San Jose (34-21-6) at Pittsburgh (36-20-5)

The San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks have been awfully good defensively during their second-half resurgence, never allowing more than three goals during a stretch that’s seen them win 13 of 16.

Holding the Pittsburgh Penguins down isn’t nearly the challenge that it once was.

The Sharks seek a season high-tying fifth consecutive victory Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins hope the acquisition of forward James Neal(notes) will give their floundering offense a boost.

San Jose (33-21-6) allowed 2.80 goals per game during a 21-19-5 start that had it in 10th place in the Western Conference.

It was hard to believe one of the league’s best regular-season teams over the past decade was in danger of missing the playoffs, but the Sharks are back among the West’s top four after allowing an average of 1.81 goals over their past 16.

They improved to 13-2-1 in that stretch - and stayed just a point behind Pacific Division-leading Phoenix - with a 4-3 win at Detroit on Tuesday.

“Our playoffs started 15 games ago,” said captain Joe Thornton(notes), who scored his 300th career goal and assisted on both of Devin Setoguchi’s(notes) tallies.

The Penguins (36-20-5) are also in fourth place in their conference, but the explosive offense that helped carry them to two of the past three Stanley Cup finals is a shell of what it once was.

After initially surviving without Sidney Crosby(notes), Evgeni Malkin(notes) and a lineup that’s currently missing eight other forwards, Pittsburgh is starting to stumble. The Penguins have scored 14 goals over their last eight games.

That’s why general manager Ray Shero made a move Monday, trading defenseman Alex Goligoski(notes) to Dallas for Neal - a 20-goal scorer in each of his first three seasons - and defenseman Matt Niskanen(notes).

“There’s not many of these power guys in the game,” Shero said of the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Neal. “And (James), on our list, is one of the better ones in the game and has got some room to grow. That’s why when you can get a guy like Neal - the opportunity might not be there again.”

Hours after the trade, Pittsburgh showed why the addition of Neal was so necessary. Despite putting 39 shots on goal at Michal Neuvirth(notes), the Penguins were beaten 1-0 by Washington.

Five of those shots came from center Jordan Staal(notes), who saw his five-game point streak end. Coach Dan Bylsma said Tuesday that he’ll install Neal on the left side of the team’s top line with Staal and Tyler Kennedy(notes).

“I think (Neal is) going to make us a better team going into (Wednesday’s) game and give us a chance to get what we need to get wins,” Bylsma said. “With Jordan, I can see them being a real formidable pair.”

With top defenseman Paul Martin(notes) out Wednesday with an upper-body injury, Niskanen is expected to join Kris Letang(notes) on the team’s No. 1 power-play unit.

The Penguins haven’t scored more than two goals against San Jose in seven meetings since December 2002, as the Sharks have gone 6-0-1.

Thornton has rarely done anything but win versus Pittsburgh. Dating to his days with Boston, Thornton’s teams are 15-1-2 against the Penguins since December 2001.

He has 10 goals and 25 assists in those contests.

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Cruzeiro has 4-0 win over Guarani

Cruzeiro

SETE LAGOAS, Brazil (AP)—Cruzeiro striker Wallyson scored twice in a 4-0 home victory over Guarani of Paraguay on Tuesday as the Brazilian club continued its dominant start to the Copa Libertadores group stage.

Wallyson scored in the 30th and 74th minutes for two-time Libertadores champion Cruzeiro, with late goals from Ernesto Farias and Thiago Ribeiro sealing the win.

Cruzeiro thrashed Argentine champion Estudiantes 5-0 in its opening match last week and leads Group 7 with six points from two games.

In other group matches Tuesday, it was: Universidad San Martin 2, San Luis 0; Emelec 1, Jorge Wilstermann 0; Once Caldas 1, Libertad 1.

The Copa Libertadores is the top club competition in Latin America.

The 32 teams in the tournament are split into eight groups of four, with the top two from each section qualifying for the knockout round of 16. In each group, the teams play each other home and away.

The final is scheduled for June, with the winner earning a place in the Club World Cup to play against the other continental champions.

Cruzeiro striker Wallyson became the group stage’s leading scorer so far after his two goals against Guarani took him to four from two games.

Wallyson volleyed in his first after the Guarani defense failed to clear a corner and scored his second from close in after Walter Montillo’s left-wing cross in the second half.

Farias finished a pass from Dudu for Cruzeiro’s third goal in the 87th and Thiago Ribeiro hit a long-range shot to complete the scoreline just before the final whistle.

The match was played in the city of Sete Lagoas because Cruzeiro’s home stadium in Belo Horizonte is getting an overhaul ready for the 2014 World Cup.

The victory put Cruzeiro atop Group 7 with six points, three ahead of Deportes Tolima of Colombia. Tolima travels to Estudiantes on Wednesday.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Eduardo Morante scored with a header from a corner in the 34th minute of Emelec of Ecuador’s win over Wilstermann of Bolivia in Group 6.

Emelec leads the group with four points ahead of further results.

Meanwhile, Gianfranco Labarthe gave Peru’s San Martin the breakthrough in the 85th minute against San Luis of Mexico in Group 1, with Carlos Marinelli adding a second in stoppage time.

In the same group, Dayro Moreno scored in the 29th minute as 2004 champion Once Caldas of Colombia took the lead against Libertad of Paraguay.

Moreno’s strike looked to have earned all three points until substitute Victor Ayala hit a low shot from 25 yards that leveled the score with the very last kick of the match.

The results put San Martin atop the group with six points, two clear of Libertad, with Once Caldas on one point and San Luis bottom on zero.

Group matches continue Wednesday and Thursday.

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Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne won’t race for Sprint Cup title

Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne said Monday he probably won’t attempt to run for the Sprint Cup championship this year.

“I think we’re probably just sticking with what we planned,” Bayne said.

Bayne is a Nationwide Series driver for Roush-Fenway Racing and planned to run for the title this season in NASCAR’s second level. On loan to the Wood Brothers for 17 races in the Cup Series, he stunned a veteran field Sunday by becoming the youngest winner in Daytona 500 history with a surprise victory in NASCAR’s biggest race.
Trevor Bayne raises the trophy after winning the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

NASCAR rules this season made drivers pick just one series to collect points, and Bayne chose the second-tier Nationwide Series. He can change his mind, but he would not be given retroactive points for the Daytona 500.

NASCAR officials said Monday the win would count toward seeding in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship, but he would not receive any points for Sunday’s race.

NASCAR this year changed the format for the 12-driver Chase field. The top 10 in points after the 26th race of the season make the Chase, with the final two spots going to drivers with the most wins who aren’t already eligible. The drivers would have to be ranked inside the top 20.

Bayne is up against several obstacles. The Woods’ don’t have funding for a full season, and even though they picked up $1,462,563 for the win, they’ll need sponsorship to run all 36 points races. The team has already said it will go to Martinsville, the sixth race of the season which was not on the original team schedule.

Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne

But even if Bayne did choose to attempt the full Cup schedule, the No. 21 Ford isn’t exactly running up front each week. Bayne’s win was the first since 2001 for NASCAR’s oldest team, and only the fourth victory in the last 20 years. The team hasn’t run a full Cup schedule since 2006.

“One thing I haven’t really talked about is keeping our expectations realistic here,” Bayne said. “We won this race and that sets the bar high, but if we would have finished 15th, we would have been happy. We’ve got remember that for the rest of the season.

“There are going to be a lot of times when we do struggle because I’m new at this. A lot of new pieces have come together, so I think we’ve got to keep that realistic and just race right now.”

But Bayne also has obstacles in the Nationwide Series, where he raced in an unsponsored car Saturday at Daytona and Roush has no funding lined up at this time. The team had planned to run Bayne out of pocket until something turned up.

He’s also beholden to team owner Jack Roush, who controls Bayne’s contract right now and simply loaned him to the Woods’ as an opportunity to get Bayne seat time this year. Roush snapped him up late last season when Michael Waltrip Racing, which had fielded cars for Bayne since late 2009, couldn’t promise a ride for this year.

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Duke back on top of AP men’s basketball poll

Duke is back on top of The Associated Press’ college basketball poll for the first time in just over a month. St. John’s is back in the Top 25 for the first time in over a decade.

The Blue Devils (25-2) jumped from fifth to No. 1 on Monday after a week that saw the top four teams in the poll all lose. The move to the top is the biggest since Kansas went from sixth to No. 1 in November 2003, the last time the top four all lost in the same week.

Duke, which was No. 1 in the preseason poll and for the first eight weeks of the regular season, received 35 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel.

Five other teams received first-place votes this week, another indication of the parity this season.

