Associated Press
LOS ANGELES ó Kobe Bryant will not have surgery on his right pinkie because recovery would take too long.
Bryant has played with damaged ligaments in the finger since February, but said Tuesday that he won’t have surgery after seeking opinions from hand specialists.
“When the doctors told me recovery from a procedure could be 12 weeks, I just decided now was not the time to have surgery,” Bryant said on the Web site kb24.com. “What it really came down to for me is that I just didn’t want to miss any time ‘punching the clock’ for the Lakers, given all we are trying to accomplish as a team this NBA season.”
Bryant averaged 28.3 points while playing in all 82 games despite injuring the finger Feb. 5 against the New Jersey Nets. The Lakers guard put off the surgery until after the Beijing Olympics, where he helped lead the United States to the gold medal.
The Lakers open training camp Sept. 27 and start the regular season at home against the Portland Trail Blazers on Oct. 28.
– PHILADELPHIA ó The Philadelphia 76ers revamped their roster this summer with key signings. Now, they’ve made sure their coach will be there, too.
The 76ers gave Maurice Cheeks his second contract extension in seven months Tuesday, capping a busy summer highlighted by the addition of free agent forward Elton Brand.
– PORTLAND, Ore. ó Portland Trail Blazers forward Channing Frye will likely miss the start of the regular season after having surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle.
GOLF
HONOLULU ó Unable to earn her card through sponsor exemptions, Michelle Wie has entered the LPGA Tour qualifying school and will play the first stage next week on the California course where she first rose to fame at age 13.
Her father, B.J. Wie, had said at the U.S. Women’s Open that Wie had “no other options” but Q-school if she didn’t make enough money to finish the equivalent of 80th of the LPGA Tour money list.
“Nothing has changed since then,” he said Tuesday morning from Palm Desert, Calif. “She will go to Q-school.”
Wie turned pro in 2005 and a year later had at least a share of the lead on the back nine of three majors. Her career went into a tailspin short after that, when she tried to play through wrist injuries, withdrew from the Ginn Tribute when she was on the verge of shooting 88 and facing suspension, and continued to play the occasional event on men’s tours.
– This is one time Tiger Woods really was “beatable as ever.”
Rory Sabbatini finished at No. 69 in the FedEx Cup standings, 177 points ahead of Woods at No. 70. Then again, Sabbatini played in three playoff events and made two cuts. Woods has not played at all since the U.S. Open.
COLLEGE HOOPS
EL PASO, Texas ó Dozens of fans, many wearing UTEP orange and blue, solemnly filed past Don Haskins’ wooden casket Tuesday at center court of the arena named for the pioneering basketball coach.
A song softly played from the soundtrack to “Glory Road,” a film about the school’s improbable 1966 NCAA title run when it was known as Texas Western College.
The Hall of Fame coachdied at 78 Sunday from congestive heart failure.
NHL
RALEIGH ó Eric Staal isn’t worrying about ironing out a contract extension to keep him with the Carolina Hurricanes for a while.
The All-Star center said Tuesday during the team’s media day that he’s confident a deal will be done to keep him with the franchise that drafted him in 2003.
– DETROIT ó The Detroit Red Wings re-signed 46-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios for one year.
Chelios enters his 25th NHL season and his 10th with the Red Wings. Last season, he became the second-oldest player in NHL history to appear in a game behind Gordie Howe.