The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • Page C4

4C SATURDAY 10.07.2006 SPORTSTHE SUN HOW TO REACH US SPORTS DEPARTMENT THE DAY'S STATE, NATIONAL AND WORLD SPORTS NEWS FOR THE RECORD PACERS' JACKSON FIRES SHOTS Police say Indiana guard discharges gun in apparent self-defense MB2 Motorsports Announced that Mark Martin and Regan Smith will co-drive No. 01 Chevrolet in 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. ANGELS Declined 2007 option on J.C. Romero. ASTROS Purchased contract of Paul Estrada from Double-A Corpus Christi.

Sent Eric Mnnson and J.R. House outright to Triple-A Round Rock. BREWERS Exercised 2007 option on Francisco Cordero. Sent Chris Spurling outright to Triple-A Nashville. CUBS Named Jay Blunk director of marketing and sales.

NATIONALS Sent Roy Corcoran, OF George Lombard, IF Melvin Dorta and IF Henry Mateo outright to Triple-A New Orleans. Activated OF Alex Escobar, Micah Bowie, Shawn Hill and John Patterson from 15-day DL. WHITE SOX Sent Agustin Montero outright to Triple-A Charlotte. (V ft Stephen Jackson of the Indiana Pacers fired a gun in the air, apparently in self-defense, outside a strip club in Indianapolis early yesterday after he was slugged in the mouth and struck by a car that sent him tumbling onto the hood, police said. There were no reports of anyone hit by gunfire.

Jackson was limping but refused medical treatment at the scene, police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Mount said. Jackson conferred with a team trainer and sought treatment at a hospital. Pacers chief executive Donnie Walsh said Jackson was out of the hospital and had no serious injuries, but was banged up. Officers found a small amount of marijuana in the passenger side door of Pacers point guard Jamaal Tinsley's car, police said.

Officers could not determine the car's driver or to whom the marijuana belonged, so no arrests were made. Police were looking for the car that struck Jackson and three men believed involved. Jackson was at the Indianapolis club with teammates Tinsley Marquis Daniels and Jimmie Hunter, police said. Jackson told officers he fired his owner George Shinn said. The NFL's Saints have sold all of their tickets for the first time since they were formed in 1967, but Shinn said that cannot predict anything about the attendance expectations for the Hornets.

"I think it's wonderful what happened to the Saints. But it's not fair to put us in the same category," Shinn said after the team's fan appreciation day. Shinn said the Hornets have sold about 13,000 of the arena's 18,000 seats for the Nov. 5 home opener against Houston. Three weeks ago, no more than 7,000 seats had been sold, he said.

MAGIC Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson knocked heads during Orlando's scrimmage, sending Nelson sprawling to the court with blood pouring from his head. Both players left the court holding towels over their faces, and both needed stitches. Howard, 6 feet 11 and 268 pounds, was crouched low with the ball when Nelson, 5-10 and 190, curled around him chasing Travis Di-ener. Howard and Nelson then crashed into each other. CLIPPERS Shaun Livingston scored 19 points and Los Angeles beat BC Khimki, 98-91, in an exhibition game.

The Clippers, one of four NBA teams taking part in a European preseason tour, have been in Moscow since Oct. 1 for training camp and will also play Euroleague champion CSKA Moscow today. The Clippers are the first NBA team to play in Russia since the Atlanta Hawks in 1988. team president Larry Bird weren't immediately returned. Jackson's agent, Dan Fegan, said he had not spoken to Jackson.

The Pacers said yesterday that all involved are cooperating with police, and none of the players at the strip club would be available to the media after practice yesterday. "Since this is an ongoing review of the matters that took place Friday morning, the Pacers will have no further comment at this time," the team said in a statement. The NBA's drug policy says players who test positive for marijuana face rehabilitation, fines and suspensions, depending on whether it is a first offense. Testing is done randomly throughout the season and for reasonable cause. Jackson was suspended 30 games for his role in a brawl with Detroit Pistons fans in Auburn Hills, two seasons ago.