The only change near the bottom of the rankings was that St. John’s (17-9), which beat a top 10 team for the fourth time this season with a win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, moved in at No. 23. The Red Storm were last ranked in November 2000.

Ohio State stayed No. 2 with 10 first-place votes, while Kansas dropped from No. 1 to third with five first-place votes.

Pittsburgh, No. 1 on 12 ballots, stayed fourth and Texas, which got one first-place vote, fell two spots to fifth.

San Diego State, BYU, which had two first-place votes, Purdue, Notre Dame and Arizona rounded out the top 10.

Ohio State followed Duke to No. 1 holding the top spot for four weeks before Kansas took over for one week.

Besides St. John’s win over Pittsburgh, Kansas lost to Kansas State, Ohio State lost to Purdue and Texas lost to Nebraska in the week it wasn’t safe to be at the top of the rankings.

In November 2003, No. 1 Connecticut, No. 2 Duke, No. 3 Michigan State and No. 4 Arizona all lost, setting the stage for Kansas’ big jump.

St. John’s replaced Utah State, which dropped out despite winning two games last week.

Steve Lavin left the broadcast booth in April to take over the St. John’s program and he inherited a team with 10 seniors, all of whom had never been in the NCAA tournament or the Top 25.

After the Pittsburgh win, Justin Burrell, one of the seniors, was confident the Red Storm would move into the poll.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “It’s been a long four years without that number. We deserve to see that number.”

Lavin was happy for his veteran team.

“I think it’s a benchmark of achievement for the senior class and naturally it will be helpful in recruiting with the national exposure,” the former UCLA coach said. “It is empirical evidence that their hard work is paying off.”

Lavin said you try not to have “emotional peaks and valleys and you are always concerned and mindful of complacency. But with this group, with an outstanding work ethic, focus and resolve to finish their careers on a high note.”

The Red Storm’s strength of schedule is another sign of what this team has been able to achieve with five wins over ranked teams, four in the Big East and another over Duke.

“I think it’s an interesting thing that they forged through such a challenging schedule,” Lavin said. “We played eight consecutive games against ranked teams, made three trips to the West Coast. It’s takes pressure, heat and time to make a diamond. It shows how together this group is.”

Georgetown was 11th followed by Wisconsin, Florida, Connecticut, Villanova, Louisville, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, North Carolina and Missouri.

The last five ranked teams were Texas A&M, Kentucky, St. John’s, Temple and Xavier.

St. John’s gives the Big East eight ranked teams, four more than Big 12 and five more than the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference.

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Steinbrenner says Yanks ‘busy building mansions’

Yankees player Alex Rodriguez

TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner thinks his team’s celebration of its 2009 World Series championship may have lasted too long.

“I think, maybe, they celebrated too much last year,” Steinbrenner said Monday. “Some of the players, too busy building mansions and doing other things and not concentrating on winning. I have no problem saying that.”

When it was pointed out that Yankees captain Derek Jeter(notes) was building a large multimillion dollar home in Tampa last year, Steinbrenner said he wasn’t singling out any individual.

“I was just saying, maybe they were riding the wave of ’09 a little too much, and it happens sometimes,” Steinbrenner said. “This year in spring so far, from what I’ve seen and what I’ve been told, they’ve come in with a real, new drive and determination—the kind they had in ’09.”

New York lost in the AL championship series last season to Texas after fading in the second half of the season and winding up with the AL wild card.

Steinbrenner also said baseball’s revenue sharing and luxury tax programs need changes, and that Commissioner Bud Selig is open to the idea.

Steinbrenner said he doesn’t know what the final figure is, but expects the Yankees’ 2010 payments for the two to total about $130 million.

“We’ve got to do a little something about that, and I know Bud wants to correct it in some way,” Steinbrenner said. “Obviously, we’re very much allies with the Red Sox and the Mets, the Dodgers, the Cubs, whoever in that area.”

“At some point, if you don’t want to worry about teams in minor markets, don’t put teams in minor markets, or don’t leave teams in minor markets if they’re truly minor,” Steinbrenner said. “Socialism, communism, whatever you want to call it, is never the answer.”

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Kansas point guard Taylor suspended indefinitely

Tyshawn Taylor

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP)—No. 3 Kansas has suspended point guard Tyshawn Taylor indefinitely for violating team rules.

The school did not specify the violation.

Taylor has started 26 of 27 games for the Jayhawks, who were 25-2 overall and 10-2 in the Big 12 going into their game Monday night against Oklahoma State.

Coach Bill Self said Taylor would continue practicing with the team until he was reinstated.

Freshman Josh Selby and sophomore Elijah Johnson are the other point guards who are available.

Taylor has struggled replacing Sherron Collins at point guard. He is averaging 8.8 points and ranks third in the Big 12 with 4.7 assists per game.

Earlier this season, senior forward Mario Little was suspended for six games in connection with his arrest in a domestic disturbance. He was reinstated after receiving a diversion agreement on two misdemeanor battery charges.

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plans to play Tuesday Wade says ankle is fine,

Dwyane Wade

MIAMI (AP)—Dwyane Wade’s(notes) sore right ankle is not sore enough to present a problem for the Miami Heat.

Wade was able to practice Monday and pronounced himself ready to go when the Heat open their post-All-Star schedule at home Tuesday night against Sacramento — one of several pieces of positive news Miami got when it reconvened to start the final 26-game stretch of the regular season.

“I don’t want to miss any time,” Wade said Monday night. “It’s not serious enough to miss any time.”

Wade aggravated the ankle midway through the third quarter of Sunday’s All-Star game when he tried an acrobatic pass and landed awkwardly. He left moments later and did not return.

Wade acknowledged that he was worried for a few moments Sunday night, but once the acute pain subsided, it was clear that the problem was minor.

“I think he’s more tired than he is sore,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I think this was a tough turnaround for these guys to get in at 7 a.m. today and bounce back at a 5 p.m. practice. That makes it tough probably for your body, getting on a normal East coast clock.”

For Miami’s All-Star contingent—Wade, LeBron James(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes), along with 3-point shootout champion James Jones(notes)—some rest is still surely in order.

All-Star weekend—loaded with sponsor events, business meetings and then the game itself—proved hectic for everyone.

Even with Wade sitting the game’s final 17:02, Miami’s three representatives logged much more playing time Sunday than Boston’s four All-Stars. Celtics coach Doc Rivers had Wade, James and Bosh play an average of about 24 minutes, while Boston’s foursome of Paul Pierce(notes), Ray Allen(notes), Rajon Rondo(notes) and Kevin Garnett(notes) logged an average of 14 minutes.

Spoelstra wasn’t bothered.

“The minutes in one particular game, that doesn’t affect anything, big picture,” Spoelstra said. “These guys are young.”

James played 32 minutes, the most of anyone in the game for the second straight year.

Both the Heat and Celtics play on Tuesday, though Miami’s All-Stars needed to make a cross country flight home to get ready for Sacramento, while Boston’s only had to make the quick trip to northern California for a game with Golden State.

“Man, I’m 26 years old,” James said. “I don’t go out to All-Star weekend to sit on no bench during the game. I want to play and I want to win. Me and Doc talked and I was fine with playing as many minutes as I did. I hate to come out of any game. I don’t care if it’s a recreation game in the summertime. I just love to play.”

So Wade was feeling good, James was feeling good, and forward Mike Miller(notes) was feeling better.

From the Heat perspective, that’s significant progress.

Spoelstra said tests have concluded that Miller did not have a concussion despite taking blows to the head three times in a five-day span before the break. Miller did some shooting Monday, was held out of practice and will not play Tuesday—but could be in the lineup as soon as Thursday when Miami visits Chicago.

“I feel good right now and I’m just waiting for them to let me play,” said Miller, who added that he has no problems other than a nagging cold.

And forward Udonis Haslem(notes), who hasn’t played since November because of a ruptured ligament in his foot, was on the court with his team—in basketball sneakers, not a walking boot—for the first time in months on Monday.

It was more of an appearance than anything else. Haslem still is targeting a late March return, though that hardly seems guaranteed and his rehab process has several more significant steps.

“It’s still real early,” Haslem said. “Right now I’m taking it day by day. When I’m ready, I’ll know.”

Miami (41-15) is percentage points behind Boston (40-14) for the East’s best record, is two games ahead of Chicago in the conference race, and 5 1/2 ahead of Orlando in the Southeast Division.

“We’re into the final sprint and our focus is not just generically getting our game right,” Spoelstra said. “We want to improve and reach another level, reach higher or another two levels, which we’re capable of. And I think that makes us unique than most of the teams contending. We don’t necessarily know what our ceiling is.”

