Newsmakers

Assigned The Oklahoma City Thunder assigned second-year guard Kyle Weaver, who played for the Washington State Cougars, and rookie center Byron Mullens to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

Claimed The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed right-hander Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.

Sidelined Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal sat out Saturday’s game against Philadelphia, the fifth consecutive game he has missed with a shoulder injury. O’Neal hasn’t played since a Nov. 12 win over the Miami Heat.

Honored Ben & Jerry’s has named its newest ice cream flavor after Vermont native and champion snowboarder Hannah Teter. Hannah Teter’s Maple Blondie – maple ice cream with blonde brownie pieces and a maple caramel swirl – marks the first time the ice cream company has named a flavor after an athlete.

Hospitalized Seattle Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid was hospitalized after being diagnosed with pneumonia. The team said Schmid started experiencing shortness of breath Thursday night. He was taken to Overlake Hospital in suburban Bellevue where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. His condition has stabilized.

Scheduled Sprint stars Usain Bolt of Jamaica and Tyson Gay of the United States will race each other at least three times at elite Diamond League meets next year. Track and field’s governing body said that the two fastest men in history are contracted to compete in seven of the 14 cities in Asia, Europe and the United States featured in the inaugural global series. The rivals must decide which meets will host their showdowns, over 100 or 200 meters.

Hired Ari Fleischer Communications, a sports public relations firm headed by the former press secretary for President George W. Bush, has been hired by BCS officials to help remodel the tattered image of college football’s postseason system.