Charles Barkley arrested on suspicion of DUI

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Charles Barkley was arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving early Wednesday.

An officer with a law enforcement task force that targets drunken driving saw the former NBA star run a stop sign around 1:30 a.m., said Gilbert police Lt. Eric Shuhandler.

Barkley declined to submit to a breath test but was given a blood test. The results weren't immediately available.

After Barkley was processed, he was cited and released. He left in a cab, Shuhandler said.

Shuhandler said there was nothing remarkable about the 45-year-old Barkley's arrest and that it is customary to release people after they've been arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Charles Barkley arrested on suspicion of DUI....

Nets' Yi Jianlian targeted in age investigation

BEIJING (AP) -- NBA player Yi Jianlian is being investigated by a Chinese-language magazine which claims he is one of many of the country's athletes guilty of lying about their age on official documents.

Yi, who plays for the New Jersey Nets, has long been reported in the Chinese media to be older than his records show. Earlier this month, China's Sports Ministry reported that it found 36 players in China's professional basketball league whose dates of birth may have been changed.

The December issue of the Chinese-language edition of Sports Illustrated said a reporter for the magazine found records from Yi's middle-school registration in his hometown in southern China that said he was born in 1984.

His official basketball records say he was born in 1987. He is also listed by the Nets as being born Oct. 27, 1987.

A spokesman for the Chinese Basketball Association could not be reached Monday for comment.

Yi could be quizzed again about his age on Monday night when the Nets face the Houston Rockets and fellow Chinese star center Yao Ming in New Jersey.

Players' ages are sometimes altered to show them as being younger, mainly to qualify for youth tournaments. Those false ages stay with athletes and can result in embarrassment and sanctions when they move on to greater success.

Nets' Yi Jianlian targeted in age investigation....

Report: Kings fire Theus

Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Sacramento Kings head coach Reggie Theus was fired Monday, according to several media outlets. Theus became the sixth NBA head coach this season to be fired, following Maurice Cheeks' dismissal by Philadelphia this weekend.

Assistant Kenny Natt has been named interim head coach for the Kings, who started the season 6-18 and sit in last place in the Pacific Division.

Report: Kings fire Theus....

76ers fire coach Maurice Cheeks

By DAN GELSTON – 4 hours ago

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Maurice Cheeks was fired Saturday as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, who are slumping at 9-14 a year after making the playoffs. Assistant general manager Tony DiLeo was appointed coach for rest of the season.

The dismissal came hours before the 76ers were to play at home, with DiLeo making his coaching debut against Washington.

Team president Ed Stefanski said he met with Cheeks, describing the former 76er star as a "gentleman throughout" and a "class act."

"I felt we were not progressing the way we had wanted to progress," Stefanski said."I didn't feel on the floor we were executing the philosophy we wanted to have as Sixers basketball."

Cheeks was one of more the popular players in 76ers history and was starting his fourth season as coach. Stefanski had given Cheeks two contract extensions in the past season, but the slow start was enough to cost him his job.

Cheeks became the fifth NBA coach fired this season following P.J. Carlesimo (Oklahoma City), Eddie Jordan (Washington), Sam Mitchell (Toronto) and Randy Wittman (Minnesota).

A message left on Cheeks' cell phone was not immediately returned.

76ers fire coach Maurice Cheeks....

Celts, Cavs Win to Stay Atop NBA

The Celtics and Cavaliers showed again Friday why they own the NBA's best records.

Atlanta Dream get 1st pick in WNBA draft

NEW YORK (AP) — The last-place Atlanta Dream will have the top pick in the WNBA draft in April.
The Washington Mystics received the second pick in the draft lottery, followed by the Chicago Sky, Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury, the league announced Tuesday.

It's the first time the draft lottery, which includes teams that didn't make the playoffs, has gone according to odds in its eight-year history.

The remaining draft order is Indiana, Sacramento, New York, Washington and Connecticut in the top 10. Defending champion Detroit, Seattle and Atlanta round out the final three picks in the 13-team draft.

The first-year Dream went 4-30 last summer, while Detroit won its third WNBA title in October.

The draft date in April has not been announced.

Atlanta Dream get 1st pick in WNBA draft....

Wolves to replace Wittman with McHale

By Marc Stein

Kevin McHale is back on the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves ... and out of the front office.

The Wolves announced the widely anticipated firing of Randy Wittman on Monday morning once McHale agreed to take over as head coach, but still managed to deliver a surprise with the news that the much-maligned McHale is relinquishing his long-held duties as Minnesota's vice president of basketball operations.

An official press release from the club states that McHale has assumed "head coaching responsibilities of the team on a full-time basis from this point forward" so he can "concentrate on his coaching duties."

It was not immediately clear if McHale will have any chance to return to a personnel post in the future or if staying with the organization he joined in 1993 depends on him succeeding on the bench. The Wolves have also yet to announce whether the bulk of McHale's front-office duties will be absorbed by general manager Jim Stack or assistant general manager Fred Hoiberg, with Hoiberg regarded as McHale's eventual successor for some time.

McHale and Wolves owner Glen Taylor will be addressing the media at a 3 p.m. ET news conference after McHale coaches his first practice. It's the NBA's fourth firing already this season, following dismissals in Oklahoma City (P.J. Carlesimo), Washington (Eddie Jordan) and Toronto (Sam Mitchell).

Wolves to replace Wittman with McHale....

WNBA president says Houston Comets are disbanding

HOUSTON (AP) — The WNBA president says the franchise that won the league's first four championships is disbanding. Donna Orender told Houston television station KRIV on Monday that the league-owned Houston Comets would be shut down because new owners couldn't be found.

Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander, the original owner of the Comets, sold the team to Houston businessman Hilton Koch last year. The WNBA took over the franchise earlier this year and began a search for a new owner.

Orender did not rule out a WNBA team returning to Houston. Orender said a dispersal draft for Houston players would be held next week.

The Comets won the first four WNBA titles from 1997-2000.

WNBA president says Houston Comets are disbanding....