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Nets ‘confident’ about Anthony deal (AP Source)

Carmelo Anthony

NEWARK, N.J. (AP)—While the Nets remain confident about acquiring Carmelo Anthony(notes), a person familiar with the trade talks says New Jersey is interested in acquiring some former Knicks if the Denver Nuggets decide to ship Anthony to New York.

The person insists the Nets remain “confident” they can acquire Anthony in a deal that would ship point guard Devin Harris(notes), rookie Derrick Favors(notes), two other players and four first-round draft picks to Denver. If the deal falls through or Anthony is dealt to the Knicks instead, the Nets are prepared to pick up some of the pieces.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak for the team.

The Nets and Nuggets have talked about a deal in which New Jersey will send two first-round draft picks to Denver for Russian center Timofey Mozgov(notes) and one of the three other players the Knicks reportedly are willing to send to Denver— Danilo Gallinari(notes), Wilson Chandler(notes) or Raymond Felton(notes)—according to the person familiar with the talks.

Anthony had an excused absence when the Nuggets practiced Monday night. Instead of taping up his ankles, the All-Star forward was in Burbank, Calif., taping a segment on “Conan.”

Anthony stayed behind in Los Angeles following the NBA All-Star game while his teammates gathered at the Pepsi Center for their first workout since the break.

Team spokesman Tim Gelt told The AP that Anthony’s absence was excused. Late Monday afternoon, Anthony tweeted: “Headed to Burbank to film THE CONAN SHOW.”

In Greenburgh, N.Y., Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said Monday he was “ready for anything.”

“I think everybody is waiting the next three days to see what happens, see the cosmetics, see if it’s big,” he said. “We’re ready for anything but we do business as usual. We’re preparing for Milwaukee.”

The Knicks return from the All-Star break against the Bucks on Wednesday, less than 24 hours before the trade deadline, not knowing what their roster may look like. Gallinari, Felton, Mozgov and Chandler were all at practice Monday.

Asked if he favored trading for Anthony while giving up three starters, D’Antoni said: “We could sit here, debate all day, but I’m not going to do it. It’s just not worth it.”

Anthony had said he hoped to resolve his future by the end of All-Star weekend while the entire basketball world gathered in Los Angeles. Instead, he remains a Nugget for now.

Gallinari, whose name has been mentioned ever since the Anthony trade talks started, said he had not talked to Knicks president Donnie Walsh and D’Antoni.

“We didn’t talk about it because it’s been getting old,” he said. “The same thing for a month, more than that. We’re talking about this team, what I should do, what I could do and what’s my job, reach our goals. We’re not talking about the trade.

“It’s tough to leave New York. It’s part of the NBA life and it’s part of how the NBA works. You got to deal with that.”

The Melodrama reached perhaps its most bizarre point Sunday. Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov essentially said at least the Nets drove up New York’s price. And the Knicks hierarchy insisted they were unified in their pursuit of the All-Star forward amid reports someone who no longer works for the team—Isiah Thomas—was pulling the strings.

Anthony finally acknowledged meeting with Prokhorov and Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan, saying they were “generic meetings that (the Nuggets) allowed me to take, but nothing specific.”

AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in Los Angeles, AP Sports Writers Arnie Stapleton and Pat Graham in Denver and freelance writer Adriano Torres in Greenburgh, N.Y., contributed to this report.

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony

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still not 100 percent Morneau ready for spring

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP)—When it comes to his concussion, Justin Morneau(notes) is getting out of the predicting business.

He’s tried to set benchmarks and barometers before, only to become frustrated when those came and went without the progress he wanted to see.

He was injured in Toronto on July 7 and, at first, he figured he’d be back by the All-Star game. Then it was September. Finally, when he wasn’t able to play in the postseason, the Minnesota Twins star first baseman finally started to come to grips with the fact that recovery from this injury was out of his control

Morneau

“There was the goal of the playoffs, and there was the goal of all the rest of it, but it’s been a battle all winter,” Morneau said Monday, a day before Twins position players were due to report for spring training. “We’ve done everything, I think, possible to try and take care of this thing and be ready. But whenever it’s ready, it’s ready.”

More than seven months after he was injured while sliding into second base, Morneau said he is feeling better. He has resumed baseball activities, but still feels a few lingering symptoms. He will likely miss the first four or five exhibition games as he eases his way back into things and still hopes to be ready for opening day on April 1.

He still feels a little foggy on occasion after a strenuous workout, which is why he isn’t speaking in absolutes when it comes to his timeline anymore.

“Wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent yet, but I think it’s as close as I can get,” Morneau said. “It’s just trying to get over that final hump.”

Doctors have yet to clear him for full game activity, but he is able to face live pitching in batting practice and go through the rigors of a daily spring training workout.

The real tests will begin Wednesday, the first day of full-squad workouts. Morneau is eager to see just how much progress he has made. He has been swinging a bat, taking grounders and working out in his offseason home in Arizona, but now is when he’ll get going full speed.

“However long it takes, it is what it is,” Morneau said. “As much as we’d like to be ready to play (games) today, it’s got its own timeline. It hasn’t ever been up to me.”

He plans to wear a helmet during batting practice—both in the field and in the batting cage—until he is completely cleared. Once he is, he will wear the newer, more protective batting helmet at the plate. But he said he doesn’t plan to wear one in the field.

“If something crazy happens before we’re cleared, it might be a bad situation,” Morneau said. “Odds of that are very slim, but may has well not take that chance, so I think we’ll do that. When it comes to game time and I’m cleared, I’ll be out there, hopefully, playing like everyone else.”

Morneau was having an MVP-caliber season—.345, 18 homers, 56 RBIs—when he got hurt against the Blue Jays, and the Twins sorely missed his bat in the lineup and his calming presence in the clubhouse during a three-game sweep by the Yankees in the postseason.

Joe Mauer(notes) knows how eager Morneau is to return, so the catcher has been gently reminding his good buddy to take things slow in the early going.

“Let’s make sure he’s ready for April,” Mauer said. “If he comes out and takes it easy in spring, I’m fine with that. I’d much rather have him hitting and playing in games in April than in February or March.”

Morneau’s work ethic is unquestioned, and the organization sometimes has wondered whether he was working too hard in spring training. Before the concussion in 2010, Morneau missed the final month of 2009 with a back injury and rarely took days off during the season.

Watching his teammates struggle in the postseason without him two years in a row, and the long-term health concerns that come with concussions, may have finally been enough to make him take a new look at his routine.

“I’ve been around long enough now that taking 20 extra ground balls a day isn’t really going to make a difference,” he said. “I’m not 20 or 21 anymore. It is what it is at first base and I kind of am what I am as a hitter. Obviously, you can always improve, but right now that’s the goal, the goal is to be ready for opening day.”

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Rihanna rocks celeb-studded NBA All-Star game

Rihanna

Rihanna watches during the second half of the NBA basketball All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - With a celebrity-studded crowd looking on, Rihanna rocked the halftime show at the NBA All-Star game on her 23rd birthday.

She had some other big names helping her sing her hits Sunday, with Drake joining in on "What's My Name?" and working "happy birthday" into the lyrics. Dripping in gold chains, a red-clad Kanye West came out for "All of the Lights," which is off his latest album but features Rihanna.

At halftime, the lights inside Staples Center went out and the video screens filled with water droplets, setting the stage for Rihanna to emerge from behind a wall singing "Umbrella."

The red-haired singer soon shed her short black suit jacket and white scarf to reveal a short black skirt and a rhinestone halter. She shimmied her way through "Only Girl (In the World)" and didn't flinch when her huge hoop earring fell off her left ear in mid-song.

While it was a working day for Rihanna, her fellow music stars relaxed in their seats while watching the 60th annual All-Star game.

Beyonce and hubby Jay-Z sat courtside, with Justin Bieber (MVP of Friday's All-Star celebrity game) two seats away. Sean "Diddy" Combs, Stevie Wonder (wearing headphones), Grammy winner Bruno Mars, Keri Hilson, Ne-Yo, Gene Simmons, and "American Idol" judge Steven Tyler were scattered around the arena. Rapper Nicki Minaj snacked on pink cotton candy.

Benny, the Chicago Bulls mascot, jumped into the seat next to singer John Legend and his girlfriend-model Chrissy Teigen to joke around.

Canadian singer Melanie Fiona sang her country's national anthem, and Los Angeles native Josh Groban did the U.S. anthem. With plenty of fog swirling, Lenny Kravitz played during the pregame introductions.

