In brief: Arenas avoids jail sentence for gun charge
NBA: Suspended Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas was ordered to spend 30 days in a halfway house for his conviction on gun charges stemming from a locker-room confrontation with a teammate.
District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin also sentenced Arenas to 400 hours of community service, which cannot be conducted at basketball clinics, and a $5,000 fine.
Arenas apologized in court, saying, “Every day, I wake up wishing it did not happen.”
Arenas pleaded guilty to violating the city’s gun laws in a Dec. 21 incident at Verizon Center. Following an argument over an unpaid gambling debt totaling a few hundred dollars, Arenas brought several guns to the team locker room.
The halfway house was an unexpected resolution to weeks of suspense as to whether Arenas would be sent to jail.
•Document, Allen contradict: Tom Penn, former Portland Trail Blazers vice president of basketball operations, received a formal notice of termination from the team this week stating that he was fired without cause. In addition, Penn is still being paid by the organization.
The reported lack of cause for Penn’s firing appears to contradict a statement made Thursday by Blazers owner Paul Allen, who said that Penn was fired with “good reason” and that the organization felt it “should make an immediate change.”
•Thunder reign: Kevin Durant scored 26 points, Russell Westbrook added 23 and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak with a resounding 91-75 victory in Oklahoma City on a turnover-filled night for Kobe Bryant.
Before the game, coach Phil Jackson said he hasn’t decided whether he will come back for an 11th season as coach of the Lakers, though he may be interested in going for a “three-peat” if the Lakers were to defend their crown this season.
American Nagasu leads at worlds
Figure skating: While Olympic champion Kim Yu-na crumbled, American Mirai Nagasu soared.
Nagasu was in first place after a nearly flawless short program at the World Figure Skating Championships in Turin, Italy. Kim, who has lost only one competition the last two seasons and was downright majestic in winning gold in Vancouver, was in seventh place after three major errors in an uncharacteristically sloppy performance.
Coming off the ice, Kim told reporters that her left foot was “shaking.” It was unclear if there was a medical issue.
Rookie Heyward will start for Braves
MLB: Braves rookie sensation Jason Heyward will open the season as Atlanta’s regular right fielder. The 20-year-old Heyward is batting .378 this spring.
•Silva, Gorzelanny make Cubs rotation: Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny have made the Chicago Cubs’ rotation, and will essentially compete for the No. 5 starter’s job until Ted Lilly returns from shoulder surgery.
Emporia State wins Division II title
College women: Alli Volkens had 16 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks to help Emporia State (30-5) win its first NCAA Division II women’s basketball title with a 65-53 victory over Fort Lewis (35-4) in St. Joseph, Mo.
Police make arrest in FIU player’s death
College football: Miami-Dade police arrested Quentin Rashad Wyche in the slaying of running back Kendall Berry, who was stabbed at Florida International University late Thursday following an argument between the two men outside the front doors of the campus recreation center.
Cornerback Jones draws teams’ interest
NFL: At least three teams – Detroit, San Francisco and Cincinnati – have expressed “great interest” in troubled cornerback Pacman Jones, who is attempting a comeback for the 2010 season.
Jones’ agent said he hoped to set up in-person visits with those teams in the near future.
Els tied for lead with trio at Bay Hill
Golf: Ernie Els shot a 3-under-par 69 to tie with Davis Love III, Ben Curtis and D.J. Trahan for the lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla., at 137.
Alex Prugh (Ferris High) shot a 73 for a 3-over 147 and missed the cut.
•Seo surges into lead: Hee Kyung Seo shot a 5-under 67 to take the lead while Michelle Wie also shot a 67 to pull into contention after two rounds in the inaugural Kia Classic at La Costa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., is tied for 19th after shooting a 3-under 69 for a two-round total of 143.
•Price, Beck lead: Nick Price shot a 6-under 66 for a share of the lead with Chip Beck after the first round of the Champions Tour’s $1.6 million Cap Cana Championship in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic.
Surhoff, Texas lead at NCAA swimming
Miscellany: Austin Surhoff won the 200 medley relay among four top-four finishes for Texas to help the Longhorns lead after the first day of the NCAA men’s swimming and diving championships in Columbus, Ohio.
Texas has 145 points to 139 for California.