Final Four in 2011 set for Houston

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Final Four in 2011 set for Houston

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The men's Final Four in 2011 will be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, the NCAA said yesterday.

The 2012 Final Four will be played at the Superdome in New Orleans and in the following year - the 75th anniversary of the event - it will be played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

The NCAA also chose most of the host sites for the early rounds in 2011-2013:

• In 2011, the firstand second-round hosts are Tulsa, Okla., Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Tampa, Fla., Tucson, Ariz., and Washington, D.C. The regional sites are Anaheim, Calif., San Antonio, Newark, N.J., and New Orleans.

• In 2012, the early sites are Albuquerque, N.M., Columbus, Ohio, Greensboro, N.C., Louisville, Ky., Nashville, Tenn., Omaha, Neb., Pittsburgh and Portland, Ore. The regional sites are Atlanta, Phoenix, Boston and St. Louis.

• In 2013, the early-round sites will be Dayton, Ohio, Auburn Hills, Mich., Lexington, Ky., Salt Lake City, San Jose, Calif., Austin, Texas, Kansas City, Mo., and Philadelphia. The regional sites, with the East site still to be chosen, include Los Angeles, Indianapolis and the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Terps' Williams gets extension

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland men's coach Gary Williams has received a one-year extenstion on his contract, which could keep him at the job into 2013. Williams' contract includes automatic extensions for achieving benchmark standards by the Terrapins, both athletically and academically.

Williams is entering his 21st season as head coach at his alma mater. The extension takes the term of his contract through June 30, 2013.

NBA

Beasley back with Heat after rehab

MIAMI - Michael Beasley is back with the Miami Heat. The second-year forward out of Kansas State worked out with teammates at the Heat practice facility. He was released from a Houston rehabilitation center over the weekend after a monthlong stay.

Beasley easily passed his team conditioning test, said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, adding that Miami is "100 percent" behind the forward. Miami opens training camp next week.

NHL

Morency suspended five games

TORONTO - The NHL has suspended New York Islanders forward Pascal Morency for the rest of the preseason and five regular-season games after leaving the bench to start a fight in a game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. Morency jumped off the bench after Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf knocked out Islanders forward Kyle Okposo with a hit in the second period of the Flames' victory Thursday. He started a brawl that included New York goalie Martin Biron. Okposo was immobilized and removed from the ice on a stretcher. Morency was assessed a game misconduct penalty.

• A federal bankruptcy judge has scheduled an emergency hearing for today on a request by Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes to force the NHL into mediation over the contentious issues surrounding the sale of the team. Moyes wants the judge to force mediation over, among other things, the NHL's rejection of Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie as an owner. A ruling is expected in the next few days on whether to award the team to the NHL or to Balsillie, who would move the team to Hamilton, Ontario, over the league's objection.

  TENNIS

  Reports say Henin to return

BRUSSELS - Former top-ranked player Justine Henin will announce her return to competitive tennis today, according to two top Belgian newspapers. La Derniere Heure and Le Soir reported the comeback yesterday. Her spokeswoman did not return phone calls, and Henin's Web site had no comment on the rumors.

• Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Thailand Open because of an injury sustained at the U.S. Open earlier this month. Nadal was advised by his doctor to withdraw from the Sept. 26-Oct. 4 tournament to recover from a stomach muscle problem, Suwat Liptapanlop, president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand, said.

ELSEWHERE

• A former Kentucky high school football coach acquitted last week in the death of a player was cleared to return to the classroom as a technical teacher and apply for coaching positions. David Jason Stinson, 37, can resume teaching at Pleasure Ridge Park High School on Thursday, Jefferson County Public Schools spokeswoman Lauren Roberts said.

A jury last week deliberated less than 90 minutes before finding Stinson not guilty of reckless homicide and wanton endangerment charges stemming from the collapse and death of 15-year-old sophomore offensive lineman Max Gilpin, who became ill and fell at the end of practice on Aug. 20, 2008. He died three days later of heat stroke, sepsis and multiple organ failure.

Former NFL running back Herschel Walker is starting a new career in mixed martial arts. Walker, 47, said he has signed a multi-fight contract with promoter Strikeforce. Walker will begin a 12-week training camp next month in San Jose, Calif. - From Wire Reports