Among the movie and TV stars in attendance were Dustin Hoffman, Spike Lee, Warren Beatty, Rick Fox and girlfriend-actress Eliza Dushku, and Nick Cannon (without wife Mariah Carey). CNN talk show host Piers Morgan furiously worked his cell phone during most of the action.

Actress Gabrielle Union walked the magenta carpet outside the arena before the game, dishing on her boyfriend, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade.

"His closet is way bigger than mine. He's way, way, way into clothes that his closet is like five times the size of mine," Union said.

Wade loves different scents, too.

"He is a little bit obsessed with the smell of cocoa butter. He loves it for himself," she said. "He's got, I think, over 30 different colognes."

If the fashion police had been on patrol, they might have cited former NBA great Darryl Dawkins.

Standing 6-foot-11, the man nicknamed "Chocolate Thunder" for his ferocious dunking ability made an even louder statement by wearing a lime-colored pinstriped suit.

As soon as Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard spotted Dawkins, he couldn't help but offer a critique.

"He looks like a big lizard. Aw-w-w, man," Howard said. "I thought last night's suit was terrible, but then he came out today looking like a highlighter? That's probably one of the worst suits I've ever seen in my life."

While Howard and many of the other arriving NBA players dressed up in suits and ties, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant dressed down in jeans and a black leather jacket.

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Hawaii Five-0: Will Danny Choose the Law Over His Little Brother?

When Hawaii Five-0 viewers say aloha to guest star Dane Cook in Monday's episode, they shouldn't necessarily expect to see the funnyman cracking a lot of jokes.

Dane Cook booked for Hawaii Five-0

"I think he's going to surprise a lot of people," co-executive producer Paul Zbyszewski tells TVGuide.com. "He made a conscious effort to really say, 'Look, don't feel like you guys need to write comedy stuff for me.' He wants to expand his repertoire; he doesn't just want to be pigeonholed as wacky comic relief. So, while he does have some fun moments on the show, he's also got some dramatic stuff that he's got to carry in the episode."

Hawaii Five-0

Cook plays Matthew Williams, a hedge fund manager on Wall Street and the younger brother of Scott Caan's Danny. Although Matthew seemingly arrives in Hawaii for vacation and to spoil Danny's daughter, Grace, with gifts, Danny and McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin) are informed that Matthew is the target of a federal investigation.

Naturally, that information proves to be quite a bombshell for Danny, who viewers will learn comes from a large, tight-knit family.

Check out photos of the Hawaii Five-0 cast

"We learn their family dynamic and how Matthew, being the little brother, has done really well for himself professionally and is sort of the pride and joy of the family," Zbyszewski says. "But there's no real overt hostility between these two guys. They have a great relationship, and while Danny's brother hasn't been out to visit him in Hawaii, these are two guys who are definitely not on the outs when Matt comes to the island."

Therein lies the rub: Despite his close relationship with his brother, Danny must keep what he knows secret or risk also being charged with obstructing the government's investigation. Since McGarrett and the rest of the team are busy tracking down a mad bomber who's picking off the children of judges and other political figures, Danny turns to his ex-wife, Rachel (Claire van der Boom), for advice — something he will likely have to do more than once this season.

Get more of today's latest news

"Danny has got to make some tough decisions in the episode," Zbyszewski says, hinting that Danny may be forced to give his brother up. "Rachel and Grace play a part in that story, and you will definitely see them again come the finale. They play a role in some significant decisions that Danny's going to have to make towards the endgame."

As for whether viewers will ever see Cook's character again, Zbyszewski says, wait and see. "The way that we leave Danny's story with his brother remains open for perhaps revisiting it in Season 2, in terms of their relationship and how things work out," he says. "I don't want to give away the fun and the payoff of the episode, but I think people will be very excited to see what happens."

Hawaii Five-0 airs Mondays at 10/9c on CBS.

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"Xena" heroine dusts off sandals for "Spartacus"

LOS ANGELES (Backstage) - Lucy Lawless doesn't mind being typecast.

The 42-year-old actress, who became a household name through the 1995-2001 TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess" and who can currently be seen on Starz's "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena," admits that playing Xena may have pigeonholed her into being cast as the warrior in period pieces. But, the New Zealander notes, "What am I going to complain about? How many actresses work as much as me?"

Lawless auditioned to play an Amazon queen in the 1994 TV movie "Hercules and the Amazon Women" -- a role she says she was "a bit young" for -- but instead landed the role of an Amazon lieutenant. "I remember being bummed because it was so much smaller (a role) than the Amazon queen," Lawless says.

"But it felt quite right to cast us that way. Roma Downey actually played the Amazon queen. She was good; it needed someone with a little bit more life experience than me to carry off that role."

Lawless' bit part in the telefilm led to bigger and better things when the project became the pilot for "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," a series that saw Lawless ultimately play three roles: Lysia, a man-hating Amazon in the pilot; Lyla, who attempted to kill Hercules; and a villainous warrior woman named Xena in the episode "The Warrior Princess."

"Being the star of an action show is really, really hard," Lawless says. "You've got to keep up a lot of energy, and you've got to be the morale leader. There's a lot on your shoulders. The fighting on 'Xena' was really hard for me."

Lawless adds she is grateful for the following the role gave her. "But people in the business, their perception of the role was not always kind. Sometimes you have to go away for a while."

Lawless guest-starred on such series as "The X-Files" and "Burn Notice" and had small roles in such films as "Spider-Man" and its sequel. Between projects, she made the most of her time. "I filled it up by having children and actually raising them myself," she says. "I worked a little bit. But as Oprah said, 'You can have everything; you just can't have it all at once.' So that was time well spent. I have well-adjusted children. I wouldn't want to be an Oscar-wining parent with a screwed-up child."

In 2009, she landed a 16-episode run as cylon D'Anna Biers in another cult genre series, "Battlestar Galactica." Then Lawless somewhat returned to her roots, playing Mother Superior opposite her "Xena" onscreen love interest, Renee O'Connor, and filming two episodes of Showtime's "The L Word" before going to work with her husband, producer Rob Tapert, on Starz's "Spartacus: Blood and Sand."

"We have a really great working relationship," she says of Tapert. Indeed, on "Spartacus," Lawless portrays loyal wife Lucretia. "When I'm playing Lucretia, the husband-wife experience I draw on is clearly my own marriage," she says.

She has embraced stepping away from playing the heroine. "I love to play a victim, and I love to play the wallflower," she says, adding that she hopes to also play "people who are really on the edge of right and wrong -- wicked in sheep's clothing, or someone who looks like a librarian but turns out to be a psychopath."

When the actor who played Spartacus, Andy Whitfield, was diagnosed with cancer after the first season, Starz opted to continue the series with a spinoff: the six-episode prequel miniseries "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena." Lawless had mixed reactions to news of the "Spartacus" prequel. "We were a bit horrified that we would have to do something like that," she says, referring to Whitfield's diagnosis. "But it seemed like a good idea because it would keep the audience engaged in all the characters in their world. It was a complete surprise how damn good it was." Lawless will resume her role in Season 2, which has yet to set an airdate.

Looking back, Lawless still has a fondness for "Xena" and remembers that time in her career as "the most outright fun I had ever had." She has no regrets, with the possible exception of passing on auditioning for Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings." Recalls Lawless, "They wanted me to come down and talk to them about 'Lord of the Rings,' but I was pregnant at the time. I didn't feel I could do it; I was too wiped out. I didn't realize that these movies would take three years to film, so I probably could have done it. I wish I had gone along to that, but in that moment, I wasn't in any shape to explore it."

That openness to possibilities -- including going on any and every audition possible -- is part of what Lawless recommends for young actors. Well, that and being kind to the crew. "They're not being paid as much as you," she says. "They're probably on set longer than you. You are not the thing that makes the show go, even though you're getting all the attention for it. You're just the public face of other people's work."

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The Bachelor Final Four: Who Will Advance to the Fantasy Dates?

The Bachelor is getting close to the finale, and the remaining women are taking Brad to their hometowns. We took a look at the final four — Shawntel, Chantal, Emily and Ashley H — and sized up the competition.

Shawntel
For her: The two have an easy connection ever since she received the rose during the Week 2 group date.
Against her: Brad, and viewers alike, may be freaked-out by her profession as a funeral home director and embalmer.

Chantal
For her: She's already said, "I love you," and she was the first woman to have her second one-on-one date.
Against her: Her father was a former National Football League player and will be hard to impress

Emily
For her: Brad has been smitten with the single mom from Day 1 and even broke the rules by promising her a rose last week.
Against her: Meeting Emily's daughter, Ricky, might be too much for him to handle.

