Estimated read time: 9-10 minutes
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TOP STORIES
BKC--FINAL FOUR-NCAA WOES
ARLINGTON, Texas — March Madness brought stronger TV ratings, a record number of overtime games and big-name schools at the Final Four. But storm clouds are on the horizon for college sports — the possible unionization of players and a lawsuit challenging the NCAA ban on paying players. By National Writer Eddie Pells. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 6 p.m.
BKC--AP AWARDS
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Associated Press announces its player and coach of the year in men's college basketball. By Dave Skretta. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. News conference at 3 p.m.
SOC--WCUP-PELE PREPARES
NEW YORK — The World Cup will soon be back in Brazil for the first time since 1950. Pele was 9 then and remembers when Uruguay denied his country the title. This time, Pele would like nothing better than for Brazil to meet Uruguay in the final. "An opportunity for revenge," he tells the AP. By Ronald Blum. SENT: 900 words, photos.
NEW/DEVELOPING
BKN--SPURS-THUNDER
OKLAHOMA CITY — The San Antonio Spurs take a 19-game winning streak into Thursday's game against Oklahoma City, which has won 6 of 7 and is second behind the Spurs in the Western Conference standings. By Cliff Brunt. UPCOMING: 780 words, with photos. Game time 7 p.m. Central.
BKC--NIT CHAMPIONSHIP
NEW YORK — The only head coach to win an NCAA and NBA championship, 73-year-old Hall of Famer Larry Brown tries to add an NIT title to his resume when he leads SMU against Richard Pitino and Minnesota at Madison Square Garden. By Mike Fitzpatrick. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts 7 p.m.
BKC--HOUSTON-SAMPSON
HOUSTON — Kelvin Sampson, who many believed would never coach in college again after repeated NCAA violations, is introduced as Houston's basketball coach. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. News conference 4 p.m.
GLF--HOUSTON OPEN
HUMBLE, Texas — Phil Mickelson begins play at the Texas Open, showing no effects of the muscle pull that forced him to withdraw from last week's Texas Open. Five of the world's top 10 players are competing. By Kurt Voigt. SENT: 130 words, photos. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 7 p.m.
GLF--LPGA TOUR
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Top-ranked Inbee Park opens her title defense in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first major tournament of the season. By John Nicholson. UPCOMING: 550 words, photos from early starters by 5 p.m.; 750 words, photos with completion of round by 10 p.m.
TEN--FAMILY CIRCLE CUP
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Venus Williams tries for a spot in the Family Circle Cup quarterfinals, two days after defending champion and younger sister Serena was eliminated in her opening match. By Pete Iacobelli. SENT: 130 words, photos. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 5 p.m.
BBN--METS-MURPHY
NEW YORK — Daniel Murphy is proud he put fatherhood ahead of baseball, and New York Mets manager Terry Collins thinks criticism his second baseman received for taking paternity leave this week was unfair. SENT: 450 words, photos.
FINAL FOUR
Men:
BKC--FINAL FOUR-FLORIDA
ARLINGTON, Texas — For all the attention Florida's four seniors are getting at the Final Four, sophomore Michael Frazier II probably is the one to watch against UConn. Frazier is one of the best 3-point shooters in the country and can change a game with just a few silky smooth strokes. By Mark Long. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 p.m.
BKC--FINAL FOUR-UCONN
ARLINGTON, Texas — Shabazz Napier is not Kemba Walker. No matter how many similarities there are, how many times the comparison is made, the latest star guard to lead Connecticut to the Final Four has created his own mold. By Basketball Writer John Marshall. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 p.m.
BKC--FINAL FOUR-WISCONSIN
ARLINGTON, Texas — Frank Kaminsky took offense: No, he is not funnier this year! "I think I'm a little more mature this year, thank you very much," the Wisconsin center said. But he is perhaps the most improved player in the Big Ten. By Genaro C. Armas. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 4 p.m. CT.
BKC--FINAL FOUR-KENTUCKY
ARLINGTON, Texas — Julius Randle giggled at the text message. Asked where it came from, he replied: "Mom." What did it say? "Congratulations on making it home." The star forward for Kentucky grew up in Dallas, and now he's trying to deliver Big Blue Nation another national title in Big D. By Dave Skretta. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 p.m.
— Also:
— BKC--Final Four-Capsules. By Basketball Writer Jim O'Connell. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 5 p.m.
Women:
BKW--FINAL FOUR-GUIDE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Undefeated teams, Hall of Fame coaches, star players — the women's Final Four has them all. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 5 p.m.
BKW--FINAL FOUR-NOTRE DAME
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw believes freshman Taya Reimer is ready for her big moment, with Natalie Achonwa out of the Final Four. She better be if the Fighting Irish are to have any hope of staying unbeaten and winning their first title since 2001. By Tom Coyne. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 6 p.m.
