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Friday, September 21, 2001
NBA decides to cancel six preseason contests

Associated Press
NEW YORK - The NBA on Thursday canceled all six of its preseason games scheduled outside the United States and Canada because of last week's terrorist attacks.
   Eliminated were games in Cologne, Germany; Pesaro, Italy; Tokyo; and Mexico City.
   "In light of the current climate, now is not the right time to travel outside the country if it isn't necessary," NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre said.
   The Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors each lost two games.
   The league also said that training camps would open on Oct. 1 and all domestic preseason games would be played as scheduled.
   BOXING
   EX-CHAMP SADDLER DIES: Former featherweight champion Sandy Saddler died Tuesday at a New York City nursing home. He was 75.
   His son, Sandy Jr., said Saddler died in his sleep at Schervier Nursing Home, where he lived after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
   Saddler, elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, was one of the hardest punching small men in boxing history. He had a career record of 144-16-2 with 103 knockouts and held the featherweight title twice.
   He had a memorable four-fight series with Willie Pep, knocking Pep out three times.
   Saddler was still world featherweight champion when he retired in 1957 after sustaining a serious eye injury when a taxi in which he was riding was involved in an accident.
   CYCLING
   JIMENEZ WINS SECOND STRAIGHT STAGE: Jose Maria Jimenez won his second straight stage - and third overall - in the Tour of Spain, while U.S. rider Levi Leipheimer continued to impress with a fifth-place finish.
   Jimenez, a Spaniard with the ibanesto.com team, surged ahead Thursday on some of the steepest inclines of the 10.7-mile mountain time trial between Ordino and Arcalis.
   After taking over the "King of the Mountains" jersey on Wednesday, Jimenez started eighth from last in the 12th stage time trial.
   Friday's 13th stage is a 128.8-mile leg between La Farga de Moles in Andorra and the Port Aventura holiday theme park on the Mediterranean coast near the Catalan city of Tarragona.
   HOCKEY
   BERARD CONTEMPLATING COMEBACK: Bryan Berard is considering a comeback to the NHL from a serious eye injury following a successful stint at the U.S. Olympic team evaluation camp.
   The 24-year-old Toronto defenseman's career was thought to be finished after he sustained severe damage to his right eye when accidentally struck by Marian Hossa's stick in a 2000 game in Ottawa.
   While he officially retired last March, qualifying for a $6 million disability insurance payment that he has yet to touch, Berard never gave up hope of returning.
   After practicing with NHL and college players near his Woonsocket, R.I., home in August, and then being invited to skate with hopefuls for the U.S. Olympic team in Colorado Springs, Colo., Berard still thinks he can play in the league.
   FLAMES SIGN KRAHN: Brent Krahn, the 19-year-old goalie who spent the last two seasons with the Calgary Hitmen, has signed with the Calgary Flames.
   Krahn, selected ninth overall in the 2000 draft, was 55-16-3 with a 2.67 GAA in the Western Hockey League.
   Meanwhile, the Flames sent centers Blair Betts and Rob Murray, winger Jason Botterill, defensemen Burke Henry, Mike Martin, Rick Mrozik and goalie Dany Sabourin to Saint Johns of the AHL.
   PANTHERS SIGN VALERI BURE: Florida signed Valeri Bure to a three-year contract, uniting the right wing with his older brother, Pavel, the team's leading scorer.
   The Panthers made a qualifying contract offer to the younger Bure and eight others on Saturday. Valeri Bure was acquired by the Panthers with center Jason Wiemer from the Flames for center Rob Niedermayer and a 2001 second-round draft pick.
   Last season, Bure had 27 goals and 28 assists in 78 games with the Flames. He had a career-high 35 goals and 40 assists in 1999-00 and has 139 goals and 163 assists in seven NHL seasons.
   TENNIS
   DAVIS CUP PREVIEW: Sweden was going to have enough trouble against Australia in its Davis Cup semifinal. Now the Swedes have to take on their champion-laden opponent without two stars.
   Sweden, which is missing Magnus Norman and Nicklas Kulti, will face an Australian team boasting U.S Open winners present and past, Lleyton Hewitt and Patrick Rafter.
   Thomas Enqvist, Jonas Bjorkman, Magnus Larsson and Thomas Johansson will face the Australian team, which also features Wayne Arthurs and doubles specialist Todd Woodbridge.
   The Netherlands will play France in the other semifinal for a place in the Nov. 30-Dec. 2 final.
   There are also seven world group qualifying round ties and six regional playoffs this weekend. The United States-India world group tie was postponed until next month because of the terrorist attacks last week.
   KREMER MOVES ON AT BELL: Third-seeded Anne Kremer advanced to the quarterfinals of the $170,000 Bell Challenge with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Catalina Castano.
   Kremer will meet eighth-seeded Jana Nejedly of Canada, who beat Maria Vento-Kabchi 6-2, 6-1.
   Iva Majoli, the No. 4 seed, also advanced Thursday, beating Alena Vaskova 6-3, 6-2.
   SANCHEZ-VICARIO STRUGGLES AT TOYOTA: Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario edged Silvija Talaja in the second round of the $565,000 Toyota Princess Cup.
   Sanchez-Vicario, the No. 5 seed, survived to earn a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (7) victory over the unseeded qualifier in a match that lasted over three hours at Ariake Coliseum.
   Kim Clijsters, the top seed, breezed through the opening set against Cara Black in 17 minutes and cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory.
   No. 3 seed Jelena Dokic, who received a bye in the first round and arrived on Monday, struggled early but defeated Russia's Lina Krasnoroutskaya 6-4, 6-4.
   LABADZE, CARLSEN ADVANCE: Irakli Labadze continued his surprising run at the Shanghai Open with another upset victory over an American.
   Two days after eliminating top-seeded Andre Agassi, the left-hander from the former Soviet republic of Georgia beat Justin Gimelstob 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals.
   Gimelstob was the last American in contention for the singles title.
   Labadze, ranked 101st in the ATP Champions Race, will face Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark. The 255th-ranked Dane beat Brazil's Andre Sa 6-4, 6-3.

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