Ashley H
For her: She received the season's first one-on-one date, which gave her an advantage from the start.
Against her: Midway through the show, Brad questioned Ashley's overly emotional and slightly possessive side.

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Ashton Kutcher & Jennifer Aniston? 'No Strings Attached' Star Reveals 'Friends' Dating Bet

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore may be happily married, but before he hit Hollywood, the actor had his eye on another "Friend-ly" leading lady.

"I bet a high school buddy $1,000 that one day I would go on a date with Jennifer Aniston," Ashton revealed on "The Graham Norton Show" in an episode which airs next week on BBC America. "I was 17 years old and she was on my screensaver."

PLAY IT NOW: Access Spotlight: Jennifer Aniston - America's 'Friend' For Life

The "No Strings attached" star explained to the Irish comedian that when he finally got to Hollywood and had some success, he turned to Jennifer's then-husband, Brad Pitt, for some help.

Jennifer Aniston

"Five years later I actually met her and I asked Brad Pitt's permission to ask his wife out on a date. He was so cool and said 'You go for it' so I asked her and she turned me down," Ashton said.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: They Dated? Surprising Former Couples!

While he's now married, Ashton said he still hopes to win his teenage bet.

"Now we're friends so it might still happen, but now I have to ask Demi's permission and I just don't know how to broach that with the wife... but I do want to win the bet," he said.

As for his life with Demi, Ashton told Graham he was proud that the two have spent nearly a decade together as a couple.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Lovely Looks Of Jennifer Aniston!

"It's been eight years which in Hollywood years is about 81 so there's extra points for that," he said.

Their relationship, or at least their domestic bliss, didn't start out very easy. Ashton admitted he was "extremely single" when he met Demi and it took a while for word to get around that he was taken.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: From 'Punk'd' To Twitter King: Ashton Kutcher

"I was living with a buddy who refused to leave when Demi moved in," Ashton said of his early household moments with his brunette bombshell, whom he eventually married in 2005.

"But it was kind of a good thing," Ashton added. "It would be the middle of the night and there would be visitors and he would do a lot of intercepting for me! I wanted to keep the relationship private so [I] didn't put the word out and its pretty hard to slow that train down."

"The Graham Norton" show airs on Saturdays at 10 PM on BBC America.

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20-year-old Bayne wins the Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (AP)—Trevor Bayne, in just his second Sprint Cup Series start, pulled off a stunning victory in his first Daytona 500 on Sunday, becoming the youngest winner in the 53 years of the Great American Race.

Bayne, who turned 20 the day before the biggest race of his career, took the Wood Brothers back to Victory Lane for the first time since 2001.

As he crossed the line, Bayne screamed into his radio: “Are you kidding me?!”

The rookie had been great throughout Speedweeks in the No. 21 Ford, even proving his mettle by pushing four-time champion Jeff Gordon for most of a qualifying race.

Trevor Bayne

With the win Bayne breaks Gordon’s mark as the youngest winner in Daytona 500 history. Gordon was 26 when he won the 500 in 1997.

“I think it’s very cool. Trevor’s a good kid, and I love the Wood Brothers,” Gordon said. “I’m really happy for him. And I think it’s great for the sport. To have a young talent like that—he’s got that spark, you know?”

The victory for NASCAR pioneers Leonard and Glen Wood ended a 10-year-losing streak, and came the week of the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s fatal accident on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

That anniversary had everyone almost certain Sunday’s win would go to Earnhardt Jr., the prodigal son, who shied away from the suggestion that the stars were lined up for a spectacular tribute to his father.

Bayne, whose official web site says “Coming Soon,” never even allowed himself to daydream about such a magical finish.

“Our first 500, are you kidding me?” said Bayne, who needed directions to Victory Lane. “Wow. This is unbelievable.”

The race had a record 74 lead changes among 22 drivers, and a record 16 cautions that wiped out many of the leaders, including Earnhardt Jr. on the first attempt at NASCAR’s version of overtime. It put Bayne out front with a slew of unusual suspects.

David Ragan, winless in 147 career starts, was actually leading the field on NASCAR’s first attempt at a green-white-checkered finish. But he was flagged for changing lanes before the starting line, then an accident that collected Earnhardt in the middle of the pack brought out the caution, and Bayne inherited the lead.

But he had two-time series champion Tony Stewart, now winless in 13 career Daytona 500s, lurking behind with veterans Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin and Kurt Busch, who had collected two previous wins over Speedweeks. All were chomping at the bit for their first Daytona 500 title, but Bayne never blinked, holding his gas pedal down wide open as he staved off every challenge over the two-lap final shootout.

“I’ve never been to a racetrack with this many people!” he yelled in Victory Lane.

Edwards wound up second in a Ford and was followed by David Gilliland, Labonte and Busch.

Juan Pablo Montoya was sixth, Regan Smith seventh, and Kyle Busch, Paul Menard and Martin rounded out the top 10.

Earnhardt Jr. wound up 24th.

The race was a battle of attrition, thanks to the dicey two-car tandem racing at nearly 200 mph that was the norm throughout Speedweeks.

Hendrick Motorsports had a rough start to the season as three of the team’s four cars, including five-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, were involved in an early 14-car wreck.

Gordon, who started on the front row, and veteran Mark Martin also sustained damage in the melee.

Gordon questioned the aggressiveness of his fellow drivers, especially so early in the race.

“What I don’t quite understand is why guys are doing it three-wide, three-deep running for 28th,” he said

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Moore leads No. 11 Purdue past No. 2 Ohio State

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP)—E’Twaun Moore seemingly toyed with Ohio State.

Whether he was knocking down one of his seven 3-pointers, making an acrobatic layup or draining a jumper in the closing seconds of the first half, the senior guard seemed at ease. He scored a career-high 38 points to help No. 11 Purdue beat No. 2 Ohio State 76-63 on Sunday.

His teammates saw it coming.

“I know once he gets that rhythm going and steps back and hits a 3 and once he smiles, you know he has it going,” guard Lewis Jackson said. “E’Twaun, he may put his fingers up and tell you he hit a 3-pointer, but he rarely smiles. Once he smiles, he’s in a zone, and you probably won’t stop him that night.”

Purdue guard E'Twaun

Purdue (22-5, 11-3 Big Ten) has had much to smile about in the past week. The Boilermakers defeated No. 10 Wisconsin on Wednesday, and their two wins over Top 10 teams brought them within a game of the Buckeyes (25-2, 12-2) for the conference lead with four games to play.

Purdue’s win capped a week that saw the top four teams in the AP Top 25 lose a game. With losses in the past week by No. 1 Kansas, No. 3 Texas and No. 4 Pittsburgh, the Buckeyes entered the game in line to reclaim the No. 1 ranking they dropped after losing at Wisconsin on Feb. 12.

Ohio State coach Thad Matta knew his team was playing in a rough stretch, and he expected challenges.

“We’ve got to continue to keep our focus,” he said. “Our guys know we have to play better basketball and we have to get them ready to do that.”

Ohio State center Jared Sullinger, who scored 25 points, said this game was nothing like Ohio State’s 87-64 win over Purdue on Jan. 25.

“In that game, we had toughness to not get screened, toughness to make shots, toughness to make plays on the defensive end, and we didn’t do that today,” he said.

Jon Diebler scored 11 points and David Lighty and Aaron Craft each had 10 for the Buckeyes, who have lost two of three after winning their first 24 games.

Moore surpassed 2,000 career points during a flurry of 13 in the final 3:49 of the first half, becoming the fifth player in school history to reach the milestone.

“Right now, it’s just numbers to me,” Moore said. “I still have a career and games to play. Later I may look back on it and really say that was a lot of points, a lot of rebounds, and enjoy it with my friends and family. But right now I still have a lot of basketball.”

Moore made 13 of 18 shots and had five assists and two steals. Purdue coach Matt Painter said Moore’s performance was extra special because it came against Lighty, whom Painter considers the best defensive guard in the Big Ten.

“He gets into those rhythms and gets going, he can score points in bunches,” Painter said. “I’ve always thought he was one of the best guards in the country when he lets things come to him. He didn’t force a lot. That’s really, whether he takes 10 shots or 20 shots, the deal with him. If he can do that, he really, really helps our team.”

JaJuan Johnson added 13 points and six rebounds for Purdue.

Diebler entered the game one 3-pointer short of the Big Ten career record of 331 set by Penn State’s Pete Lisicky from 1994-1998. Diebler tied the record on a fadeaway as the shot clock expired that gave Ohio State an 11-5 lead, and broke it on a shot from the right corner 1 minute into the second half.

