Pistons prove Celtics are beatable in Boston

BOSTON (AP) - Home wins are no longer good enough for the Boston Celtics. The road to the NBA finals in the Eastern Conference now goes through Detroit.

Richard Hamilton bounced back from a poor series opener with 25 points, and the Pistons beat Boston 103-97 Thursday night, tying the conference finals at one game apiece and seizing the home-court advantage that has meant everything to the Celtics.

"It is even," forward Rasheed Wallace said. "We don't sit back and say, 'Oh, look. They are undefeated at home,' or 'They didn't win a game on the road.' ... A lot of the teams they played in the postseason and the regular season were scared of them, as far as KG and Ray and Paul. They are good players, but we have good players, also."

Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Celtics, who lost at home for the first time since March 24 against Phoenix. No team has reached the finals without a road victory, and there's no longer a chance for Boston to be the first.

"I fully believe, and I've said many times, at some point we're going to have to win on the road," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We've gotten away with it thus far. That's been taken away. And if we want what we want, we have to win on the road and that's just the way it is."

Chauncey Billups had 19 points and seven assists, and his rookie backup, Rodney Stuckey hit some clutch jumpers in the fourth quarter and added 13 points for the Pistons, who host Game 3 on Saturday.

"The atmosphere's going to be crazy," Hamilton said. "We're geeked about getting back to our home court. The fans are excited, and now it's our job to take care of home court."

Paul Pierce scored 26 points for the Celtics, who had won 15 straight at home and gone 9-0 in the playoffs. But the only record that matters now is 0-6 - their playoff road mark.

"We have no choice now but to get it done on the road," Pierce said.

Ray Allen broke out of a shooting slump with 25 points, his best performance in three months. But he was limited to 29 minutes by foul trouble, picking up his fifth foul with 3:09 left in the third quarter after his flurry had given Boston the lead.

"I would rather be sitting here saying I can't make a shot but we won the game," Allen said. "I knew at some point my shot had to drop."

Antonio McDyess scored 15 points, Tayshaun Prince had 14, and Wallace had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who were rusty in Game 1 but found their groove in the second quarter of this one, shooting 49 percent against the league's best defensive team.

The Pistons led 86-75 after Stuckey's jumper with 8:05 remaining.

Allen had seven points, including his first 3-pointer since Game 5 of the second round, during a 13-4 run that cut it to 90-88 with 4:39 to play.

Later, Boston was down four and forced Detroit to call time with the shot clock about to run out, but then blew the defensive assignment and left Billups alone for a layup on the inbounds. Detroit led 100-94 with 18 seconds left.

Another 3 by Allen cut it to three, but Wallace hit a free throw on the other end. The Pistons were 28-of-32 (87.5 percent) from the line.

Billups was limited to nine points in Game 1, his first action since straining his right hamstring early in Game 3 against Orlando in the second round.

He shed the tights he wore in the opener and came out aggressively, drawing a foul on the first possession and hitting two free throws. He added two free throws later in the first quarter when he appeared to create contact while attempting a 3-pointer by kicking the Celtics' Eddie House in the groin.

"One thing I told Chaunce, you ain't got to be overaggressive out there," Hamilton said. "You can take your time and be the captain of our ship, and we'll try to do a good job of helping you out."

The Celtics missed their first six shots in the second quarter and didn't make a field goal until James Posey's 3-pointer with 7:03 left that tied it at 27. McDyess scored the next five points and the Pistons led the remainder of the half, opening a 50-43 lead at the break.

Allen was limited to 11 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. He picked up his third with 8:41 to go and didn't play again until coming in when the Celtics had the ball in the final seconds of the half.

Boston stormed out of the half with a 15-4 surge, featuring eight points from Allen in his best stretch in a while, to open a 58-54 lead. The Pistons steadied themselves with 3-pointers by Hamilton, Wallace and Billups to regain the lead, and Allen later had to return to the bench when he picked up his fourth and fifth fouls.

"It's sometimes the basketball gods," Rivers said. "Things are going well and then he picks up his fourth and fifth. I took the gamble on it and actually lost."

Detroit went 4-of-5 from behind the arc in the quarter, with Wallace's 3 with 7.1 seconds left sending the Pistons to the final period with a 78-69 lead.

Notes

After a review, the NBA upgraded a foul Hamilton committed on Garnett early in the fourth quarter of Game 1 to a flagrant foul, penalty one on Thursday. Hamilton appeared to throw an elbow at Garnett's head while being picked. "It was instinct, it was flagrant. I can tell you that, we thought that at the time," Rivers said before the game. "But again, Rip's a good guy, great guy, and it's an emotional game, that kind of stuff happens." ... New England QB Tom Brady and girlfriend Giselle Bundchen watched from seats behind the baseline. ... Hamilton played in his 112th playoff game, tying Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars for second on the franchise's career list. He will tie Bill Laimbeer's team mark in Game 3.

Kevin Garnett leads Celtics past Pistons, 88-79

BOSTON - Not even a week of rest could prepare the Detroit Pistons for the hottest home team in the NBA. Kevin Garnett had 26 points and nine rebounds and Paul Pierce scored 22 points Tuesday night to lead Boston to an 88-79 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics' 15th straight home win.

Kendrick Perkins had 10 rebounds and Rajon Rondo added 11 points and seven assists for Boston, which earned home court through the playoffs with a league-best 66-16 regular season record. The Celtics rode that advantage to seven-game series victories over Atlanta and Cleveland and held serve in the opener against Detroit.

Game 2 is in Boston on Thursday night.

Tayshaun Prince scored 16 points, and Antonio McDyess added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons.

Chauncey Billups, who missed most of the last three games of Detroit's Eastern Conference semifinal against Orlando because of a strained right hamstring, had nine points and two assists and went about 40 minutes between baskets.

Billups and the rest of the Pistons were able to rest the past week after they eliminated the Magic in five games to advance to the conference finals for the sixth straight year. They looked rusty early, missing their first five shots while allowing Boston to take an 8-0 lead on Ray Allen's drive with 8:36 left in the first.

Billups hit a second-chance 3-pointer to end the drought and make it 8-3. But he did not make another field goal — he had four points and no assists in the first half — until there was 4:47 left in the game.

The Pistons quickly erased the first-quarter lead, even going ahead 13-12. But they trailed 41-40 at halftime and scored just 17 points in the third quarter, 10 from Richard Hamilton, while the Celtics took a 69-57 lead on Eddie House's 3-pointer with 2 seconds left.

Notes:@ Allen, who shot only 33 percent in the second-round series against Cleveland, was 3-for-10 from the field. ... The Pistons are 3-3 on the road in the playoffs. ... Hamilton, Detroit's leading scorer in the playoffs, had just three points in the first half and finished with 15. ... New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was at the game, sitting near the Pistons bench. He received a rousing ovation and a chant of "Bel-i-chick!" every time he was shown on the scoreboard. ... Detroit, which set an NBA record with just three turnovers in its series-clinching win last week against Orlando, had three in the first quarter and seven in the third.

