Sports Briefs January 4, 2011
Football
Two massage therapists sued Brett Favre on Monday, saying they lost their part-time jobs with the New York Jets after complaining about sexually suggestive text messages from the veteran quarterback.
Claiming they were subjected to sexual harassment and job discrimination, Christina Scavo and Shannon O'Toole are seeking unspecified damages from Favre, the Jets and a Jets massage coordinator.
The suit also includes a message Favre allegedly sent to a third, unidentified massage therapist. "Kinda lonely tonight," it says. "I guess I have bad intentions."
The team declined to comment. Favre's agent didn't immediately return a telephone message.
The lawsuit comes five days after the NFL fined Favre $50,000 for not being forthright in an investigation into allegations that he sent lewd text messages and photos to former Jets game hostess Jenn Sterger when they both worked for the team in 2008.
• Eric Mangini was denied a third season as Cleveland's coach.
Given a second chance last year by Browns President Mike Holmgren to improve, Mangini was fired following a second straight 5-11 season and one day after a humiliating home loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mangini went just 10-22 with the Browns and finished his second season with a four-game losing streak.
• Connecticut has named Hank Hughes as its interim head coach while it seeks a replacement for Randy Edsall. Hughes has been UConn's assistant head coach for defense the last six seasons.
Basketball
WNBA star Diana Taurasi's backup doping sample came back positive and she faces a possible two-year ban.
The Phoenix Mercury standout and former Connecticut star tested positive for the banned stimulant modafinil while playing in Turkey's professional league.
Taurasi was tested following a league game Nov. 13 and the positive result was confirmed last month.
Heat 96, Bobcats 82: LeBron James scored 38 points, Dwyane Wade added 31 points and visiting Miami dominated the second half to beat Charlotte.
Magic 110, Warriors 90: Hedo Turkoglu had 10 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists to lift host Orlando over Golden State.
Celtics 96, Timberwolves 93: Paul Pierce scored 23 points to help host Boston beat Minnesota.
Hornets 84, 76ers 77: David West scored 17 points and host New Orleans held on to beat Philadelphia.
Nuggets 113, Rockets 106: Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points and host Denver pulled ahead late in the fourth to beat Houston for its fourth consecutive win.
Jazz 102, Pistons 97: At Salt Lake City, Deron Williams scored 22 points as Utah beat Detroit.
Panthers 4, Hurricanes 3, OT: At Raleigh, N.C., Bryan Allen scored 1:16 into overtime to lift Florida over Carolina.
Bruins 2, Maple Leafs 1: Marc Savard scored the tiebreaking goal and Tuukka Rask stopped 36 shots to help visiting Boston beat Toronto.
Islanders 5, Flames 2: John Tavares had two goals and an assist and visiting New York beat Calgary.
Blackhawks 4, Kings 3: Jonathan Toews scored the winning goal to give visiting Chicago a win over Los Angeles.
Canucks 4, Sharks 3: Alexandre Burrows scored midway through the third period and visiting Vancouver held on to beat San Jose.
- The Associated Press