Ohio State led 28-24 in the first half before Moore took over. He hit a 3-pointer, then scored on an acrobatic fastbreak layup to give Purdue the lead. He followed that with two more 3s to give the Boilermakers a 35-30 lead.

Lighty’s 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in the first half cut the lead to two, but Moore drained a jumper over Lighty in the closing seconds of the half to push Purdue’s lead to 37-33.

Moore found a streaking Terone Johnson with a behind-the-back pass, and Johnson’s layup gave Purdue a 48-42 lead. Moore then made a long jumper to push the lead to 10 for the first time.

Ohio State hung around while Purdue took questionable shots. Sullinger drove for a powerful two-handed dunk and was fouled. His free throw cut Purdue’s lead to 56-51.

Moore hit a fadeaway, then his sixth 3-pointer, to increase Purdue’s lead to 61-53.

Ohio State closed the gap to 65-61, but Moore hit another 3-pointer, and Purdue led by at least seven points the rest of the way.

Purdue shot 51 percent overall after hitting just 38 percent in the first matchup.

“We’re not playing team defense,” Sullinger said. “We need five guys connected. Once we get that back, we’re going to be all right.”

Ohio State shot 6 for 22 from the field and committed nine turnovers in the second half.

“We need to execute better on offense,” Diebler said. “We had some turnovers that were self-imposed. That’s the beauty of college basketball. We’ve got another game Tuesday.”

By CLIFF BRUNT, AP Sports Writer

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Celtics, Heat go to Kobe’s house for All-Star game

LOS ANGELES (AP)—Kobe Bryant(notes) needed only a quick survey of the All-Star rosters for the names to jump out at him.

“We’re playing the Celtics and the Heat,” he said. “And the Hawks.”

Forget that last one. It’s those first two that should spice up Sunday night’s game on Bryant’s home floor, particularly the presence of a record-tying four players from that hated team in green.

“I think there will some boos in the stands. I’m expecting that,” said San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, who will coach the Western Conference.

Kobe Bryant

Boston’s Doc Rivers will lead an East team that includes Kevin Garnett(notes), Paul Pierce(notes), Ray Allen(notes) and Rajon Rondo(notes). He also gets Miami’s Big Three, including LeBron James(notes) and Dwyane Wade(notes) in his starting lineup.

“I can get used to that,” Rivers said.

Chicago’s Derrick Rose(notes), Orlando’s Dwight Howard(notes) and New York’s Amare Stoudemire(notes) are the other East starters, with Atlanta’s Joe Johnson(notes) and Al Horford(notes) rounding out the reserves. But most eyes will be on the Celtics and Heat, both of whom already won at Staples Center this season.

Bryant denied gaining extra motivation from seeing them again, insisting he gets up to play anybody. But Lakers fans might feel differently if Rivers goes ahead with his previously mentioned plan and puts the four Celtics on the floor together.

“Four of them going out there, it might get your blood going,” said former Celtics All-Star and current Turner Sports analyst Kevin McHale. “I’m sure they’ll look out and think the Celtics are invading again.”

The Lakers beat the Celtics in Game 7 of last year’s NBA finals at Staples Center. An exhibition game could never replace that, but Rivers and his players would love to walk off their longtime rivals’ court as winners ahead of the chance they really want in June.

That will require the Celtics and Heat, developing their own rivalry, to play nice for a night. James said that’s no problem, recalling that his East winners in 2006 had four Detroit Pistons, the only other team to have four players picked by the coaches as reserves.

“For that weekend, as hard as it is, we’ll kind of put the rivalries and the dislikes aside for the better of the fans and the better of the game,” James said.

Rivers is glad to hear it—even if he doesn’t necessarily buy it.

“I’ve always been amazed by it, even when you know guys don’t like each other,” he said. “In this case, I don’t know if that’s true, but there are certain guys on different teams that don’t like each other. And then they’re in the All-Star game. I’ve always laughed when you see ‘em like laughing and joking. You know, boy, they’re so … phony right now. That’s what you want to say. But that’s good. As long as we win the All-Star game, too, that’ll be fine.”

Joining Bryant in the West lineup will be the Hornets’ Chris Paul(notes), NBA scoring leader Kevin Durant(notes) of Oklahoma City, Denver’s Carmelo Anthony(notes)—yes, he’s still in the West, at least for now—and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan(notes), whom Popovich chose Thursday night to replace Yao Ming(notes). The Houston center was voted in by fans despite being injured.

Among the west forwards are Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki(notes), the Lakers’ Pau Gasol(notes) and the Clippers’ Blake Griffin(notes), the first rookie picked for the All-Star game since Yao in 2003.

Griffin headlines the field for the slam dunk contest during All-Star Saturday night, and his high-flying style should fit perfectly in Sunday’s game, where defense is usually absent for the first 3 1/2 quarters. Setting up the hometown player is an All-Star game tradition, so what do you think, rook?

“I heard there’s another hometown guy,” Griffin said with a laugh.

That would be Bryant, who returns in front of his frenzied fans after having to sit out last year’s game at Dallas Cowboys Stadium with an ankle injury. A three-time MVP of the All-Star game, he is one shy of the record held by Bob Pettit.

Wade won last year, and James earned the award while helping the East win two of the previous four contests. They could be even better together on the All-Star stage after a half-season as teammates in Miami—and would be OK with sharing the celebration with the Celtics.

“Every All-Star that I’ve been to, guys always put the season aside and focus on that weekend,” Wade said. “Being an All-Star, when you’re there, it’s special. It’s special to look around in that locker room and say, ‘Man, I’m blessed to be one of the best players that this game has to offer.’ It’s just a special time.”

As usual, there’s business along with the festivities. Representatives from the owners and players met Friday to discuss a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires June 30. Though there wasn’t much progress, there also wasn’t the acrimony of a year ago, when the players shot down the owners’ original proposal for a new deal at All-Star weekend.

And perhaps Denver will move closer to finding a deal for Anthony, who has refused to sign the contract extension they offered him last summer, forcing them to consider trading their leading scorer before Thursday’s deadline to avoid losing him for nothing when he becomes a free agent in July.

The events Saturday include the 3-point contest, where Pierce and Allen could go head-to-head. Pierce is the defending champion, Allen won a decade ago and will be back on the floor where he set an NBA finals record last year by making eight 3-pointers in Game 2.

They’ve exchanged some playful trash talk, but the feud with the Heat that has to be set aside the next night is real.

“I don’t think you truly relax and say, ‘Hey, we’re best buddies,’ because we’re in the All-Star game together,” Allen said. “There’s an honest camaraderie amongst all of the players, but there’s a hatred that exists.”

McHale predicts some players will get caught up trying to dazzle what’s sure to be the usual celebrity-filled crowd Sunday night, especially if the game becomes one-sided. But if it’s tight, he and Popovich agree that both teams will be focused on trying to win it.

“I think these guys are pretty happy to be doing what they’re doing, but if the game is close and it’s down the stretch, I think they’ll go after each other and play to win, I really do,” Popovich said. “They’re all competitors, that’s what they do.”

AP Sports Writers Jimmy Golen and Howard Ulman in Boston, and Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.

By BRIAN MAHONEY, AP Basketball Writer

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3rd day of mediated NFL labor talks done

WASHINGTON (AP)—Mediated negotiations toward a new NFL labor deal have broken up for the day after about eight hours of talks.

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith didn’t stop for questions as he left the Washington office of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a U.S. government agency, shortly after 6 p.m. He and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell both arrived at about 10 a.m.

Sunday is the third consecutive day of face-to-face communication after months of slow and sometimes contentious bargaining.

Because mediator George Cohen asked both sides not to comment publicly on these negotiations, it’s not clear what, if any, progress is being made.

The NFL’s labor deal expires at the end of the day March 3.

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NASCAR moves Daytona 500 back a week in 2012

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP)—The Daytona 500 is on the move.

NASCAR and track officials announced Sunday that the Great American Race will be a week later in 2012, allowing the sport to shorten its season and avoid any potential conflicts with the NFL’s Super Bowl.

NASCAR’s 2012 season opener will be Sunday, Feb. 26.

The new date allows NASCAR to eliminate a traditional off week following the first three races of the season. It also gets NASCAR ahead of any potential changes to the NFL schedule, including an 18-game schedule or NFL labor strife that might force the Super Bowl in Indianapolis to be delayed a week.

Daytona 500

“We’re not going to deny the fact that part of this also is in dealing with the NFL,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s vice president of racing operations. “Who knows where they’ll go with an 18-game schedule. But we want to get ahead of that.