Lowe's Motor Speedway chief Humpy Wheeler retiring

CONCORD, N.C. - Humpy Wheeler announced his retirement as president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway on Wednesday, ending a 33-year career as one of NASCAR's top promoters.

Wheeler will step down after Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at the track near Charlotte. No replacement was selected for the 69-year-old Wheeler, who plans to write a book and host a television show.

Wheeler said he first considered retirement about a year ago, although he sidestepped a question on whether the decision to leave was completely his. Wheeler's boss is Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith, who hired Wheeler in 1975 and made him track president a year later. Smith was not present at Wednesday's news conference.

"Some of it is on my own terms. I won't say it all is," Wheeler said. "Some of it is and I'll let it rest at that."

Reached at his office Wednesday afternoon, Smith denied he forced Wheeler out.

"Six months ago we had a meeting and he told me then that he had discussed retiring," Smith said. "He was laying the groundwork quite some time ago. It was not unexpected."

Wheeler joked that his retirement announcement wasn't simply a gimmick to sell tickets for this weekend's race, before adding, "but if it does, that's OK."

Wheeler has done almost everything to get fans to his track. He employed magicians, used back-flipping dogs, re-enacted war scenes in elaborate pre-race shows and emphasized driver rivalries to sell the sport and make his track one of the premier locations in NASCAR.

"We did a lot of things to try to make it better for the fans, and he did a lot of that," Smith said.

Wheeler was also behind several of the sport's innovations. To prevent NASCAR from moving the All-Star race to Richmond, Va., Wheeler vowed to make his track the first superspeedway to erect lights. The NASCAR Sprint All-Star race has made LMS its permanent home, and is now run on Saturday nights.

LMS, formerly Charlotte Motor Speedway, was also the first major track to reach a naming rights deal. Under his management, the track expanded its seating capacity to 167,000, and was the first track to offer extensive VIP suites, condominiums and extravagant pre-race entertainment.

"People that don't even know his name became NASCAR fans solely due to Humpy's creative promotions," said Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway, who tutored under Wheeler. "I know that I am a far better promoter as a result of being a graduate of 'Humpy University.'"

A tireless worker and cutthroat negotiator, Wheeler spent countless hours at the track and befriended numerous drivers. He was known as a stickler for details and was a calm influence during tragedy.

Wheeler's lowest point came in 1999, when three spectators were killed and eight others injured from flying debris after a wreck during an Indy Racing League event. Wheeler immediately canceled the rest of the race and the IRL has yet to return to the track.

"As long as I was running the place there would not have been another one here," Wheeler said.

Wheeler also helped develop other forms of racing. He was instrumental in the creation of the Legends Car and said he hopes to develop another low-cost car that will help make sure talented drivers don't miss out on the sport because of the cost.

"The biggest thing that worries me about racing in the future is we don't get the great race drivers," Wheeler said. "That we leave out the next Kyle Busch or the next Dale Earnhardt Sr. because a guy can't afford to race and gets stuck in the cornfields of Iowa."

He'll have no consulting role with the track after Sunday's finale. Wheeler will become the chairman of the Charlotte Regional Partnership in 2009 and could be considered for a post at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which is scheduled to open in 2010 in downtown Charlotte.

"It's just one of those things. It's time to go," Wheeler said. "It's not something I'm really looking forward to. But there just comes a time and place when you've got to move on."

Ties between Dolphins, Jason Taylor all but severed

MIAMI - The feud between Jason Taylor and Bill Parcells intensified Wednesday, making it likely the six-time Pro Bowl defensive end has played his last game for the Miami Dolphins.

Coach Tony Sparano said Taylor isn't expected to take part in any team activities through training camp. The revelation came less than 24 hours after Taylor finished second to Kristi Yamaguchi in the finals of "Dancing With the Stars" in Los Angeles.

For weeks the new Dolphins regime, led by Parcells, has fumed while Taylor spent his offseason focused on his budding Hollywood career rather than back in South Florida working out with teammates.

Following a voluntary team practice Wednesday — with only Taylor missing — Sparano signaled the Dolphins are ready to move on without their top defender.

"I'm glad we know this. We've gotten the information, and that's important," Sparano said. "I know that Jason is not going to be in any minicamps, and I know that right now Jason is not going to be at training camp.

"So that's what we know. Jason's a player under contract with the Miami Dolphins. He knows that. Both parties are well aware of the information. That's all I'm going to say about it. ... We need to discuss the current players on our team right now that have been busting their butt for nine weeks here."

While Sparano implied that Taylor initiated the latest development in the soap opera, the coach declined to be more specific. Taylor and his camp were mum about the situation.

In a recent interview, Taylor said he was unhappy he had talked "probably less than a minute each" with Parcells and new general manager Jeff Ireland, which he perceived as silent treatment. But the 33-year-old Taylor said he still planned to play this season.

"I want to win, period, and I would love to win in Miami," he said Saturday from Los Angeles. "There are a lot of things out here going on, and a lot of opportunities coming up, but the plan is to play. Football is still my priority. I still have a passion to play football."

Taylor was in New York on Wednesday for post-"Dancing" network TV appearances. He planned to fly back to Los Angeles for meetings Friday with executives of Universal and Warner Bros., while the Dolphins hold a voluntary three-day minicamp this weekend.

A mandatory minicamp is scheduled June 6-8. Taylor is expected to return to South Florida by June 2, when he hosts a charity golf tournament.

Taylor was the lone Pro Bowl player for the Dolphins last season, when they went 1-15. Defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday, who is close to Taylor, said his friend's absence isn't a distraction for the other players.

"All they want to know is if and when he's coming back," Holliday said. "That's the only issues we have with JT right now."

Taylor has been plotting a Hollywood career since joining the Dolphins as a rookie in 1997, and he envisions himself in the kind of action roles that made Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson a movie star.

Taylor was the subject of trade speculation throughout NFL draft weekend, but at the time, Ireland denied the Dolphins were eager to part with him. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said his team pursued a deal, but the Dolphins took Taylor off the trading block.

Owner Wayne Huizenga has said the team's open to trading Taylor. Last month Miami drafted two defensive ends as potential replacements — Clemson's Phillip Merling in the second round, and Hampton's Kendall Langford in the third round.

Taylor had 11 sacks last season to increase his career total to 117, third among active players, and he was chosen NFL Man of the Year.

Marlins end Arizona's Webb's winning streak

MIAMI - The surprising Florida Marlins used a brazen bunt to help end Brandon Webb's winning streak. Florida scored its first run on a suicide squeeze, and Ricky Nolasco allowed only three hits over seven innings to beat Webb and the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Webb (9-1) was bidding to become only the third pitcher since World War I to win his first 10 starts. Instead, he left for a pinch hitter after allowing six hits and three runs in seven innings.

