From Beacon Journal wire services
Bruce Fleisher, Dana Quigley, Eduardo Romero, Andy Bean, Don Pooley and Chip Beck shot 4-under 68s on Friday to share the first-round lead in the Champions Tour's SAS Championship in Cary, N.C.
Tom Kite, Loren Roberts and Kirk Hanefeld were a stroke back on the Prestonwood Country Club course, and Larry Mize opened with a 70 in his Champions Tour debut. The 1987 Masters champions turned 50 on Wednesday.
Mark Wiebe, the winner last year in his first Champions Tour start, shot a 72. R.W. Eaks, coming off a successful title defense two weeks ago in the Greater Hickory Classic, had a 73.
More golf: Ochoa leads LPGA Classic
Recharged after a month off, Lorena Ochoa shot her second straight 5-under 67 on Friday to move within a stroke of leader Janice Moodie halfway through the Navistar LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala.
The top-ranked Ochoa is making her first start since tying for sixth in the Safeway Classic on Aug. 24. ''I'm just glad I took advantage of an early round today,'' Ochoa said.
Even more golf: Westwood in lead
Lee Westwood bounced back from a disappointing Ryder Cup by taking the British Masters lead Friday after a fog-delayed and incomplete second round in Sutton Coldfield, England.
The Englishman, 0-2-2 in Europe's 16-1/2 to 11-1/2 loss to the United States last weekend, shot a 2-under 70 for a 6-under total of 138 and the clubhouse lead after the round started more than three hours late because of heavy fog.
Boxing: Pardon urged for late champ
The first black heavyweight champion should be granted a presidential pardon for a racially motivated conviction 75 years ago that blemished his reputation and hurt his boxing career, the House recommended Friday.
Jack Johnson won the world heavyweight title in 1908, sparking a search for a white boxer, called ''the Great White Hope,'' who could beat him.
In 1913, Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act, which outlawed the transportation of women across state lines for immoral purposes.
NBA: Jason Williams retires
Jason Williams announced his retirement Friday, ending his 10-year NBA career less than two months after signing with the Los Angeles Clippers. Williams, who helped the Miami Heat to the NBA title in 2006, averaged 11.4 points and 6.3 assists and shot 39.6 percent from the floor in 679 games.
The point guard was drafted seventh overall in 1998 out of Florida by the Sacramento Kings and averaged 12.8 points as a rookie.
More NBA: Arenas skips media day
• Gilbert Arenas ducked out of the Washington Wizards' annual preseason media day Friday, avoiding what was supposed to be his first public discussion of last week's knee surgery.
The All-Star point guard was the only Wizards player who wasn't available to reporters at the team's arena on Friday. A Wizards spokesman said Arenas will address the media today.
• Houston Rockets forward Shane Battier will be sidelined up to four weeks and miss most of preseason because of an inflammation in his left foot.
He had surgery May 9 to remove bone spurs from his left ankle, and the team said the inflammation occurred during rehabilitation.
The 6-foot-8 forward started 78 games last season and averaged 9.3 points and 5.1 rebounds.
College basketball: NYU names coach
Chris Kosiba became NYU's interim women's basketball coach Friday, a day after Janice Quinn retired because of medical issues.
Quinn, remaining as associate director of athletics, led NYU to the 1997 Division III title and two other Final Four appearances in 21 seasons. She has an arrhythmia-related condition and had a pacemaker implanted four weeks ago.
Hockey: Rangers cut Nedved
Petr Nedved's bid to come back to the NHL after a year playing in Europe ended Friday when the New York Rangers released the 36-year-old forward from his tryout.
Nedved tied for the team lead with two goals and three points in three preseason games this week, but was let go one day before the Rangers were to face New Jersey in their final exhibition contest in North America.
More hockey: Thrashers make trade
The Atlanta Thrashers acquired defenseman Mathieu Schneider from Anaheim on Friday for defenseman Ken Klee and forwards Brad Larsen and Chad Painchaud.
Schneider, 39, had 12 goals and 39 points in 65 games last season, his lone season with the Ducks. He will make $5.75 million this season.
Soccer: Texan buys Sunderland stake
Texas businessman Ellis Short bought a significant stake in Sunderland, the English Premier League told the Associated Press on Friday.
Short is co-founder of Dallas private-equity group Lone Star Funds. In August, he acquired more than 30 percent of the consortium that owns the club in northeast England.
