International Basketball League

The International Basketball League might place a franchise at the Arrowhead Pond this fall, the second minor league to express interest in launching a professional basketball team at the arena. ABA 2000, a proposed revival of the American Basketball Assn., also wants one of its franchises at the Pond. Mike O'Donnell, assistant general manager of the Pond, said he has talked with representatives of both leagues for weeks but said no lease agreement has been reached.

Teams of the cash-strapped Continental Basketball Assn. scrambled Friday to consider their options for survival, while some called it quits. The league suspended play Thursday, less than a week after eight of the 10 teams failed to meet player payrolls. "In my opinion, the CBA as a league is gone," said Bill Ilett, former majority owner of the Idaho Stampede. The Sioux Falls (S.D.) Skyforce and the Gary (Ind.

The Continental Basketball Assn. temporarily suspended play Thursday, with league owner Isiah Thomas attempting to sell the teams to local groups. "After a long and exhaustive process, the trustee for the Isiah Thomas blind trust has determined it is in the best interest of all parties concerned to return all CBA teams back to local ownership," league officials said in a statement.

The Continental Basketball Assn. temporarily suspended play Thursday, with league owner Isiah Thomas attempting to sell the teams to local groups. "After a long and exhaustive process, the trustee for the Isiah Thomas blind trust has determined it is in the best interest of all parties concerned to return all CBA teams back to local ownership," league officials said in a statement.

The International Basketball League (IBL), a new professional men's basketball organization, intends to begin play next year in San Diego and seven other cities. Although the league has no players yet, it has an educational program in place. "The IBL values education and will implement a program which will further develop players' skills on and off the court," said Richard Lapchick, who created the program.

Teams of the cash-strapped Continental Basketball Assn. scrambled Friday to consider their options for survival, while some called it quits. The league suspended play Thursday, less than a week after eight of the 10 teams failed to meet player payrolls. "In my opinion, the CBA as a league is gone," said Bill Ilett, former majority owner of the Idaho Stampede. The Sioux Falls (S.D.) Skyforce and the Gary (Ind.

Running late for a photo shoot on the Strip, Isaac Burton held his girlfriend Katy's hand as they fought their way through the crush of people inside the Stardust Hotel and Casino. A sickening sense of deja vu hit Burton deep in his gut when the crowd thinned a bit and he saw he had to go through the casino's sports book to exit the building.

Miscellany Leon Smith, a former first-round NBA draft pick who never played for the Dallas Mavericks, has been released by the St. Louis Swarm of the International Basketball League. Smith, a 6-foot-10 forward-center, averaged seven points and nearly eight rebounds in three games with the Swarm.

Picabo Street, the best woman downhiller in the world the last two seasons, underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in her left knee and will be off skis for six months. . . . Norwegians finished 1-2-3-4 in Nordic combined World Cup skiing competition at Steamboat Springs, Colo. . . . Olympians Michael Johnson and Amy Van Dyken, and golfer Tiger Woods are on the list of 42 nominees announced for the 67th Sullivan Award, given annually to the top amateur athlete in the United States.

Former Clipper Lamond Murray has sold his customized Manhattan Beach house for $2,525,000. The multistory, Mediterranean-style house, built in 2005, has extra-tall doors, an elevator, two master bedrooms with fireplaces and a bonus/game room with a fireplace. There are five bedrooms and 4 1/2 bathrooms in 4,062 square feet. Murray, 36, was the seventh overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, going to the Los Angeles Clippers. He moved on to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey Nets.

The International Basketball League might place a franchise at the Arrowhead Pond this fall, the second minor league to express interest in launching a professional basketball team at the arena. ABA 2000, a proposed revival of the American Basketball Assn., also wants one of its franchises at the Pond. Mike O'Donnell, assistant general manager of the Pond, said he has talked with representatives of both leagues for weeks but said no lease agreement has been reached.

Running late for a photo shoot on the Strip, Isaac Burton held his girlfriend Katy's hand as they fought their way through the crush of people inside the Stardust Hotel and Casino. A sickening sense of deja vu hit Burton deep in his gut when the crowd thinned a bit and he saw he had to go through the casino's sports book to exit the building.

The International Basketball League (IBL), a new professional men's basketball organization, intends to begin play next year in San Diego and seven other cities. Although the league has no players yet, it has an educational program in place. "The IBL values education and will implement a program which will further develop players' skills on and off the court," said Richard Lapchick, who created the program.

Corliss Williamson finally joined the Toronto Raptors with NBA approval of a trade that sends Doug Christie to the Sacramento Kings. The deal was made Aug. 11, but wasn't finalized until the NBA considered the salary-cap ramifications involving Williamson's contract. Williamson, 26, entering the final season of a two-year, $7.5-million contract, averaged 10.3 points last season. Christie, 30, averaged 12.4 points, 4.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds last season.

Tremaine Fowlkes made his first NBA basket on his first shot in his first game Saturday, a third-quarter put-back of a miss by Clipper teammate Quentin Richardson. The Clippers signed Fowlkes, who had been playing for the Columbus (Ga.) Riverdragons of the National Basketball Development League, to a 10-day contract Saturday.