Matt Treanor bunted in a run for a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning, and Cody Ross followed with a homer. Stephen Drew hit his sixth homer for the Diamondbacks, but that's all the offense they could muster against Nolasco (3-3).

Florida won for the second straight night in the matchup of first-place teams. The NL West-leading Diamondbacks came into the series with the best record in the majors, but they have totaled three runs and 10 hits in the first two games against the Marlins, who lead the NL East despite baseball's lowest payroll.

Arizona had runners at the corners with one out in the eighth, but Matt Lindstrom struck out Orlando Hudson and Conor Jackson. Kevin Gregg completed the four-hitter with a perfect ninth for his second save in as many nights, and his ninth in 10 chances.

The Diamondbacks struck out 11 times.

Webb retired the first 11 batters and took a 1-0 lead into the fifth, when the Marlins scored twice to take the lead. Luis Gonzalez tripled with one out, then took off on a 1-0 pitch as Treanor bunted up the first-base line. Gonzalez scored standing up and Treanor was tagged out.

Ross then hit his fifth homer, pulling a 2-0 pitch over the scoreboard. It was only the third home run allowed by Webb this season.

Florida added a run in the seventh on Dan Uggla's double and a single by Gonzalez.

Drew homered to lead off the fourth and had three of Arizona's four hits.

The Marlins won without slumping shortstop Hanley Ramirez, held out of the lineup for the first time this season. Ramirez, who signed a $70 million, six-year contract extension Saturday, was 1-for-15 with 10 strikeouts in the past four games.

Notes:@ Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy wore a Marlins T-shirt to the game and visited beforehand with Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez, a longtime friend. ... Over the past five games, the Diamondbacks are 1-for-40 the first time through the order with 14 strikeouts.

Manchester United wins European Champions League

MOSCOW - Manchester United beat Chelsea 6-5 in a rain-soaked penalty shootout to win the European Champions League title Wednesday night following a 1-1 tie.

In the first final between two English teams, Edwin van der Sar batted away Nicolas Anelka's drive on the 14th kick to give Manchester United its third Champions League title. This championship, following titles in 1968 and 1999, came in the 50th anniversary year of the plane crash that killed eight United players in Munich, Germany.

Cristiano Ronaldo had scored in the 26th minute for Manchester United, his 42nd goal of the season. Frank Lampard tied it for Chelsea in the 45th at Luzhniki Stadium, pointing both hands skyward in honor of his mother, who died last month.

Ronaldo, considered by many Europe's top player this season, was stopped by goalkeeper Petr Cech on United's third penalty kick. That gave the advantage to Chelsea, which has never won Europe's top club title.

"When we missed the penalty kick, we thought we were in trouble," said United's Alex Ferguson, who led the club to its 22nd title overall since he became manager in September 1986.

Chelsea captain John Terry stepped up with the score 4-4 and the chance to win it. But he slipped and his kick hit a post as Manchester keeper Edwin van der Sar dived the other way. Terry sat on the ground in disbelief.

"I was thinking he's going to score," United defender Rio Ferdinand said of Terry, his defensive teammate on the England squad. "He's a great penalty taker normally. but he slipped."

Anderson and Ryan Giggs — making his club-record 759th appearance — then converted for United around Salomon Kalou's score for Chelsea.

That left it up to Anelka, whose failure at just past 1:30 a.m. set off another celebration for the Red Devils, who 10 days earlier won their second straight English Premier League title by beating out Chelsea on the final day of the season.

While his teammates ran to congratulate Van der Sar in front of the United fans behind the goal, Ronaldo lay face down in the center circle. Eventually he got up to join in the celebrations.

Terry was in tears at the end and was hugged and consoled by coach Avram Grant, who appeared to throw his runners-up medal toward Chelsea fans.

Carlos Tevez, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves and Nani scored the other kicks for the Red Devils. Michael Ballack, Juliano Belletti, Lampard, Ashley Cole converted for Chelsea.

Manchester United won its first European title since it was purchased three years ago by Malcolm Glazer, whose Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the 2003 Super Bowl.

Chelsea, which has become a European power under high-spending Russian owner Roman Abramovich, finished with 10 men after Didier Drogba was ejected in the 116th minute for petulantly tapping Nemanja Vidic in the face with his hand.

Only the pre-game opening ceremony made it look like Moscow. After that it could have been Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge or Wembley as players so familiar with each other were roared on by English fans.

The first 25 minutes, however, were a poor advertisement for the Premier League as Chelsea stifled United's efforts to create moves and the action got stuck in the midfield.

Ronaldo, poorly marked by Michael Essien, Ronaldo headed in a cross from Wes Brown, who had neatly swapped passes with Paul Scholes on the right wing. Ronaldo scored a Champions League-leading eight goals in 11 matches, and his season total was third in United history behind Denis Law (46 in 1963-64) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (44 in 2002-3).

Chelsea equalized when Essien's shot hit defenders Vidic and Ferdinand, and the ball dropped to the unmarked Lampard, who scored from 12 yards.

Lampard hit the crossbar in the fourth minute of injury time with a left-footed shot from 15 yards. Giggs, who broke Bobby Charlton's record for United appearances, nearly broke the tie in the 100th but Terry deflected the shot with his head.

Kobe, Lakers come back to win Game 1 over Spurs

LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers waited until the third quarter to get going. Once they did, the San Antonio Spurs couldn't stop them. Bryant scored all but two of his 27 points after halftime, including a go-ahead, 10-foot jumper in the lane with 23.9 seconds remaining, and the Lakers rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat the Spurs 89-85 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

Game 2 will be played Friday night before the best-of-seven series shifts to San Antonio for the third and fourth games. The Lakers are 7-0 in the postseason at Staples Center, where they've won 13 straight games overall.

Bryant's jumper put the Lakers ahead for good after two free throws by Manu Ginobili with 1:22 remaining and a follow shot by Tim Duncan with 41 seconds left tied the game at 85. After Bryant's game-winner, Ginobili missed a 3-pointer and Sasha Vujacic made two free throws with 7.3 seconds to go, completing the scoring.

The Lakers outscored the Spurs 24-13 in the fourth quarter, when San Antonio shot 3-for-21, including 1-for-9 from 3-point range.

"We almost gave up home-court advantage to a great effort by the Spurs," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "That was a big comeback. We were deep in the hole, there was no doubt about it. Twenty down and half the quarter gone in the third period. It was a struggle to fight back into the ballgame by the end of the third quarter."

Bryant also had five rebounds and nine assists. Pau Gasol had 19 points and seven rebounds, and Vujacic and Vladimir Radmanovic scored 10 points apiece for the Lakers.