Last season, he repeatedly argued with officials and his coach, and was singled out by Bird for his negative attitude. HORNETS Selling out the New Orleans Arena for the Hornets' six games there this season is vital to keeping the NBA team in the city, BULLS Waived Eric Chenowith. TOWSON Named Dan Flynn director of athletic marketing, sales and promotions. 68- 69-137 69- 68-137 66- 71-137 68- 69-137 67- 70-137 68- 70-138 69- 69-138 67-71-138 67-71-138 69- 69-138 69- 69-138 67-71-138 64-74-138 67- 71-138 66- 72-138 68- 70-138 70- 69-139 69- 70-139 71- 68-139 69-70-139 68- 71-139 69- 70-139 64-75-139 69-71-140 69-71-140 68- 72-140 72- 68-140 69- 71-140 67- 73-140 68- 72-140 68- 72-140 67-73-140 67-73-140 67-73-140 66- 74-140 69- 71-140 67- 73-140 70- 70-140 66-74-140 69-71-140 68- 73-141 69- 72-141 71- 70-141 71-70-141 66- 75-141 69- 72-141 70- 71-141 69- 72-141 71- 70-141 72- 69-141 70- 71-141 70- 72-142 71- 71-142 68- 74-142 70- 72-142 69- 73-142 68- 74-142 71- 71-142 69- 73-142 67- 75-142 68- 74-142 73- 69-142 72- 70-142 69- 73-142 70- 72-142 73- 69-142 68- 74-142 73-69-142 70- 72-142 69- 73-142 68-74-142 68-74-142 EricAxley Chris Conch Charley Hoffman Greg Owen Ryan Moore JeffBrehant Davis Love III Kris Cox Joe Dnrant Jason Bohn Steve Flesch Jonathan Byrd John Rollins Chris Smith Tag Ridings Steve Lowery Olin Browne Steve Strieker Troy Matteson Bnbba Watson Dong Barron Dudley Hart Brent Geiberger Michael Allen Bob May Jeff Gove Daisnke Marayama Brett Quigley Robert Damron JeffMaggert Briny Baird Arjun Atwal Tim Clark Brian Gay Robert Gamez MarkCalcavecchia K.J. Choi Omar Uresti Mike Sposa Brian Davis D.J.

Trahan Charles Howell III Peter Lonard Billy Mayfair James Driscoll Joe Ogilvie Mark Wilson Kevin Sutherland Aaron Baddeley Vaughn Taylor Nathan Green Hunter Mahan NickO'Hern Bernhard Langer Jerry Smith Will MacKenzie Steve Jones Ted Purdy Rich Beem John Engler, Jr. Greg Kraft Marco Dawson John Huston Richard S. Johnson J.R Hayes Lucas Glover David Branshaw Paul Goydos Ryuji Imada D.A. Points Daniel Chopra HenrikBjornstad NFL Suspended Bengals WR Chris Henry two games and fined him $20,000 for violating conduct and substance abuse Stephen Jackson was hit by a car and punched in the mouth outside a strip club. Police say he fired a gun into the air.

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA 9mm pistol five times after he was hit in the mouth and tossed on the hood of the car, Mount said. Walsh said the team was trying to determine exactly what happened. Coach Rick Carlisle declined to comment yesterday, and calls by the Associated Press to OILERS Signed LW Ethan Morean to four-year contract extension. PREDATORS Signed Cal O'Reilly and Kelsey Wilson to three-year contracts. James Madison 2, Towson 1 Devils blank Hurricanes, 4-0 Defending Stanley Cup champs fall to 0-2; Canucks top Blue Jackets DIGEST Maryland men rally to tie UNC in soccer MEN Maryland 1, North Carolina 1 Mount St.

Mary's 2, Robert Morris 2 WOMEN Mount St. Mary's 3, Central Conn. St 2, OT Towson def. William Mary, 30-28, 28-30, 30-21, 26-30, 15-8 UMBC def. Maine, 30-15, 27-30, 30-26, 30-23 TODAY'S GAMES New England at D.C.

United, 7:30 p.m. CD Chivas USA at Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. Columbus at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. Los Angeles at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Houston at Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m.

New York at Colorado, 9 p.m. EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC OT Pts GF GA Zach Parise scored twice and Brian Gionta had three assists to lead the New Jersey Devils past the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-0, last night, sending the Stanley Cup champions to a second straight home loss to open the season. Jamie Langenbrunner and Patrik Elias also scored for the Devils, who opened their season with an easy win in the arena where their playoff run ended last season. Martin Brodeur made 29 saves for his 8lst career shutout and 447th victory, moving him into a tie for third place all-time with Terry Sawchuk. Cam Ward finished with 26 saves for the Hurricanes, who were outplayed in the first period and never recovered.

