timberwolves 96: Kobe Bryant scored 22, leading Los Angeles past visiting Minnesota.
Suns 110, Jazz 100: Amare Stoudemire scored 44, leading host Phoenix past Utah.
Trail Blazers 76, Wizards 74: Brandon Roy’s jumper with 0.9 seconds left lifted Portland past visiting Washington.
Thunder 115, Raptors 89: Kevin Durant scored 31, leading Oklahoma City past Toronto.
Hawks 93, Bobcats 92, OT: Joe Johnson sank a jumper just before time expired to lift host Atlanta past Charlotte.
Terrico White scored 21, leading Mississippi (23-10) past Memphis (24-10) 90-81 in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament at Oxford, Miss.
Blue Jackets 4, Wild 2: Rick Nash scored twice, leading host Columbus past Minnesota.
Flames 4, Sharks 3: Mikael Backlund’s two assists led host Calgary past San Jose.
Ducks 5, Islanders 4, OT: Saku Koivu’s overtime goal lifted host Anaheim past New York.
Oilers 3, Red Wings 2, SO: Gilbert Brule scored in the shootout and had two assists as host Edmonton beat Detroit.
Auto Racing
Joey Logano won the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.
Logano posted a lap at 124.630 mph in his Toyota to earn the first starting spot for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Food City 500.
Kurt Busch qualified second with a lap at 123.857 in his Dodge.
Padraig Harrington picked up a pair of birdies over the last five holes for a 6-under 65 and built a one-shot lead going into the weekend at the PGA’s Transitions Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla.
— The Associated Press