Duncan led the Spurs with 30 points, 18 rebounds and four blocked shots. Tony Parker added 18 points, 10 rebounds and six assists; Bruce Bowen scored 12 points, and Ginobili added 10 for the Spurs.

Ginobili shot just 3-for-13, and Jackson credited Vujacic for his defensive work on the Spurs' star.

"Sasha had an assignment out there tonight and he played Ginobili very well," Jackson said. "Offensively, Sasha had a lot better games, but defensively, that was one of his best."

Vujacic played a career playoff-high 31 1/2 minutes.

"Obviously a difficult loss and we had a great opportunity," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We didn't take advantage of it. Hurts like hell."

The well-rested Lakers hadn't played since Friday, when they beat Utah to advance to the conference finals for the first time in four years. The Spurs advanced by winning at New Orleans three nights later, but their flight to Los Angeles was delayed several hours and they didn't arrive at their hotel in suburban Santa Monica until Tuesday morning around 9 a.m.

Popovich said that had nothing to do with his team's difficulties late in the game.

"They probably wore us down to some degree, I'm sure," he said. "And then, with that, we made very poor decisions. The ball stopped moving. Shots at the end of the clock, no penetration to the rim, all jump shots and they deserve credit for that and they came back and had a hell of a win."

Two straight baskets by Bryant cut San Antonio's lead to three points with eight minutes remaining. Bowen made a 3-pointer with 7:38 left, but the Spurs went stone cold at that stage, going scoreless for nearly 6 1/2 minutes.

The Lakers took advantage, scoring 10 straight points to take their first lead of the game. Bryant put them ahead for the first time by making two foul shots with 2:42 left, and added a jumper 24 seconds later following a turnover to make it 85-81.

The Spurs outscored the Lakers 14-2 to start the third quarter for a 65-45 lead, drawing groans from the crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center, where the Lakers haven't lost since March 28.

Suddenly, the Lakers came together, scoring 14 straight points in a span of 3:05 to draw within six. Bryant had seven points and two assists during the run.

Ginobili's 3-pointer ended a four-minute scoreless drought, and the Spurs led 72-65 entering the fourth quarter.

Duncan dominated the inside in the first half, getting 16 points and nine rebounds as the Spurs took a 51-43 lead.

Shadowed by Bowen wherever he went, Bryant scored only two points in the half, making one of three shots and going without a free throw. He averaged 33.3 points and 13.4 attempts from the foul line in the Lakers' previous 10 playoff games. Jackson joked after the third quarter that Bryant had been on vacation.

Backcourt mate Derek Fisher, averaging 11.9 points in the playoffs, went scoreless until the fourth quarter, when he scored four.

Radmanovic, averaging 8.2 points in the postseason, made five shots without a miss for 10 points in the first quarter, but didn't attempt a shot after that.

Notes:@ The Lakers are 52-7 when winning Game 1 in a best-of-seven series. ... The Lakers have beaten the Spurs in seven of their previous 10 postseason matchups, including all three in the conference finals. ... The teams are meeting in the playoffs for the sixth time since 1999, but the first since 2004, when the Lakers prevailed in six games in the conference semifinals. The Lakers didn't win a postseason series from 2005-07. ... Jackson has an NBA-record 188 postseason wins, while Popovich has 100, tied for the third-most in league history with Larry Brown. Pat Riley is second at 171. ... Jackson-coached teams are 40-0 when they win the opener of a seven-game series. ... San Antonio's Robert Horry has won seven championship rings — two with Houston, three with the Lakers and two with the Spurs. ... The Lakers have won 17 of their last 19 Game 1 home playoff games, and 19 of their last 22 home playoff games overall.

Captain Paul Azinger changes Ryder Cup format back to alternate shot at Valhalla

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger is switching the format with hopes of giving his American team an edge, going back to alternate shot in the opening matches for the first time since 1999.

"I felt like the Americans had an edge in alternate shot," Azinger said Wednesday at the FBR Open. "And I think it's partly responsible for why Europe has gotten off to a pretty hot start."

The Ryder Cup will be played Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla, and the home captain gets to decide the order.

Alternate shot, or foursomes, had been used in the first sessions every year since 1981 until European captain Seve Ballesteros opened with better ball (fourballs) in 1997 at Valderrama. U.S. captain Ben Crenshaw switched back to alternate shot in 1999 at Brookline, but the last three Ryder Cup matches have started with better ball.

Europe has won the last three Ryder Cup matches, and five of the last six. The Americans have not led after the first of five sessions since 1991 at Kiawah Island.

Azinger said he also would work with the Valhalla superintendent on setting up the golf course. He credited Europe in recent years, particularly at The Belfry in 2002, for setting up the course that made fairways extremely narrow beyond 290 yards, which negated some of the power of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and other big hitters.

He said the PGA of America has given him freedom to set the course up however it fits his team.

"Maybe if everybody hits it as straight as Jim Furyk ... I don't know if I can narrow the fairways, but I can sure have the rough deep," Azinger said. "But if I have a bunch of Bubba Watsons, J.B. Holmes, Pat Perez, Phil Mickelson, guys that crank it and bomb it, maybe there won't be rough. I don't know yet. We'll see."

Azinger already has made one drastic change to the selection process, taking only the top eight players and basing the points entirely on money, with most of the points earned in 2008. Only money earned at the majors counted in 2007.

Woods hopes to extend winning streak at Dubai Desert Classic

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Tiger Woods isn't slowly easing into the 2008 season. He's playing back-to-back tournaments -- and flying halfway around the world to do it.

After a commanding win in California, Woods is feeling fresh and hoping for a fifth straight title in sunny, skyscraper-studded Dubai.

"It's one of those things where I've always played pretty well coming off breaks, and you feel fresh and my practice sessions were pretty good," Woods said at palm tree-lined Emirates Golf Club, where the $2.5 million Dubai Desert Classic gets under way Thursday.

"Coming over here after playing well last week, (I'm) really looking forward to teeing it up this week and giving it a go."

Woods' dominant eight-stroke win Sunday at the Buick Invitational was his fourth straight and 62nd career title, tying Arnold Palmer for fourth on the PGA Tour list. If he triumphs in Dubai, it will be his seventh win in eight starts, including a victory in his own tournament, the Target World Challenge in December.

After working on his swing for months and taking a 10-week break following the Tour Championship and another five weeks off after the Target World Challenge, Woods has high hopes for this season. Earlier this month, he declared that winning the Grand Slam in a calendar year is "easily within reason."

On Wednesday, Woods again said if he controls his own play and peaks at the right times this year, the four majors are in reach.

"It's about playing well at the right times," he said. "It's about getting lucky, actually. You have to have everything go your way."

But Woods also attributed his winning streak to years of tinkering with his game.

"One of the reasons why I made the changes that I made is to get to this point," he said. "And the great thing is, we have a long way to go."

