National Sports Briefs

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — The longer the Kurt Rambis saga dragged on, the bigger the mess got for president of basketball operations David Kahn and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The organization endured a torrent of criticism nationally for allowing Rambis to twist in the wind, tarnishing the team’s image across the league while many accomplished candidates took other jobs as Kahn mulled the decision.

The long expected firing finally was officially announced Tuesday, ending more than three months of uncertainty and awkwardness surrounding the head coach of the worst team in the NBA last season.

“People can argue about this should have happened and that should’ve happened, but I think collectively we felt that we were doing the right thing in terms of the way we approached it,” Kahn said. “But I also recognize it took a long time. That’s on me. And I realize that it can look more convoluted and complicated than maybe it really is, and that’s on me. And to that extent I feel badly about that, too, and I apologize for that.”

Kahn hired Rambis in 2009 to turn around one of the league’s struggling franchises. But Rambis went 32-132 in his two seasons, including a league-worst 17-65 in his second year on the job.

• CHARLOTTE— With the NBA lockout less than two weeks old, at least two NBA teams have begun cutting staff. One of the first to resort to layoffs: Michael Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats.

Radio play-by-play announcer Scott Lauer was one of at least seven employees let go by the Bobcats in the past week.

A person familiar with the situation says the Detroit Pistons fired 15 people two weeks ago. The person, who wasn't authorized to speak about the team's moves, spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The job losses come as NBA owners have locked out the players after failing to reach a new collective bargaining agreement, shutting down the league for what could be a protracted work stoppage that threatens the start of the 2011-12 season.

• TIANJIN, China — Kevin Durant isn't ruling out playing basketball abroad next season if the NBA lockout isn't resolved.

The Oklahoma City Thunder forward said Tuesday during a promotional tour in China that he thinks more players will follow Deron Williams' example and play overseas if the NBA season is disrupted. Williams has said he will play for Besiktas in Turkey if the lockout remains.

• CHICAGO — A person familiar with Joakim Noah's decision says the Chicago Bulls center plans to play for the French national team in the European Championships in Lithuania.

France begins play in the European Championships against Latvia on Aug. 31.

• HOUSTON — Kevin McHale has added a couple of familiar names to the Houston Rockets coaching staff.

Kelvin Sampson and J.B. Bickerstaff will join McHale once teams get back to work.

CYCLING

CARMAUX, France — After all the feuding and hard words, Andre Greipel finally got what he wanted and it had nothing to do with talk: a winning ride in the Tour de France.

The German sprinter beat Mark Cavendish — his former teammate and sometimes adversary — by the length of a wheel Tuesday to capture the 10th stage of a three-week race that is soon to leave the flatlands for the perilous climbs of the Pyrenees.

Thomas Voeckler of France kept the yellow jersey after nestling safely in the main pack for most of the day. Defending champion Alberto Contador did much the same, and the Spaniard had even more reason to be careful after hurting his right knee during crashes in the fifth and ninth stages.

WORLD CUP

MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany — The Americans feel just fine, thank you, not tired a bit. The high they were on after that epic Brazil game? That's so yesterday.

The U.S. women are one game away from reaching their first World Cup final since 1999 — the last time they won soccer's biggest prize — and the only thing on their minds now is beating France.

"Losing is not an option," Abby Wambach said Tuesday. "We want to win this thing, and France is standing in our way right now."

The Americans are the top-ranked team in the world and defending Olympic gold medalists, yet they were almost afterthoughts when the tournament began two weeks ago. Two-time defending champion Germany was considered the heavy favorite, sure to get a boost playing on home soil. Then there was Brazil, runner-up at the last three major tournaments and led by Marta, FIFA's player of the year five years running.

And the U.S.? They had to win a playoff with Italy just to get here, and they'd been uncharacteristically inconsistent with three losses in a five-month span.

But the Germans are now spectators, stunned by Japan in the quarterfinals. Brazil is gone, too, losing to the Americans in a penalty shootout in one of the most exciting games ever at the World Cup, men's or women's. And the U.S.? They're still playing, and they go into Wednesday night's semifinal with more than a touch of swagger.

"We have what it takes," Wambach said. "It's just a matter of putting it all together."

NHL

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Phoenix Coyotes hired former Atlanta Thashers head coach John Anderson as an assistant.

• DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche have signed forwards T.J. Galiardi and Patrick Rissmiller to one-year contracts.

• ANAHEIM, Calif. — Goalie Jeff Deslauriers has agreed to a two-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks.

• EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers have traded center Andrew Cogliano to the Anaheim Ducks for a second-round draft pick in 2013.

Cogliano was drafted by Edmonton 25th overall in the 2005 draft and has not missed a game in four NHL seasons. Last season, the 24-year-old finished with 11 goals and 35 points.