Last season, Carolina beat the Devils in a five-game series in the Eastern Conference semifinals, ending it with a 4-1 win at the RBC Center on May 14. But the Devils looked sharp in their return last night, getting Parise's first goal 26 seconds in and never looking back. CANUCKS 3, BLUE JACKETS 2 Daniel Sedin tied it in the closing minutes of regulation, then scored 31 seconds into overtime to give Vancouver a victory over host Columbus. Brendan Morrison also had a goal for the Canucks. Mark Hartigan had a goal and an assist and David Vyborny added a goal for the Blue Jackets.

PANTHERS 8, BRUINS 3 Todd Bertuzzi had a goal and three assists, and Joe Nieuwendyk had two goals and an assist as the Panthers opened the season with a win over visiting Boston. Alex Auld stopped 34 shots for Florida. Mike Van Ryn, Juraj Kolnik, Nathan Horton, Chris Gratton and Olli Jokinen also scored for the Panthers. The Bruins cut the deficit to 3-2 early in the second period on Murray's goal, but the Panthers scored the next four. SABRES 5, CANADIENS 4 Maxim Afinogenov forced overtime with 15 seconds left in regulation and then scored in a shootout, rallying host Buffalo over Montreal.

Sabre Thomas Vanek had two assists and also scored in the shootout, while the Canadiens failed on their two shootout attempts. The Sabres won their home opener, overcoming three two-goal deficits. Off the ice REFEREE INJURY Rob Martell will miss at least Stephen King scored the tying goal on a shot from 18 yards out 22:19 into the second half as the second-ranked University of Maryland men's soccer team earned a l-l tie against North Carolina, its Atlantic Coast Conference rival, last night in Chapel Hill. King, a junior midfielder from Medfield, N.J., took a cross from sophomore Graham Zusi and drilled a shot past Tar Heels keeper Justin Hughes for his fifth goal of the season. Chris Seitz came up big in net for Maryland less than two minutes later, when the Tar Heels were awarded a penalty kick after defender A.J.

Dela-garza was called for pulling down Bill Dworzky inside the penalty area. Seitz guessed correctly on Ted Odger's shot, diving to the lower left corner to make the save. Ben Hunter scored in the seventh minute of play, giving sixth-ranked North Carolina (10-2-2, 2-2-1 ACC) the early lead on his third goal of the year. The goal was the seventh allowed by the Terps (lO-l-l, 3-1-1). Neither team threatened during the rest of regulation, and a Maryland corner was punched out of the box with 1:15 remaining in the second half to send the match to overtime.

The Terps travel to Charlottesville on Wednesday to face third-ranked Virginia (l 1-2-0, 3-2-0), who lost, 2-1, to Duke last night in Durham, N.C. CORONA MORELIA At Morelia, Mexico Second round, par 73 Lorena Ochoa Sun Young Yoo Kelli Knehne Julieta Granada Heather Young Wendy Ward Silvia Cavalleri Morgan Pressel Paula Creamer Michelle Ellis Young Jo Erica Blasberg GinliaSergas Katie Fntcher Eva Dahllof MiHyunKim Young-A Yang Alena Sharp Brandie Burton Nicole Castrale Wendy Doolan Becky Morgan D'Rae Ward Tracy Hanson Stacy Prammanasudh Nancy Harvey Liselotte Neumann Teresa Lu Jean Bartholomew Aram Cho Johanna Head Grace Park Lorie Kane Snzann Pettersen Brittany Lang Christina Kim Carin Koch Kris Tamulis 71-64-135 71- 67-138 69- 70-139 70- 70-140 70-70-140 72- 69-141 72- 69-141 69- 72-141 76-66-142 73- 69-142 72-70-142 72-70-142 70- 72-142 70- 72-142 72- 71-143 71- 72-143 70-73-143 70-73-143 68-75-143 76-68-144 74-70-144 74-70-144 73-71-144 73- 71-144 72- 72-144 71-73-144 75-70-145 74- 71-145 73- 72-145 73-72-145 73- 72-145 75- 71-146 75-71-146 74- 72-146 74-72-146 74-72-146 73-73-146 71-75-146 Vancouver players congratulate Daniel Sedin (22) on a third-period goal that tied their game with Columbus. Sendin also scored the game-winner 31 seconds into overtime for a 3-2 victory. ASSOCIATED PRESS one week after getting hit in the left eye with an errant puck during the San Jose Sharks' game against St. Louis on Thursday night.