Unlike the Buick Invitational, which Woods has won four years in a row, the Dubai Desert Classic has not always gone his way.

He is 1-for-4 here -- and his win in 2006 didn't come easily. Woods had to go birdie-birdie over the final two holes to get into a playoff with three-time champion Ernie Els, whom he defeated on the first extra hole.

Last year, poor putting troubled Woods, who finished third behind the South African and winner Henrik Stenson.

Along with Els and Stenson, Woods will face some of the European Tour's other top players, including money leader Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Colin Montgomerie, another former Dubai Desert Classic winner (1996) who will go head-to-head with Woods in the first two rounds.

Stenson, who is coming off of two second-place European Tour finishes in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, said it's possible to beat Woods -- by focusing on a good score, not the world's top player.

"You have to believe it," Stenson said. "I've done it once, so I've sort of proven it myself that I've won a tournament where he played at least."

The Emirates Golf Club is a lush green oasis in the middle of Dubai, a booming desert city in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. The club is surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers, towering construction cranes and traffic-clogged highways -- but its jewel is the 7,211-yard, par-72 Majlis Course.

The weather is almost always warm and sunny on the tip of the Arabian peninsula, and Wednesday was no different.

Woods said the greens were a bit slower than in the past due to recent spate of rain, and the rough was up a touch.

"But all in all, the golf course is ... in perfect shape, and it is year-in and year-out," he said.

Playing golf won't be the only thing on Woods' agenda in Dubai. In late 2006, Woods announced he was designing his first golf course here.

Called Al Ruwaya, which means serenity in Arabic, the course will be built in Dubailand, the region's largest tourism and leisure project, and will feature a 7,700-yard, par-72 course, golf academy, 320 villas and an 80-suite boutique hotel. It is expected to be completed next year.

Woods plans to visit the site during his stay. So far, the first two holes have been shaped.

"It's been eye-opening, the detail that goes into it. I didn't really realize that, but I've also loved it, too," Woods said. "I absolutely spend hours ... just looking at plans and thinking and creating."

Dubai and the United Arab Emirates are trying to establish themselves as a premier location for sports like golf and tennis, and other players have announced plans for courses in this city. Els launched his $18 million, 7,538-yard links-style course in Dubai Sports City on Monday. It will open to the public in March.

Dubai also plans to host the world's richest golf tournament beginning next year with a prize fund of $10 million. The European Tour's Dubai World Championship, to be held at another luxury club -- the Jumeirah Golf Estates -- also will include an annual $10 million bonus pool.

Super Bowl is no distraction at raucous FBR Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- For a change, the FBR Open isn't the biggest show in town, not with the Super Bowl just down the freeway.

Still, it's "party on" when the PGA Tour's most raucous event begins a four-day run Thursday at TPC Scottsdale.

The FBR draws the largest crowds on the PGA tour. The biggest day is Saturday, when more than 150,000 revelers are expected to attend. Some even watch the golf. Total attendance has topped a half-million each of the past four years.

When the Super Bowl was held in nearby Tempe in 1996, the tournament moved up its schedule with the final round on Saturday. Not this year. The competition will end Sunday, about an hour before the Patriots and Giants kick off in Glendale.

As usual, Tiger Woods is not entered, opting instead for a more lucrative trip to Dubai. Woods hasn't played here since 2001, when it was known as the Phoenix Open.

The biggest name in the competition for a winner's purse of just over $1 million is two-time champion Phil Mickelson, who beat Justin Leonard in a playoff to win that 1996 event.

Mickelson, who attended Arizona State and lived in Scottsdale for 12 years, also won in 2005 but missed the cut last year.

"I putted just terribly," he said. "The next three or four days after this event all I did was putt. Then I won the following week (the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am)."

Attempts are being made to calm the Arizona crowd a bit.

Fans will be limited to two beers per trip to the concession stand and beer won't be sold in the stand closest to the infamous 16th hole.

Bleachers surround that par-3, 162-yard hole, packed with rowdy fans who sometimes greet golfers with their college fight song or, for the international players, maybe their national anthem but lustily boo bad shots.

"It's special to this tournament. It's special to this town," defending champion Aaron Baddeley said. "People around here who don't know anything about golf know the 16th hole in Phoenix.

"It's like the shortest, easiest most intimidating hole in the world because it's not a difficult hole, but when you've got 17,000 people ready to boo you if you hit a bad shot, it's a little bit intimidating."

The course was drenched by rain Monday but clear weather was forecast through most of the rest of the week. Temperatures only reached the high 50s during Wednesday's pro-am but are expected to climb into the mid-60s Friday and Saturday. There is a chance of showers on Sunday.

With it's wide-open desert layout, the par-71, 7,216-yard course lends itself to low scores.

"You're probably going to have to shoot 20 under to win," Baddeley said. "It's just go out there, play hard, hit it straight and make some putts. That's the key. It's making putts, really, because everyone is going to hit fairways, everyone is going to hit some greens."

Baddeley, an Australian who now makes his home in Scottsdale, won last year with a 21-under 263, one shot better than John Rollins and two ahead of Jeff Quinney.

There has been no repeat champion in the event since Johnny Miller in 1974-75.

Why?

"Like I said, you've got to putt well," Baddeley said. "Some weeks putts don't drop and some weeks they do."

Cameroon wins, Egypt draws to advance to quarterfinals at African Cup

KUMASI, Ghana (AP) -- Defending champion Egypt and four-time winner Cameroon both reached the African Cup of Nations quarterfinals on Wednesday, with Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o setting a tournament record with his 16th career goal.

Eto'o scored twice, including a 27th-minute penalty, in the 3-0 win over Sudan in Tamale, giving him two goals more than Ivory Coast striker Laurent Pokou's previous mark. "There is always something to work on," Cameroon coach Otto Pfister said. "Of course I am happy. We are qualified. It wasn't very spectacular, but now we will prepare for our quarterfinal."

Cameroon will play the winner of Group D, while Egypt will meet the runner-up. Tunisia leads Angola on goal differential atop Group D, and the two face off Thursday in their final first-round games.

Mohamed Ali Khider scored an own-goal to give Cameroon a 2-0 halftime lead, and Eto'o added his second in injury time. Part of Cameroon's African Cup-winning side in 2000 and 2002, Eto'o leads all scorers with five goals through three games.

In Kumasi, Amr Zaki converted Sayed Moawad's left-footed cross to put Egypt in front in the 16th minute. But Christopher Katongo scored a late goal to earn Zambia a 1-1 draw.

"As a team we take this a failure," Zambia captain Katongo said. "As an individual, I don't think I failed. I have shown people what I can do."

Wednesday's win finished Cameroon with six points, one point behind Egypt in Group C.

Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Guinea and host Ghana all had perviously qualified for the last eight.

Cameroon will stay in the northern Ghana town of Tamale for its Monday quarterfinal. Egypt will play the Group D runner-up in Kumasi the same day.

