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TOP STORY
OLY--SOCHI-PARALYMPICS
SOCHI, Russia — With a solitary Ukrainian athlete taking part in the opening ceremony, Russian President Vladimir Putin opens the Winter Paralympics in Sochi against the backdrop of his country's military action in Crimea. SENT: 800 words.
COMMENTARY
BKC--PAUL NEWBERRY-030714
The incident was shocking, even given all the bad behavior that's happened this season at college basketball arenas: a fan charging onto the court to confront Hawaii coach Gib Arnold right in the middle of a game. It's clear ill-tempered fans are getting bolder about what they believe they can say and do in the heat of the moment. The NCAA and its member schools need to take a serious look at improving security and toning down this behavior before something really bad happens. By National Writer Paul Newberry. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 6 p.m.
NEW/DEVELOPING
GLF--CADILLAC CHAMPIONSHIP
DORAL, Fla. — Patrick Reed winds up with the lead, and everyone else is hanging on in the whipping wind at the new Blue Monster during the second round of the Cadillac Championship. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 700 words, photos. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 7 p.m.
With:
— DORAL, Fla. — GLF--Cadillac-Big Three. By Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 550 words, photos by 7 p.m.
AF--PISTORIUS-TRIAL
PRETORIA, South Africa — Oscar Pistorius told a concerned security guard on the phone that everything was "fine" after neighbors reported gunshots coming from the athlete's house the night he shot dead his girlfriend, according to testimony in the South African murder trial. By Gerald Imray and Christopher Torchia. SENT: 900 words, photos.
CAR--NASCAR-LAS VEGAS
LAS VEGAS — Defending champion Matt Kenseth and overall leader Dale Earnhardt Jr. head into the revamped qualifying on the 1.5-mile track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for NASCAR's third race of the season. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 8:30 p.m.
With:
— LAS VEGAS — CAR--NASCAR-Kwasniewski. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 8 p.m.
SOC--MLS PREVIEW
The new advertising campaign for Major League Soccer proclaims: "For Club And Country." Because nothing stirs passionate soccer fans — and even the sport's casual onlookers — quite like the World Cup, the premier U.S. league is hoping to draw on the excitement surrounding the big event this summer. By Anne M. Peterson. SENT: 850 words.
BKN--PACERS-ROCKETS
HOUSTON — Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets look to extend their winning streak to four games when they host the Eastern Conference-leading Indiana Pacers, losers of two in a row. By Kristie Rieken. UPCOMING: 750 words. Game starts 9:30 p.m.
HKN--RANGERS-HURRICANES
RALEIGH, N.C. — Martin St. Louis makes his debut with the New York Rangers when they visit Carolina in the Hurricanes' first home game after the Olympic break. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 7 p.m.
BOX--ALVAREZ-ANGULO
LAS VEGAS — Canelo Alvarez understands the stakes, and knows what a second loss could mean. The former champion takes on slugger Alfredo Angulo in a 154-pound fight that is his first since losing in boxing's richest fight ever to Floyd Mayweather Jr. By Boxing Writer Tim Dahlberg.
SOC--ALGARVE CUP
The U.S. women's soccer team loses 1-0 to Sweden at the Algarve Cup, ending its 43-game unbeaten run. SENT: 400 words.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
BKC--T25-DUKE-PARKER
DURHAM, N.C. — This could be it for Jabari Parker at Duke. His final home game could come Saturday night against rival North Carolina — if the freshman phenom jumps to the NBA, as most outsiders always assumed he would do. In an interview with The Associated Press, Parker says he hasn't made up his mind. By Joedy McCreary. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 5 p.m.
BKC--T25-MVC-EVANSVILLE-WICHITA ST
ST. LOUIS — Second-ranked Wichita State is 31-0 entering the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. The Shockers face ninth-seeded Evansville (14-18). By R.B. Fallstrom. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game started 1 p.m.
BKC--HARVARD-YALE
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Harvard looks to become the first team this season to clinch an NCAA tournament berth. The Crimson would win the Ivy League with a victory over Yale. By Pat Eaton-Robb. UPCOMING: 650 words. Game starts 7:30 p.m.
BKC--S CAROLINA-MARTIN
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina coach Frank Martin addresses the media one day after he was suspended one game by athletic director Ray Tanner for harsh language aimed at point guard Duane Notice in a loss to Florida. By Pete Iacobelli. UPCOMING: 600 words by 4 p.m.
BKW--T25-ACC-NORTH CAROLINA-MARYLAND
GREENSBORO, N.C. — No. 8 Maryland and No. 13 North Carolina have an early meeting for highly ranked teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. The schools face each other in the quarterfinals. By Aaron Beard. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 8:30 p.m.