“Either way, we think it’s the right thing to do for our season to kick off. The Super Bowl’s certainly a big event, but so’s the Daytona 500. To give fans an opportunity to go to both of those we think is the right move, it’s a win-win for everybody.”

The Super Bowl is scheduled for Feb. 5. But Colts owner Jim Irsay and host committee officials have said the NFL asked city officials to keep blocks of hotel rooms and city venues open for that weekend and the next.

The current collective bargaining agreement runs out at the end of the day March 3. The players believe that team owners are preparing to lock them out as soon as the following day, which could threaten the 2011 season. The NFL has not lost games to a work stoppage since 1987.

Nonetheless, NASCAR officials are anticipating changes to the NFL’s schedule. Whether it’s an 18-game schedule and/or an extra bye week thrown in, they certainly don’t want Speedweeks trying to compete with America’s biggest sporting event, the Super Bowl.

They even declined to say that the date for the next Daytona 500—the fourth Sunday in February—would remain the same in future years.

They also stopped short of announcing other races during 2012 Speedweeks, including the exhibition Budweiser Shootout. That could mean NASCAR officials are considering condensing Speedweeks from a two-weekend event spanning 11 days to a weeklong extravaganza.

“I’m not prepared to ask for that,” Daytona International Speedway president Joey Chitwood III said. “I like having the Shootout, I like having the ARCA event and I like having that weekend. It’s a good weekend for our fans.”

NASCAR officials don’t feel the same about the off weekend early in the season. Drivers and owners have complained that the 36-race season is too long already, insisting there’s little need for a bye week in March.

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that hurts our momentum throughout the season,” O’Donnell said. “So by being able to move the date back a week, we close up that off week, NASCAR’s able to keep the momentum throughout the season, which we think is great.”

By MARK LONG, AP Sports Writer

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Young tells Rangers he won’t be a distraction

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP)—Michael Young(notes) had a message for his teammates before the AL champion Texas Rangers held their first full-squad workout Sunday and he took grounders at second base for the first time in several years.

“He said he wasn’t going to be a distraction. That was it,” manager Ron Washington said, relaying what Young said during a scheduled team meeting before the workout.

“I think that was what was talked about more than getting ready for the season and I thought it was unnecessary,” Young said. “The guys know me well so I wanted to say a couple of things about it and move on.”

Michael Young

Young had requested a trade last month, but with no deal done reported to camp on time Saturday and said he was focused on getting ready for the season. He said the offseason drama wouldn’t affect his preparations for the season and a new role with the team.

“First and foremost I’m a baseball player. There’s nothing to block out,” he said. “For it to become public is regretful but I’ve got no regrets. Baseball is my life sport. It’s my entire life.”

The longest-tenured Ranger going into his 11th season, Young has a different role for the third time in eight springs. He is expected to be the team’s primary designated hitter and utility infielder after the offseason acquisition of Adrian Beltre(notes) supplanted Young at third base, the position he played the last two seasons.

Rain altered some of the planned schedule on the first full day, but pitchers were able to throw and fielders got in some drills before taking batting practice. Young worked at second base, the position he played when he became a starter for the Rangers in 2001.

“It feels like home for me on defense,” Young said. “I hadn’t played there in years, played there in the World Baseball Classic and it was like I never left.”

Young moved to shortstop before the 2004 season after Alex Rodriguez(notes) was traded, then was switched to third base two years ago when the Rangers decided to promote Elvis Andrus(notes) from the minors.

Washington also plans for Young, the team’s career hits leader and a six-time All-Star (five times at shortstop, once at third), to get some work at first base this spring even though most of his at-bats will come as the designated hitter. Young has never played first base and doesn’t even have his own first baseman’s mitt yet.

“I never played third base in my life either. You learn by doing,” Young said. “I’m sure there are a lot of challenges out at first base I’m unaware of. I think it’s more than just the ground balls and the throws there to pick up.”

Though he took no grounders at first Sunday, he talked to assistant coach Dave Anderson about footwork at the bag.

Chris Davis(notes), who has played 192 games at first base and 44 at third base over the past three seasons, was working at third base.

In Washington’s message to the team before the first full-squad workout, the manager talked about staying healthy, especially the first few days of camp while getting back into the swing of things. He also briefly talked about last season.

“I brought up that we’re the defending American League champions. We have some guys who weren’t here before and I wanted them to know how we do things,” Washington said. “If we take care of things every day between now and April, if we take care of that and take it serious, the game will work out for itself.

“Baseball is baseball. There’s no reinventing the wheel,” he said. “You go out there and react to what the game gives you.”

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Wozniacki beats Kuznetsova to win Dubai final

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)—Caroline Wozniacki earned her first singles title of 2011, beating an error-prone Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-1, 6-3 in the Dubai Championships final Sunday.

The Dane, who will retake the No. 1 ranking from Kim Clijsters on Monday, was never seriously threatened by the 23rd-ranked Kuznetsova. The Russian still moves up to 11th in the rankings.

Caroline Wozniacki

Wozniacki, who didn’t drop a set during the week on her way to winning her 13th career title, showed off a more aggressive style that included repeated forays to the net in the first set that helped her race to a 2-0 lead. She closed out the set by winning the final four games as Kuznetsova was hurt by missed volleys and erratic shots sent long and wide.

“I definitely went for my shots,” Wozniacki said on court after her victory. “It’s paying off now. I’m definitely playing better than I have been before.”

Wozniacki again took the initiative in the second set, going up 3-1.

“I felt really good out there today,” Wozniacki said. “I felt like I was hitting the ball well, clean, and I could really stay aggressive today. I knew I had to because if Svetlana is allowed to stay and dictate, she’s just too strong.”

Kuznetsova, who came back from a set down to beat French Open champion Francesca Schiavone and Tsvetana Pronkova on her way to the final, conceded she didn’t have her best game Sunday.

“I just didn’t play well. I did too many unforced errors,” Kuznetsova said. “She played a basic game and didn’t have to do much. I was just making so many unforced errors.”

Kuznetsova said it was difficult to come back against Wozniacki, who is considered one of the best defensive players on the tour.

“I think I force too much. This is because she defends well I force too much,” Kuznetsova said. “I mean, for me, it’s very frustrating because I don’t play my good game. If I would play my good game and I lose, OK. You know, it’s like she played better than me. She does well. She plays a stable game and she wins. But I cannot tell you that she overpowered me or she overran me.”

Wozniacki, who lost in the Australian Open semifinals to China’s Li Na, will stay at No. 1 at least through March 20.

“I like winning, so of course it’s important. It’s important for me to win,” she said. “I hate to lose. For me to stand here as the winner of the tournament, it’s a great feeling. I have the confidence. I know I’m playing well. The hard training is paying off. So I’m really pleased.”

By MICHAEL CASEY, AP Sports Writer

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No. 14 Florida beats LSU 68-61

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)—Florida has put itself in position to challenge for a Southeastern Conference championship.

The 14th-ranked Gators, playing without injured starting forward Chandler Parsons, survived a tricky test on Sunday, beating LSU 68-61 for their fifth consecutive victory that moved them into a tie with Alabama for the overall SEC lead.

However, the final two weeks of the regular season will not be easy for Florida (21-5, 10-2). The Gators’ remaining opponents are Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama and Vanderbilt—four potential NCAA tournament teams.

Florida guard Scottie Wilbekin

Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton each scored 17 points and for Florida. Walker made three 3-pointers and all four of his free throw attempts. Boynton was 5 of 12 from the field and made six of his seven foul shots.

“We had a great first half,” Boynton said. “We played great going inside-out. We lost that in the second half and LSU hit shots in the second half.”

Center Vernon Macklin set the tone for the Gators in the first half when they built a 15-point lead. He was 6 of 9 from the field and scored 12 points in the first half and finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.

“I felt like it was going to be important to go inside and try to establish Vernon,” said Florida coach Billy Donovan, who didn’t have Parsons because of a thigh bruise. “We got him some touches and they elected not to double him. They played him head-up in the post. Vernon established a low base early where he was not getting pushed off the post.”

Ralston Turner scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half for the Tigers (10-17, 2-10), who have lost 10 straight.

“It’s starting to be a habit,” LSU coach Trent Johnson said of the losing streak. “Florida’s pretty good. In the first half, it was as much as what they were doing as to what we didn’t do. We showed very, very good competitiveness and courage in the second half. That’s probably as good as we can play at this time.”

Two scoring spurts enabled Florida to take a 15-point halftime lead. Ahead 9-8 lead, the Gators ran off 10 consecutive points with all but two coming from reserves Patric Young and Erik Murphy. The other points came on a field goal by Boynton.