From Beacon Journal wire services
Bruce Fleisher, Dana Quigley, Eduardo Romero, Andy Bean, Don Pooley and Chip Beck shot 4-under 68s on Friday to share the first-round lead in the Champions Tour's SAS Championship in Cary, N.C.
Tom Kite, Loren Roberts and Kirk Hanefeld were a stroke back on the Prestonwood Country Club course, and Larry Mize opened with a 70 in his Champions Tour debut. The 1987 Masters champions turned 50 on Wednesday.
Mark Wiebe, the winner last year in his first Champions Tour start, shot a 72. R.W. Eaks, coming off a successful title defense two weeks ago in the Greater Hickory Classic, had a 73.
More golf: Ochoa leads LPGA Classic
Recharged after a month off, Lorena Ochoa shot her second straight 5-under 67 on Friday to move within a stroke of leader Janice Moodie halfway through the Navistar LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala.
The top-ranked Ochoa is making her first start since tying for sixth in the Safeway Classic on Aug. 24. ''I'm just glad I took advantage of an early round today,'' Ochoa said.
Even more golf: Westwood in lead
Lee Westwood bounced back from a disappointing Ryder Cup by taking the British Masters lead Friday after a fog-delayed and incomplete second round in Sutton Coldfield, England.
The Englishman, 0-2-2 in Europe's 16-1/2 to 11-1/2 loss to the United States last weekend, shot a 2-under 70 for a 6-under total of 138 and the clubhouse lead after the round started more than three hours late because of heavy fog.
Boxing: Pardon urged for late champ
The first black heavyweight champion should be granted a presidential pardon for a racially motivated conviction 75 years ago that blemished his reputation and hurt his boxing career, the House recommended Friday.
Jack Johnson won the world heavyweight title in 1908, sparking a search for a white boxer, called ''the Great White Hope,'' who could beat him.
In 1913, Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act, which outlawed the transportation of women across state lines for immoral purposes.
NBA: Jason Williams retires
Jason Williams announced his retirement Friday, ending his 10-year NBA career less than two months after signing with the Los Angeles Clippers. Williams, who helped the Miami Heat to the NBA title in 2006, averaged 11.4 points and 6.3 assists and shot 39.6 percent from the floor in 679 games.
The point guard was drafted seventh overall in 1998 out of Florida by the Sacramento Kings and averaged 12.8 points as a rookie.
More NBA: Arenas skips media day
• Gilbert Arenas ducked out of the Washington Wizards' annual preseason media day Friday, avoiding what was supposed to be his first public discussion of last week's knee surgery.
The All-Star point guard was the only Wizards player who wasn't available to reporters at the team's arena on Friday. A Wizards spokesman said Arenas will address the media today.
• Houston Rockets forward Shane Battier will be sidelined up to four weeks and miss most of preseason because of an inflammation in his left foot.
He had surgery May 9 to remove bone spurs from his left ankle, and the team said the inflammation occurred during rehabilitation.
The 6-foot-8 forward started 78 games last season and averaged 9.3 points and 5.1 rebounds.
College basketball: NYU names coach
Chris Kosiba became NYU's interim women's basketball coach Friday, a day after Janice Quinn retired because of medical issues.
Quinn, remaining as associate director of athletics, led NYU to the 1997 Division III title and two other Final Four appearances in 21 seasons. She has an arrhythmia-related condition and had a pacemaker implanted four weeks ago.
Hockey: Rangers cut Nedved
Petr Nedved's bid to come back to the NHL after a year playing in Europe ended Friday when the New York Rangers released the 36-year-old forward from his tryout.
Nedved tied for the team lead with two goals and three points in three preseason games this week, but was let go one day before the Rangers were to face New Jersey in their final exhibition contest in North America.
More hockey: Thrashers make trade
The Atlanta Thrashers acquired defenseman Mathieu Schneider from Anaheim on Friday for defenseman Ken Klee and forwards Brad Larsen and Chad Painchaud.
Schneider, 39, had 12 goals and 39 points in 65 games last season, his lone season with the Ducks. He will make $5.75 million this season.
Soccer: Texan buys Sunderland stake
Texas businessman Ellis Short bought a significant stake in Sunderland, the English Premier League told the Associated Press on Friday.
Short is co-founder of Dallas private-equity group Lone Star Funds. In August, he acquired more than 30 percent of the consortium that owns the club in northeast England.