Zambia, a losing finalist in 1974 and 1994, was eliminated and joined 1970 champion Sudan on the sideline.

Eddie Lewis needs knee operation; out for a month

DERBY, England (AP) -- U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis needs a knee operation, ruling him out of next week's exhibition game against Mexico in Houston.

"He needs a small operation to remove some cartilage," Derby manager Paul Jewell said Tuesday. "That could keep him out for about a month."

The 33-year-old Lewis was injured during Saturday's FA Cup loss against Preston and will be unable to play during the club's first matches under the new American ownership of Detroit-based consortium General Sports and Entertainment.

The Rams have won just one of their 23 Premier League matches this season.

Ronaldo double puts Man Utd top

Cristiano Ronaldo increased his goal tally to 27 on the season as his double against Portsmouth saw Manchester United return to the top of the Premier League on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old claimed two goals in three minutes as United cruised to a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo put United ahead in the 10th minute when he beat the offside trap to collect Nani's pass and slipped the ball across David James.

The Portuguese added a spectacular second with an unstoppable free-kick over a static Portsmouth wall and into the net before James had even moved.

Chelsea equalled a club record of nine successive wins in all competitions, set in 2005 under Jose Mourinho, with a 1-0 success at home over Reading.

The victory means the Blues are now unbeaten in 75 consecutive league games at Stamford Bridge - and remain in third place.

Michael Ballack got the only goal of the game in the 33rd minute when he converted Paulo Ferreira's cross from the right with a towering header.

Everton and Tottenham shared a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park, with the hosts remaining in fourth place.

Andy Johnson came closest in the second half when he found himself unmarked in front of goal following a sharp turn - but his shot was saved by Radek Cerny.

Mark Noble scored an injury-time penalty to claim a 1-0 win for West Ham over Liverpool at Upton Park.

Noble kept his cool to convert the spot-kick, after Jamie Carragher brought down Freddie Ljungberg as the Hammers counter-attacked.

Liverpool remains without a league win since Boxing Day.

Derby shared a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at Pride Park, the visitors leapfrogging Liverpool into sixth place.

Derby took the lead immediately after half-time when Kenny Miller's shot, which was going wide, hit Sun Jihai and went into the net.

However, City replied through Daniel Sturridge in the 63rd minute - the teenager getting his second goal in two games when he converted from close range from Martin Petrov's left-wing cross.

PSV pulls clear in Eredivisie

PSV Eindhoven took a significant step towards defending its Eredivisie crown on Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory over closest challenger Ajax in Amsterdam.

The win, coupled with a 2-2 draw between title rivals Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar, means PSV is now eight points clear at the summit.

Sef Vergoossen's men went ahead through Balazs Dzsudzsak four minutes before half-time and made sure of the points when Otman Bakkal netted with 17 minutes to go.

A miserable night for Ajax was compounded in the final minute when former Holland international Edgar Davids was sent off.

Feyenoord twice came from behind to earn a share of the points with AZ, with Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and Luiz Andre Bahia cancelling out goals from Graziano Pelle and Mounir El Hamdaoui.

Catania advances in Coppa Italia

Catania will make its first ever appearance in the Coppa Italian semifinals after a late goal Takayuki Morimoto gave the Sicilians a 2-1 win over Udinese on Wednesday.

The Japanese striker scored in the 89th minute to send Catania through on away goals after the first leg ended 3-2 in Udinese's favour.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when Simone Pepe put them in front in the first minute.

But Gionatha Spinesi levelled for Catania from the penalty spot a minute before half-time before Morimoto won it late on.

Silvio Baldini's men will now play Roma in the last four, the Giallorossi having beaten Sampdoria on Tuesday night.

Serie A leader Inter Milan booked its place in the semifinals with a 3-2 win over rival Juventus in Turin.

It was all to play for at the Stadio Olimpico after the first leg finished 2-2.

And it was Inter who seized the early initiative when 17-year-old striker Mario Balotelli put the visitors ahead after 10 minutes.

Alessandro Del Piero equalized four minutes later with a free-kick and Vincenzo Iaquinta gave Juve a 2-1 lead shortly after the half-hour mark.

Julio Cruz restored parity from the penalty spot six minutes before the break before Balotelli grabbed what proved to be the winner after 52 minutes.

Juve finished with 10 men after Italy winger Mauro Camoranesi was sent off with five minutes to go for a crude tackle.

Inter will next meet Lazio, which completed a 4-2 aggregate win over Fiorentina with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday.

Franco Semioli put Fiorentina ahead after 16 minutes but the Biancoceleste stormed back to win with goals from Aleksandar Kolarov and Tommaso Rocchi.

Ronaldo leads Man United to 2-0 win over Portsmouth, first place in Premier League

LONDON (AP) -- Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals to lead Manchester United over visiting Portsmouth 2-0 Wednesday night and back into first place in the English Premier League.

Ronaldo scored in the 10th and 13th minutes and leads the league with 17 goals, one more than Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor. Ronaldo has 27 goals in all competitions this season.

Manchester United (18-3-3) and Arsenal (17-1-6) each have 57 points, and Manchester United leads on goal difference.

Third-place Chelsea (16-3-5), which trails by four points, beat visiting Reading 1-0 on a 33rd-minute goal by Michael Ballack, who headed in Paulo Ferreira's cross. The Blues stretched their league-record home unbeaten streak to 75 games and won their ninth straight in all competitions, matching their club record.

Tottenham (7-10-7) drew 0-0 at fourth-place Everton (13-7-4); Manchester City drew 1-1 at last-place Derby, which got its first point at home since September; and seventh-place Liverpool (10-3-10) lost 1-0 at West Ham (10-7-6), which scored on a 90th-minute penalty kick by Mark Noble following Jamie Carragher's foul of Fredrik Ljungberg.

ROME (AP) -- Alberto Gilardino headed in a cross from Andrea Pirlo in the 18th minute, and AC Milan beat Reggina 1-0 in a rescheduled Serie A game.

Milan (8-5-6) moved into sixth place with 30 points, 20 behind league-leading Internazionale.

Inter advanced to the semifinals of the Italian Cup, beating Juventus 3-2 as 17-year-old Mario Balotelli scored twice. Inter won the home-and-home quarterfinal on 5-4 aggregate.

Inter's semifinal will be against Lazio, which defeated Fiorentina 2-1 on goals from Aleksander Kolarov and Tommaso Rocchi to advance on 4-2 aggregate.

In Sicily, Japanese forward Takayuki Morimoto scored in the 89th minute to lead Catania to a 2-1 win over Udinese, putting the Sicilian club in the final four for the first time. Catania advanced on away goals after losing the first leg 3-2 and next plays defending champion AS Roma.

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Valencia and Getafe advanced to the Spanish King's Cup semifinals despite losses.