Stephen Walkom, the NHL's director of officiating, said that Martell has swelling and blood in his eye, but probably incurred no long-term damage. TICKET PRICES Led by the Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes, more than half the league's teams have raised ticket prices, including 10 of them by more than 5 percent. The results were released by Team Marketing Reports, which also found that a family of four will pay an average of $258 for a game this season. Carolina tickets now average $38, an increase of 45 percent over last season. Hurricanes tickets are still a good value the average price around the NHL rose nearly 4 percent to $43.

New Jersey 1 0 0 2 4 0 N.Y. Rangers 1 0 0 2 5 2 Pittsburgh 1 0 0 2 4 0 N.Y. Islanders 0 1 0 0 3 6 Philadelphia 0 1 0 0 0 4 NORTHEAST OT Pts GF GA Buffalo 2 0 0 4 8 6 Ottawa 1 1 0 2 4 7 Toronto 110 2 7 4 Montreal 0 0 114 5 Boston 0 1 0 0 3 8 SOUTHEAST OT Pts GF GA Florida 1 0 0 2 8 3 Tampa Bay 1 0 0 2 3 2 Atlanta 0 0 112 3 Carolina 0 1112 7 Washington 0 1 0 0 2 5 WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL OT Pts GF GA Chicago 1 0 0 2 8 6 Columbus 0 0 112 3 St. Louis 0 0 114 5 Detroit 0 10 0 13 Nashville 0 1 0 0 6 8 NORTHWEST OT Pts GF GA Vancouver 2 0 0 4 6 3 Edmonton 1 0 0 2 3 1 Minnesota 10 0 2 3 2 Colorado 0 0 2 2 4 6 Calgary 0 10 0 13 PACIFIC OT Pts GF GA Dallas 1 0 0 2 3 2 Phoenix 10 0 2 6 3 San Jose 1 0 0 2 5 4 Anaheim 0 0 0 0 0 0 Los Angeles 0 0 0 0 0 0 Banna Kostelic to skip World Cup season Four-time Olympic gold medalist Janica Kostelic won't defend her World Cup overall title this season because of chronic back and knee pain. The Croatian said she would "pause for a year and then see what will happen." "I've decided to take a break this season due to the unbearable pain in my back, my knees and everywhere else," Kostelic said.

"It is not an easy decision to make for someone who loves skiing, but I am not a machine." Kostelic, 24, who has had 10 knee operations, won her third overall World Cup title last season. Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss or shootout loss. YESTERDAY'S RESULTS New Jersey 4, Carolina 0 Vancouver 3, Columbus 2, OT Florida 8, Boston 3 Buffalo 5, Montreal 4, SO Los Angeles at Anaheim TODAY'S GAMES Buffalo at Ottawa, 7 p.m. Florida at Atlanta, 7 p.m. Montreal at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Carolina at Washington, 7 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Detroit at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. Boston at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

New Jersey at Dallas, 8 p.m. Nashville at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Columbus at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. Anaheim at Phoenix, 10 p.m. Edmonton at Calgary, 10 p.m.

St. Louis at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at San Jose, 10:30 p.m. SAS CHAMPIONSHIP At Cary, N.C.