LSU pulled within 21-16 after a 3-pointer by Aaron Dotson. Florida then outscored the Tigers 11-3 over a 5-minute span. Boynton connected on two shots, one a 3-pointer, and Macklin made two field goals.

A basket by Walker completed the outburst and gave the Gators a 32-19 lead with 5:47 remaining in the first half. Macklin made two shots in the final 5 minutes as Florida took a 40-25 lead.

“We just wanted to crash the boards pretty hard,” Macklin said. “We tried to get to the rim stronger than LSU. We just have to keep playing and practicing hard. If we let our practice carry over to our games, we’ll be fine from here on out.”

LSU reduced its deficit to 42-34 as Turner knocked down a 3-pointer and made two of three free throws after being fouled on another 3-point attempt.

The Gators stopped the Tigers’ run with six straight points. Walker connected on a 3-pointer, Macklin made one free throw and Boynton added two more. LSU made one last run at Florida inside the 9-minute mark.

A three-point play by Macklin put the Gators in front 58-46 with 9:01 remaining. The Tigers held Florida scoreless for almost 6 minutes. Matt Derenbecker hit a 3-pointer and Garrett Green made one of two free throws. A jumper by Turner left LSU behind 58-52.

Florida’s scoring drought ended when Boynton made a layup after a steal by Macklin. The Tigers got within 60-54 on a basket by Daron Populist, but the Gators made six consecutive free throws—four by Walker—in the last 2 minutes.

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Tomko agrees to minor league deal with Rangers

Texas Rangers.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP)—Right-hander Brett Tomko(notes) has agreed to a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers.

Tomko is trying to come back from a nerve problem in his right arm that ended his 2009 season. His last major league game was a five-hit shutout victory for Oakland at Texas on Sept. 14, 2009.

The Rangers said Saturday the 37-year-old Tomko is expected to be ready to pitch by May.

Tomko pitched in Oakland’s minor league system last season, going 2-3 with a 7.18 ERA in 14 starts.

He is 100-102 with a 4.65 ERA in 398 career major league games for nine teams.

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Anderson makes 47 saves in Sens debut, beats Leafs

TORONTO (AP)—Craig Anderson(notes) made a quick impression on his new team.

The goalie stopped 47 shots in regulation and overtime in his first game as a member of the Ottawa Senators and was perfect in the shootout during a 1-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

It capped a tumultuous 36-hour period that saw Anderson acquired in a trade Friday from Colorado for Brian Elliott(notes). He barely had time to introduce himself to his new teammates before taking the ice at Air Canada Centre.

“The emotions are huge, they’re running (high),” Anderson said after registering his first shutout in nearly a year. “I leave a team where I battled for two years … it’s tough to do that. But there’s 20 new guys in here that are great guys, that I’m ready to learn with and get to know and grow with.

Toronto Maple' Leafs

What it’s about here is growing together as a team and finding a way to make 20 new friends here like I did in Colorado.”

He was a popular man after single-handedly getting Ottawa just its second win in 15 games. Anderson’s nicest stop came in overtime when he got a pad on Phil Kessel’s(notes) chance that had the Leafs sniper burying his head in frustration on the bench.

Ottawa’s Jason Spezza(notes) scored the only goal in the shootout as the team earned its first victory after regulation this season. All it took was a new face.

“He was in the zone all night,” Spezza said of Anderson. “He just looked solid and we’re happy to have him.”

The next several weeks should serve as a major opportunity for the 29-year-old goaltender. After struggling to live up to a sensational 2009-10 season in Colorado, Anderson has been given a new life with unrestricted free agency on the horizon.

Not only will he get a chance to audition for the Senators, he can also showcase his talents for other teams heading into a summer that will also see the likes of Ilya Bryzgalov(notes), Tomas Vokoun(notes) and J.S. Giguere potentially become available July 1.

“In this game, you’re always auditioning for a job,” Anderson said. “You’re only as good as your next game. Tonight I’m going to enjoy this and tomorrow maybe enjoy a little bit more on a day off, but Monday I’ll come back to work and start focusing for the next one.

“For me, you’re always playing for a contract, you’re always playing for a job.”

The night was a missed opportunity for a Maple Leafs team that continues to hold out faint hope of getting into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. With Carolina and Atlanta both losing Saturday, Toronto failed to gain much ground on two rivals and now sits seven points back of the eighth-place Hurricanes.

“It’s not the way I wanted it to end,” said Leafs goalie James Reimer(notes), who earned his second shutout of the season.

It was a pretty tame meeting between the once-heated rivals—save for a spirited fight between Jay Rosehill(notes) and Francis Lessard(notes) and a big hit by Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf(notes) on Nick Foligno(notes)—who have both seen experienced players shipped out of town in trades over the last week.

There were a combined 15 players between the teams who have spent some time in the American Hockey League this season.

“We’ve got nothing to lose out there, we’re just going out and playing,” Senators forward Chris Neil(notes) said. “That’s how we’ve got to approach it. We’ve got a lot of young guys in the lineup now with the trades that have happened. We’re working hard, that’s all we can ask.”

Anderson was easily the best player on the ice.

He stopped 30 shots over the first two periods and was tested repeatedly in the third—getting a glove on a dangerous Luke Schenn(notes) chance with less than 10 minutes to play in regulation.

“It’s great for him,” Senators coach Cory Clouston said. “I’m excited for him. The guys really like the way he played obviously.”

Added Leafs coach Ron Wilson: “What I feared: Craig Anderson being excited with a change of scenery. He had a great night in a game we totally dominated.”

The Leafs went 0 for 6 with a man advantage one night after trading power-play quarterback Tomas Kaberle(notes) to Boston.

“I wanted to come in and make good first impression and show the guys I’m willing to work and battle for them,” Anderson said. “When they see me battling and do everything I can possibly can, it picks their game up a little bit and they’re willing to do a little bit extra.”

Notes: Toronto’s record fell to 25-27-7 while the Senators improved to 19-31-9 … Ottawa’s Peter Regin(notes) appeared to be injured after taking a hit from Joey Crabb(notes) in the third period. … Six players that appeared in the Jan. 1 meeting between the teams are now playing elsewhere—Kaberle (Boston), Francois Beauchemin(notes) (Anaheim), Kris Versteeg(notes) (Philadelphia), Mike Fisher(notes) (Nashville), Chris Kelly(notes) (Boston) and Elliott (Colorado). … Toronto forward Colby Armstrong(notes) missed his fourth straight game with blurred vision. … Schenn wore an ‘A’ for the Leafs … Announced attendance was 19,460.

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Hines’ 3-pointer banks in, Utah wins 62-60

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)—Chris Hines banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer Saturday to lift Utah to a 62-60 victory over New Mexico.

New Mexico’s Phillip McDonald missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free-throw opportunity with 17.3 seconds left, and Utah pushed it up court. The Utes (12-15, 5-8 Mountain West) lost control of the ball at the top of the key with the final seconds ticking off before Hines gained control and got off an off-balance shot that hit the glass and dropped through.

Drew Gordon had 17 points and a Mountain West Conference record 23 rebounds for the Lobos (17-10, 5-7). Dairese Gary added 21 points for New Mexico.

Hines had 15 points—all on 3-pointers—helping Utah overcome a 46-33 second-half deficit. The Utes also got 15 points from Josh Watkins and 12 from Shawn Glover.

Phillip McDonald

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Anthony meets with Nets owner

LOS ANGELES – Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony(notes) met with New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and minority partner Jay-Z for less than an hour Saturday as they tried to sell him on accepting a three-year, $65 million contract extension, a source confirmed to Yahoo! Sports.

“The Nets didn’t come away very confident,” a source briefed on the meeting told Yahoo! Sports.

Nevertheless, the Nets’ best hope remains that Denver refuses to do a deal with New York, gets to the trade deadline on Thursday and simply tells Anthony: If you want your $65 million extension, you can only get it with the Nets. If not, we will keep you and let you go to free agency.

Denver Nuggets

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Montoya makes 35 saves in Isles’ 3-0 win vs. Kings

After all, it’s not often a player scores two goals against his brother-in-law in the NHL. Talk about family bragging rights.

Moulson got the better of Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick(notes), and Al Montoya(notes) made 35 saves in his first NHL start in nearly two years in the New York Islanders’ 3-0 victory Saturday night.

“It was lucky to get a couple on him,” Moulson said. “We had a dinner (Friday). He wouldn’t let me cook. He thought I was going to put something in there.”

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Nominees And Winners grammy 2011

Nominees And Winners grammy 2011

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Herb Alpert

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall

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