Atletico Madrid beat Valencia 3-2, but an own goal by Cleber Santana and a score by Juan Manuel Mata was enough for Valencia to advance following its 1-0 first leg win.

Getafe got an 82nd-minute goal from Esteban Granero and advanced despite a 2-1 loss to Mallorca.

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Mario Gomez scored in the 29th, 32nd and 43rd minutes to give Stuttgart a 3-2 win over Werder Bremen's reserves and take the Bundesliga champion into the quarterfinals of the German Cup.

Wolfsburg beat Schalke 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie in overtime, and Hamburg SV advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in 11 years when it won 3-0 at third-division Rot-Weiss Essen on goals by Rafael van der Vaart, Piotr Trochowski and Ivica Olic.

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) -- Rangers reached the final of the Scottish League Cup final, getting goals from Barry Ferguson and Jean-Claude Darcheville.

Celtic's Scottish Premier League match at Motherwell was postponed because of a waterlogged field.

AC Milan blanks Reggina

AC Milan's climb up the Serie A table continued on Wednesday night after Alberto Gilardino grabbed the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Reggina.

Reggina, who had taken four points from its previous two games, offered little in attack and never looked like stunting Milan's progress once Gilardino put the Rossoneri ahead after 18 minutes.

The Italy striker, who has fallen down the pecking order at the San Siro club in recent weeks following the return to fitness of Ronaldo and the emergence of Brazilian sensation Alexandre Pato, nodded home Andrea Pirlo's centre to settle a dour encounter.

With Ronaldo again in the treatment room, Gilardino was handed the chance to partner Pato in attack and seized his chance with both hands to set Milan up nicely for the weekend clash against Fiorentina.

With the Viola sitting in fourth, seven points ahead of Milan, it is a match Carlo Ancelotti's men must win if they are to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Reggina remain a point above the relegation zone but they will have to show more attacking flair in their remaining games if they are to stay in the top flight.

The hosts were second-best throughout.

Milan started well and could have gone ahead inside a quarter of an hour when Gennaro Gattuso burst through a couple of challenges before firing in a shot which home keeper Andrea Campagnolo saved well.

Milan went ahead from their next attack, Pirlo crossing from the left for Gilardino to power a header into the net from close range.

Gilardino and Gattuso both came close again as the Rossoneri turned the screw.

It took Reggina 32 minutes to muster a shot on target, Fabio Ceravolo getting the better of Alessandro Nesta before seeing his shot blocked by Milan keeper Zeljko Kalac.

The second half continued in the same vein with Milan dominating possession.

Gattuso came close once more with a curling effort before Bruno Cirillo had to make a great last-ditch tackle to deny Gilardino just as he was about to shoot.

Pirlo is regarded as one of the best free-kick takers in the world and he twice came close to doubling Milan's lead.

His first effort was tipped round the post by Campagnolo and the second crashed off the bar with the keeper beaten.

Campagnolo distinguished himself again shortly afterwards with a brilliant save to keep out Emerson's far-post header.

Reggina never really threatened an equalizer although Francesco Cozza did trouble Kalac with a 20-yard drive.

Umps angry MLB is asking neighbors whether they are members of KKK

NEW YORK (AP) -- Umpires are livid that Major League Baseball has sent investigators to their hometowns, asking neighbors a series of questions that include whether the ump belongs to the Ku Klux Klan.

"The questions that we found out are being asked are about beating wives, marijuana use and extravagant parties," World Umpires Association president John Hirschbeck said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "And then finally with this whole thing about the Ku Klux Klan.

"You get someone from security, shows his credentials and starts asking these kind of questions, and right away what's the neighbor going to think other than the umpire is in trouble, he's done something wrong and he's going to lose his job."

Hirschbeck and union spokesman Lamell McMorris said Tom Christopher, the Milwaukee-based supervisor of security and investigations in the commissioner's office, had asked questions about Klan membership to neighbors of umpires Greg Gibson and Sam Holbrook, who reside in Kentucky. In addition, Hirschbeck said similar questions had been asked to neighbors of umpire Ron Kulpa, who lives in suburban St. Louis.

Baseball stepped up background checks last August, after it became public that the FBI was investigating NBA referee Tim Donaghy for betting on games. Donaghy pleaded guilty to felony charges of conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting betting information through interstate commerce, and he awaits sentencing.

MLB asked umpires to sign authorizations allowing the sport to conduct financial backgrounds checks, but umps balked.

"We did not anticipate that they would approach neighbors posing as a close colleague and friend of the umpire's and asking them questions such as: Do you know if umpire `X' is a member of the Ku Klux Klan? Does he grow marijuana plants? Does he beat his wife? Have you seen the police at his home? Does he throw wild parties?" McMorris said by telephone from India.

"To try to link our umpires to the Ku Klux Klan is highly offensive. It is essentially defaming the umpires in their communities by conducting a very strange and poorly executed investigation. It resembles kind of secret police in some kind of despotic nation."

Contacted Wednesday, Christopher referred questions to Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations. Manfred did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

"The claims of inappropriate questions by individuals conducting background checks was brought to our attention and looked into," Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB's executive vice president of operations, said in a statement. "It was determined that these claims were inaccurate. Questioning was conducted with a written script consistent with common practice, and there was no inappropriate conduct on behalf of the investigators."

Alison Rohan, who lives across the street from Kulpa in Maryland Heights, Mo., said Christopher knocked on her door two or three weeks ago and gave her his card.

"He explained they were going to be talking to neighbors and friends because of the problems with the basketball league and that Ron knew about it," she said. "He listed about 10 different questions, the first one being did Ron live out of his means? For example, does he drive a Rolls-Royce?"

Rohan said she told Christopher that Kulpa lived in a manner similar to that of his neighbors.

"He asked if Ron belonged to any groups or organizations," she said.

"Groups?" she remembered replying.

"You know, like the KKK," she said Christopher told her.

"We both laughed and I said no," Rohan said. "He belongs to a neighborhood Harley-riding group of dads."

Hirschbeck, who lives in Poland, Ohio, said that shortly before Christmas, he encountered Christopher on a street in his own neighborhood. Hirschbeck said MLB was taking what the WUA considers to be a typical heavy-handed approach to umpires and that it would be brought up in negotiations for the next labor contract. The current deal expires after the 2009 season.

"Once again, baseball's favorite way of doing things: Ready, fire, aim," Hirschbeck said. "It's not a good way to start the season."

Looking to lock up an ace, Mets meet with Santana's agent

NEW YORK (AP) -- Johan Santana's agent and the New York Mets went to work on a contract extension Wednesday, the biggest step remaining for the team to complete its blockbuster trade with Minnesota.

Mets officials met with agent Peter Greenberg in Manhattan, but neither side would divulge many details. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is likely seeking a deal worth more than $120 million over six or seven years. He and the Mets have until 5 p.m. EST Friday to reach an agreement.

