Team promotes three in personnel department
ravens
The Ravens yesterday promoted three members of the personnel department in the wake of the departure of George Kokinis to the Cleveland Browns. General manager Ozzie Newsome announced new job descriptions for Eric DeCosta (director of player personnel), Vince Newsome (director of pro personnel) and Joe Hortiz (director of college scouting). DeCosta, 37, had been director of college scouting since 2003, having spent his entire 13-year career with the Ravens. Vince Newsome, 48, the assistant director of pro personnel since 2003, succeeds Kokinis. A 10-year NFL veteran at safety, Newsome handled advance scouting of opponents in addition to conducting free-agent workouts and evaluating college prospects with DeCosta. He has been with the organization since 1993, when it was in Cleveland. Hortiz, 33, has spent all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Ravens, starting in 1998 as a personnel assistant. He was an area scout from 2001 to 2005, then promoted to national scout a year later.
KEN MURRAY
Raiders deny choosing Cable as coach
nfl
ESPN and NFL.com reported the Oakland Raiders decided the interim tag on coach Tom Cable would be removed. Not so fast, the Raiders said. "We have not made a decision at this time," Oakland senior executive John Herrera said. "That's really all I can say." A source close to Cable said the interim head coach had yet to be told he is the Raiders' choice. ESPN reported the Raiders told one of the other job candidates of the decision to go with Cable. NFL.com reported Raiders owner Al Davis had started telling others around the league of his decision.
Colts: : A man who says he was shot by wide receiver Marvin Harrison was convicted of a misdemeanor for lying to Philadelphia police about the shooting. Police said Dwight Dixon initially gave them a fake name and told them two unknown men shot him during a robbery attempt. Dixon, 32, later said Harrison was the shooter and filed a civil suit against the player.
S. Williams advances to final in Australia
tennis
Second-seeded Serena Williams advanced to the Australian Open final, beating Elena Dementieva of Russia in straight sets. With the roof closed at Rod Laver Arena because of outside temperatures of 111 degrees, the American beat the fourth-seeded Dementieva, 6-3, 6-4, today. Dementieva had a 3-0 lead in the second set before Williams, helped by consecutive double faults by the Russian in the fifth game, won four games in a row. After the pair exchanged service breaks, Williams held serve to clinch the match.
Wizards can't handle Wade, Heat in loss
nba
Dwyane Wade had 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists before sitting out the entire fourth quarter, and the Miami Heat pulled away in the second half to beat the visiting Washington Wizards, 93-71. Antawn Jamison had 21 points and 12 rebounds for Washington, which fell to an NBA-worst 9-36. Caron Butler added 18 points for the Wizards. The Heat (25-19) outscored Washington 44-21 in the final 17 minutes.
Celtics 119, Kings 100: : Eddie House scored 28 points on a career-high eight three-pointers, and Rajon Rondo had 24 points and nine assists to lead Boston (38-9) past visiting Sacramento (10-37) for its ninth straight win.
Hornets 94, Nuggets 81: : Peja Stojakovic matched a season high with 26 points and host New Orleans (28-14) used stifling defense to beat Denver (30-16).
76ers 95, Rockets 93: : Andre Iguodala hit a baseline jumper with 36 seconds left and finished with 20 points to help visiting Philadelphia (22-22) overcome a late 14-point deficit in a victory over Houston (28-19).
Mavericks 117, Warriors 93: : Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard sparked a 32-11 run during the second quarter, and Jason Terry scored 22 points to lead host Dallas (26-19) past Golden State (14-32).
Pistons 98, Timberwolves 89: : Rasheed Wallace tied a season high with 25 points and had 10 rebounds to lead Detroit (25-19) past host Minnesota (16-28).
Thunder 114, Grizzlies 102, OT:: Kevin Durant scored 35 points, and host Oklahoma City (11-35) recovered after blowing a late 10-point lead to beat Memphis (11-34) in overtime.
Knicks 112, Hawks 104: : Nate Robinson scored 20 of his 24 points in the final 10 minutes to lead host New York (20-25) past Atlanta (26-19).
Pacers 107, Bucks 99: : T.J. Ford matched his career high with 34 points, and host Indiana (18-28) held off a comeback bid by Milwaukee (22-27).
Raptors 107, Nets 106: : Jose Calderon had 17 points and 11 assists, and visiting Toronto (19-28) beat New Jersey (20-26) for its third straight win.
Bobcats: : Forward Gerald Wallace suffered a partially collapsed left lung and a fractured rib late in the team's double-overtime win over the Lakers on Tuesday. Team spokesman B.J. Evans said there was no immediate indication on when Wallace, who was to remain in a Los Angeles hospital for 48 hours, would rejoin the team.
Wings' Zetterberg signs 12-year deal; Ovechkin OK
et cetera
The Detroit Red Wings announced they signed Henrik Zetterberg to the longest contract in team history, a 12-year, $73 million deal that could keep the star forward in Hockeytown until 2021. In 400 NHL games, Zetterberg, 28, has 169 goals and 375 points.
More NHL: : Alex Ovechkin was given yesterday off, an excused absence from practice that Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said had nothing to do with the "stinger" the reigning Most Valuable Player got from a shoulder-first crash into the boards Tuesday. "He's fine," Boudreau said.
Boxing: : Former welterweight titleholder Antonio Margarito had his license suspended by the California State Athletic Commission while it investigates a plaster-like substance found under the boxer's hand wraps before his loss last weekend to Shane Mosley. The commission also suspended the license of Margarito's trainer, Javier Capetillo, and asked both to appear at a hearing Feb. 10. ... Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton formally agreed to fight for Hatton's 140-pound title May 2.
Auto racing: : The National Transportation Safety Board blamed NASCAR for a "tragic, unnecessary" plane crash that killed five people in 2007, saying the racing organization let one of its aircraft take off without checking an electrical problem reported the day before.
Golf: : Ginn Resorts is ending all golf sponsorships immediately. The real estate company said it no longer will host or produce its two remaining events - the LPGA's Ginn Open and the Champions Tour Ginn Championship.
Soccer: : D.C. United will play the Chicago Fire instead of the San Jose Earthquakes in its home opener March 28.
Horse racing: : Live racing at Laurel Park, which was canceled yesterday because of the weather, is expected to resume today.
College football: : Bobby Bowden signed a one-year contract worth just less than $2.5 million to coach a 34th season at Florida State.