BKW--FINAL FOUR-UCONN BLOCKS
STORRS, Conn. — Unbeaten Connecticut set a record this season for blocked shots, a mark that not even the Brittney Griner-led Baylor team of 2011-12 could reach. Coach Geno Auriemma says much of this has to do with positioning and talent. But don't forget the referees. By Pat Eaton-Robb. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 5 p.m.
BKW--NCAA-MARYLAND
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Years from now, Alyssa Thomas will cherish and appreciate all she accomplished on a personal level during her four years at Maryland. This week, however, none of that compares to reaching the Final Four for the first time. By David Ginsburg. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos by 3 p.m.
NBA
BKN--HEAT ROTATION
MIAMI — The Heat have used 14 different players in their starting lineup this year and played about one-third of the season without Dwyane Wade. Coach Erik Spoelstra will face tough decisions when it's time to set a playoff rotation. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 3 p.m.
BKN--WEARY GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies have been fighting to make the playoffs for months, and it's starting to take a toll. After a 2-3 road trip ended with a demoralizing loss at Minnesota, Memphis must regroup for one last push in the rugged Western Conference. By Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 p.m.
— Also:
— MINNEAPOLIS — BKN--Timberwolves-Cunningham Arrested. By Basketball Writer Jon Krawczynski. SENT: 130 words, photos. UPCOMING: 300 words, photos by 5 p.m.
AUTO RACING
CAR--NASCAR-TEXAS-TIRES
FORT WORTH, Texas — NASCAR will not regulate tire pressures at Texas Motor Speedway. If drivers have tire failures during Sunday's race, officials believe they won't be able to blame Goodyear. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 800 words, photos by 5 p.m.
CAR--F1-BAHRAIN GP
SAKHIR, Bahrain — Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg say their relationship as Mercedes teammates is likely to be tested this season. Both will by vying for the Formula One title and they expect conflict at some point. By Auto Racing Writer Chris Lines. SENT: 450 words, photos.
OBITUARY
FBN--OBIT-GROSSMAN
NEW YORK — Sandy Grossman, who directed a record 10 Super Bowl broadcasts and spent more than two decades in the TV truck working with announcers Pat Summerall and John Madden for CBS and Fox, dies at 78. He also directed 18 NBA Finals and five Stanley Cup Finals. By Rachel Cohen. SENT: 350 words, photos.
FEATURES
BBN--PHILLES-CUBS OPENER
CHICAGO — The celebration of Wrigley Field's 100th anniversary begins with a visit from an old friend. Ryne Sandberg brings his Philadelphia Phillies to Chicago to face the Cubs on Friday. Sandberg spent most of his Hall of Fame career with the Cubs. By Jay Cohen. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 7 p.m.
GLF--PALMER DOCUMENTARY
ORLANDO, Fla. — Arnold Palmer watched a sneak preview of a movie that about him cry — his own life. In the most ambitious project in its 20-year history, Golf Channel has produced a three-part documentary on golf's most endearing figure that will air the night after the final round of the Masters. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos by 5 p.m.
OLY--SHRIFFIN-2018
WASHINGTON — Remember when Mikaela Shiffrin talked about dreaming of five gold medals at the 2018 Olympics? She'd like to take that back. Sort of. The U.S. ski star still thinks she's capable of a big haul in four years, but she realizes what an outlandish thing it was to say. By Howard Fendrich. SENT: 500 words, photos.
SAILOR RESCUED
SAN DIEGO — A British sailor who fell overboard during a yacht race and spent nearly two hours in the cold, rough North Pacific says he never gave up hope because he knew his crew was trained for such an emergency. "I believe I'm a very, very lucky boy," Andrew Taylor tells the AP. By Bernie Wilson. SENT: 500 words.
OTHER NEWS
— LONDON — Britain-Commonwealth Games. Opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July to feature high-rise demolition. By Jill Lawless. SENT: 350 words, photos.
— SOC--Euro Rdp. Juventus visits Lyon in first leg of Europa League quarterfinals. UPCOMING: 250 words, photos by 7 p.m.
— AINTREE, England — RAC--Aintree Festival. Silviniaco Conti and The New One win big races on the first day of the Aintree Festival. SENT: 250 words, photos.
CAPSULES
— BBO--Baseball Capsules.
— BKN--NBA Capsules.
— HKN--NHL Capsules.
Thursday's Time Schedule (EDT)
Baseball
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 12:35 p.m.
St. Louis at Cincinnati, 12:35 p.m.
Colorado at Miami, 12:40 p.m.
Kansas City at Detroit, 1:08 p.m., ppd., rain
Washington at N.Y. Mets, 1:10 p.m.
Minnesota at Chicago White Sox, 2:10 p.m.
San Francisco at Arizona, 3:40 p.m.
Boston at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.
Toronto at Tampa Bay, 7:10 p.m.
N.Y. Yankees at Houston, 8:10 p.m.
Seattle at Oakland, 10:05 p.m.
NBA
San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
Dallas at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
NHL
Columbus at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Dallas at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Boston at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Calgary at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Buffalo at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
N.Y. Rangers at Colorado, 9 p.m.
Los Angeles at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.
NIT (Championship)
SMU vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.
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