If that happens, as expected, Santana and the other players in the trade would then have to pass physicals for the swap to be finalized.

"Every team in the division became stronger, but now with Santana we're the favorites again," Mets left fielder Moises Alou said in the Dominican Republic.

The Mets have a good relationship with Greenberg, who already represents two of their players: All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes and reserve outfielder Endy Chavez.

New York general manager Omar Minaya declined comment through club spokesman Jay Horwitz. Greenberg didn't return e-mails seeking comment.

The Mets made a big splash Tuesday by reaching a tentative agreement to acquire Santana from the Twins for four prospects: speedy outfielder Carlos Gomez, and pitchers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra.

The news energized Mets fans who were still upset about the team's historic collapse last September, and Minaya was lauded by baseball analysts around the country. Many had thought New York would have to give up more to land the ace left-hander.

"I can't really comment because it's not done. All I can say is that the Twins did what they had to do," New York Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said in Tampa, Fla. "I hope it works out well for them. The Mets made a good trade from their end. Hopefully it works out for both teams."

Earlier this offseason, the Yankees also pursued Santana. They offered pitcher Phil Hughes and center fielder Melky Cabrera as part of a package, then pulled out of talks during the winter meetings in December.

The World Series champion Boston Red Sox also made a bid for Santana, proposing a deal that would have included outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury or pitcher Jon Lester.

Santana, who turns 29 in March, can become a free agent after this year's World Series and the Twins don't have the budget to re-sign him. Minnesota offered him an $80 million, four-year extension this offseason, but he turned it down.

Even without Santana, the Mets already have sold 1.75 million tickets for their final season in Shea Stadium, up 100,000 from this point last year, when they finished at a team-record 3.85 million.

"To have one of those handful that I would call an ace is obviously special to a team that, offensively, we look good on paper," Mets third baseman David Wright said Tuesday. "And our pitching staff is very deep, especially with these young guys, and they're only going to get better. So obviously there's a lot of positive energy, if it's true, going into spring training."

Now, the Mets just need to finish the deal -- something they couldn't do last season when Philadelphia roared from seven games back with 17 to play and won the NL East, leaving New York out of the playoffs.

Of course, giving a long-term contract to a pitcher can be risky. Only three have gotten deals worth more than $100 million: Barry Zito (San Francisco), Mike Hampton (Colorado) and Kevin Brown (Los Angeles Dodgers).

After helping the Mets reach their most recent World Series in 2000, Hampton bolted for a $121 million, eight-year contract with the Rockies. He went 53-48 over the next five years with Colorado and Atlanta and hasn't pitched in the majors since 2005 because of injuries.

While the Mets tried to lock up Santana, they also added depth to their bullpen Wednesday by claiming hometown pitcher Ruddy Lugo off waivers from Oakland.

Lugo was 6-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 38 relief appearances with the Athletics and Tampa Bay last season. Oakland claimed him off waivers in June, then designated him for assignment Friday after claiming outfielder Jeff Fiorentino off waivers from Cincinnati.

Lugo is 8-4 with a 4.39 ERA in 102 major league games. Control has been his biggest problem -- he has 74 walks and 82 strikeouts in 133 1-3 innings.

Still, the 27-year-old right-hander has been effective for extended stretches. He pitched in 64 games for Tampa Bay in 2006, going 2-4 with a 3.81 ERA and allowing only four homers in 85 innings. He held opponents to a .210 batting average during his final 24 appearances last year, finishing 4-0 with a 2.86 ERA.

The younger brother of Boston shortstop Julio Lugo, Ruddy was selected by Milwaukee in the third round of the 1999 amateur draft.

He played at Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, leading the team to the 1999 Catholic High School Athletic Association championship by striking out 12 and scoring the winning run in the title game at Shea Stadium.

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York; Associated Press Writer Dionisio Soldevila in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; and AP freelance writer Mark Didtler in Tampa contributed to this report.

Roger Clemens shows up at Houston Astros training camp

HOUSTON (AP) -- Roger Clemens bounced up the steps of the Houston Astros dugout Wednesday morning and faced a group of wide-eyed minor leaguers that included his oldest son.

For three relaxing hours at the team's minicamp, he was free from questions about steroid use, the Mitchell Report or his pending appearance before a congressional committee.

He was back in his element, baffling hitters with sliders and instructing pitchers on simple mechanics.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said. "I love to do these things. If I can share any insight with these young kids, it's all the better."

Clemens sidestepped questions about accusations he used performance-enhancing drugs, laid out in the Mitchell Report based on information from Brian McNamee, his former personal trainer.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner has been invited to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for a deposition or transcribed statement next Tuesday and public testimony eight days later. McNamee and former teammates Andy Pettitte and Chuck Knoblauch also have been invited along with former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski.

"I won't even discuss that," Clemens said. "We're handling that the right way. I've already done everything I've wanted to say, media-wise, on that."

Clemens said he was looking forward to meeting with the committee and reiterated the toll the allegations have taken on his family.

"I'm getting ready to go through the process," he said. "I get a chance to say my piece again. That's really all I can say. Everybody is doing well. We're grinding away and doing what we have to do."

Clemens, who pitched for the Astros from 2004-06, lives in Houston, and the Astros kept an open invitation for him to participate in the minicamp, a precursor to spring training next month. Clemens has a personal services contract with the team that starts following his retirement as a player.

Astros owner Drayton McLane said he was "pleasantly surprised" that Clemens attended the minicamp.

"He seemed to relax and enjoy himself," McLane said. "I think it really lifted the spirits of our young players. I visited with several of them and they said that was a great thrill."

Clemens' oldest son, Koby, is a catcher in the Astros farm system and is participating in the camp. Not even Koby was sure whether his father would show this week.

Clemens said the attention focused on him now was never going to deter him. He was planning to come back on Thursday.

"There was no decision," he said. "I was coming out whenever I could make time. This is what I enjoy doing."

Clemens threw for about 30 minutes from behind a screen. Most of the batters whiffed at least once, even after Clemens would call out what kind of pitch he was throwing.

Russ Dixon, an infielder, homered to right, then sheepishly put his head down to avoid eye contact with the pitcher.

"He was taking it easy on us," Dixon said. "I mean, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't trying to show my stuff. It's an exciting opportunity."

Koby launched the first pitch he saw from his father off the base of the right-field wall. Later, Clemens threw him a breaking ball and Koby swung and missed.

Brandon Backe, expected to start for the Astros this season, pitched when Clemens was finished. He threw about 40 pitches, then Clemens gave him advice off the mound on the first-base side.

Afterward, Clemens spoke to the minor leaguers in the Astros clubhouse.

"My biggest talk to them is, 'If you can handle failing, you're going to be all right, because you're going to do a lot of it,"' Clemens said. "You have to pick yourself up off the ground and go forward."