First round, par 72 Loren Roberts 31-36-67 Mitch Adcock 31-36-67 Tom Jenkins 32-36-68 Scott Hoch 34-35-69 JimAhern 34-35-69 John Harris 33-36-69 Brad Bryant 34-35-69 Ednardo Romero 35-35-70 MarkMcNnlty 35-35-70 Andy Bean 34-36-70 Chip Beck 35-35-70 Tim Simpson 33-37-70 Joe Ozaki 35-35-70 Massy Kuramoto 35-36-71 Gil Morgan 35-36-71 Fuzzy Zoeller 33-38-71 Raymond Floyd 34-37-71 Lonnie Nielsen 36-35-71 Bob Gilder 35-36-71 Tom Kite 34-37-71 Dave Stockton 35-36-71 Danny Edwards 33-38-71 Tom Pnrtzer 34-37-71 Jay Haas 35-36-71 Ron Streck 36-35-71 Jim Thorpe 35-37-72 Vance Heafner 34-38-72 Don Pooley 35-37-72 Lanny Wadkins 34-38-72 Vicente Fernandez 35-37-72 Lee Trevino 35-37-72 David Edwards 34-38-72 David Eger 36-36-72 Des Smyth 35-37-72 D.A. Weibring 35-37-72 Jay Sigel 36-36-72 Corrales misses weight; fight on Robbed of a big payday when his last opponent couldn't make weight, Diego Corrales vowed never to disgrace the sport by not being at the proper weight himself. So what happened yesterday? Corrales weighed in a whopping 5 pounds over the weight limit for his World Boxing Council 135-pound title defense against Joel Casamayor in Las Vegas. "It's terribly ironic," promoter Gary Shaw said. "I'm shocked.

I don't know what to say." Corrales lost his title on the scale and will be fined by Nevada boxing authorities for not coming close to the weight. But, after agreeing to give up some of his $1.2 million purse to Casamayor, the fight will go on tonight. The WBC ruled that Casamayor can win the title by beating Corrales, though Corrales can't keep it by beating Casamayor. In addition, if Casamayor loses, he would fight a top contender for the vacant title in his next fight. The fight was in doubt after Corrales weighed 140 pounds, then came back a short time later and weighed 139.

He was given two hours to get down to 137, but made it only to 139. Federer reaches Japan semifinals Top-ranked Roger Federer rallied from a shaky start to beat Japan's Takao Suzuki, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3), and advance to the ATP Japan Open semifinals in Tokyo. Federer will face German Benjamin Becker, who defeated fifth-ranked Jarkko Nieminen, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-4. Tim Henman overcame a slow start to defeat Juan Martin Del Potro, 7-6 (3), 6-3, and then beat Mario Ancic, 6-2, 6-2, in his second match. Henman will play Lee Hyung-taik, who knocked out second-seeded Tommy Robredo, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1.

ATP OPEN DE MOSELLE Third-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia beat qualifier Tobias Clemens of Germany, 64, 6-1, to reach the semifinals in Metz, France. Djokovic will play Sebastien Grosjean today, and wild-card Marc Gicquel of France faces Austria's Jurgen Melzer. WTA PORSCHE GRAND PRIX Svetlana Kuznetsova moved closer to a third straight title, beating Jele-na Jankovic, 6-4, 6-1, to reach the semifinals in Stuttgart, Germany. Kuznetsova will face fourth-seeded Nadia Petrova, who beat Daniela Hantuchova, 6-2, 64. Third-seeded Elena Dementieva withdrew against fifth-seeded Patty Schnyder because of a thigh injury Tatiana Golovin beat Michaella Krajicek, 6-1, 6-2.

N. Dakota officials sue NCAA over nickname State officials filed a lawsuit against the NCAA to challenge its restrictions on the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said the lawsuit, filed in Northeast Central District Court in Grand Forks, alleges a breach of contract by the NCAA, a breach of good faith and illegal restraint of trade. Stenehjem said the lawsuit seeks to allow the University of North Dakota to use the nickname without being sanctioned in possible postseason play, along with unspecified money damages. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Washington guard Dominique Banks will miss the first half of the season after surgery to repair stress fractures in both of her legs.

Coach June Daugherty said that Banks, one of five returning starters from last season's team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, had multiple stress fractures in the tibias of both legs. Banks averaged 7.2 points and 4.1 rebounds last season. FIELD HOCKEY The U.S. team beat Olympic champion Germany, 1-0, at the women's field hockey World Cup in Madrid, Spain, and can finish no lower than sixth, its highest placing in 12 years. U.S.

assistant coach suffers heart attack Glenn Myernick, an assistant coach for the U.S. team and a former head coach of Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids, was in intensive care after a heart attack. Myernick, 51, collapsed Thursday and was at North Suburban Medical Center in Thornton, Colo. He had not regained consciousness, former U.S. Soccer Federation president Bob Contigugliasaid.

CHRYSLER CLASSIC At Greensboro, N.C. Second round, par 72 NickWatney 64-71-135 Ryan Palmer 71-65-136 John Senden 66-70-136 Tim Petrovic 68-69-137.