Also:
— GAINESVILLE, Fla. — BKC--T25-Florida-Senior Day. By Mark Long. UPCOMING: 700 words by 5 p.m.
— SAN DIEGO — BKC--T25-San Diego St-Fisher. By Bernie Wilson. UPCOMING: 600 words by 5 p.m.
— LOUISVILLE, Ky. — BKC--T25-Louisville's Successful Seniors. By Gary B. Graves. UPCOMING. 700 words, photos by 4 p.m.
— MILWAUKEE — BKC--Desperate Marquette. By Genaro C. Armas. SENT: 450 words, photos.
— KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — BKC--Tennessee-Streaking Vols. By Steve Megargee. UPCOMING: 600 words, with photos, by 6 p.m.
— FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — BKC--Arkansas-Bell's Turnaround. By Kurt Voigt. UPCOMING: 550 words by 6 p.m.
FEATURES
HKN--AVALANCHE-MAGNIFICENT MACKINNON
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — With his assist on the game-winner against Detroit on Thursday, Colorado rookie Nathan MacKinnon now has a point in 13 straight games, breaking Wayne Gretzky's mark for an 18-year-old NHL player. Yep, MacKinnon is everything the Avs envisioned he would be. MacKinnon, a virtual lock for the rookie of the year award, has helped put the Avs in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010. By Pat Graham. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 6 p.m.
OTHER NEWS
— CAR--IndyCar-Indy 500 Qualifying. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 600 words, photo.
— LOS ANGELES — FBN--Sharper-Rape Charges. By Anthony McCartney. SENT: 400 words.
CAPSULES
— BKN--NBA Capsules
— HKN--NHL Capsules
— BKW--Top 25 Capsules
Friday's Time Schedule
TOP 25 BASKETBALL
Men
No. 2 Wichita State vs. Evansville at the Scottrade Center, St. Louis, 1:05 p.m.
Women
No. 2 Notre Dame vs. Florida State at Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum, 2 p.m.
No. 4 Stanford vs. Colorado at KeyArena, Seattle, 3 p.m.
No. 5 South Carolina vs. Georgia at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Ga., Noon
No. 6 Tennessee vs. LSU at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Ga., 6 p.m.
No. 8 Maryland vs. No. 13 North Carolina at Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum, 8:30 p.m.
No. 10 Duke vs. Georgia Tech at Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum, 6 p.m.
No. 11 Penn State vs. Ohio State at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Noon
No. 12 Kentucky vs. Florida at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Ga., 2:30 p.m.
No. 14 N.C. State vs. Syracuse at Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum, 11 a.m.
No. 15 Texas A&M vs. Auburn at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Ga., 8:30 p.m.
No. 16 Nebraska vs. Minnesota at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, 8:55 p.m.
No. 17 Purdue vs. No. 23 Iowa at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, 2:25 p.m.
No. 19 Michigan State vs. Michigan at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, 6:30 p.m.
No. 20 California vs. Washington State at KeyArena, Seattle, 9 p.m.
No. 21 Gonzaga vs. San Francisco at Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, 9 p.m.
NBA
Memphis at Chicago, 7 p.m.
Sacramento at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Brooklyn at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Utah at New York, 7:30 p.m.
Detroit at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
Portland at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
L.A. Lakers at Denver, 9 p.m.
Indiana at Houston, 9:30 p.m.
Atlanta at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
NHL
N.Y. Rangers at Carolina, 7 p.m.
New Jersey at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Buffalo at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
N.Y. Islanders at Calgary, 9 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Anaheim, 10 p.m.
EXHIBITION BASEBALL
Philadelphia vs. Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Minnesota vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Atlanta vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Miami vs. St. Louis (ss) at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Houston vs. Washington at Viera, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay vs. Toronto at Dunedin, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
St. Louis (ss) vs. N.Y. Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla., 1:10 p.m.
Chicago White Sox vs. Cincinnati (ss) at Goodyear, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
Chicago Cubs (ss) vs. L.A. Angels (ss) at Tempe, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
Texas vs. L.A. Dodgers at Glendale, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
San Francisco vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
Cincinnati (ss) vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
Arizona vs. Oakland at Phoenix, 3:05 p.m.
San Diego vs. Milwaukee at Phoenix, 3:05 p.m.
Cleveland vs. Chicago Cubs (ss) at Mesa, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.
L.A. Angels (ss) vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz., 3:10 p.m.
Detroit vs. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa, Fla., 7:05 p.m.
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