Briefly

Mavs, Warriors close to five- player trade, including Dickau

The Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks are close to completing a five-player trade that would bring forwards Eduardo Najera and Christian Laettner to Golden State and send centers Erick Dampier, Evan Eschmeyer and former Gonzaga University guard Dan Dickau to Dallas, an NBA source aware of the negotiations said Tuesday.

The deal has not been finalized, but “all signs are that it’s happening,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Once the deal is done, it won’t be complete right away. Laettner and Dickau have already been traded this summer and under NBA rules players can’t be swapped more than once in a two-month span.

The trade also is contingent on Dampier reaching agreement with the Mavericks, the source said.

“The Toronto Raptors signed free-agent center Loren Woods to a two-year, $1.7 million contract, which is not fully guaranteed. If Woods is released before Jan. 10, the Raptors would owe him earnings up to that date, about $350,000. If he remains on the roster past Jan. 10, the contract is guaranteed for the rest of the season and the following season.

The contract also includes incentives that could push the value to $2 million.

“The Harlem Globetrotters canceled their fall college tour following an NCAA decision barring schools from scheduling exhibition games against non-collegiate opponents.

The Globetrotters had agreed to play seven games in November against Cincinnati, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan, Oklahoma, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and NCAA champion Connecticut.

All seven schools appealed the NCAA ruling and were denied exemptions.

Bloom to appeal NCAA rebuff

University of Colorado wide receiver Jeremy Bloom decided to keep fighting the NCAA for the right to accept commercial ski endorsements while playing college football.

Bloom, a world champion freestyle skier, asked the university to appeal the NCAA’s latest ruling that he would be ineligible to play college football if he accepts endorsements.

Bloom has been fighting the NCAA for two years and initially told family members he did not want to go through another appeal after losing another round this week.

“I do plan on going through with the final appeal. I owe it to my teammates, my coaches, and myself, to fight this until the end,” Bloom said in a statement from Santiago, Chile, where he is training with the U.S. Ski Team.

Ching scores tying goal for U.S.

Cobi Jones and former Gonzaga University player Brian Ching, a pair of substitutes, saved the United States against Jamaica at Kingston, Jamaica.

With the entire island nation ready to celebrate the Reggae Boyz’s first victory over the Americans, Jones crossed into the penalty box in the 89th minute. Landon Donovan settled the ball and Ching sent a right-footed dagger into the Jamaicans for a 1-1 tie in the World Cup regional semifinal qualifying match.

“Brazil routed a weak Haitian team 6-0 at Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in an exhibition soccer match billed as a “Match for Peace,” which aimed at promoting peace in the Caribbean country.

Avalanche sign Damphousse

The Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League prepared for the potential loss of several key front-line players, signing former San Jose Sharks captain Vincent Damphousse to a one-year, $2 million contract.

“The Calgary Flames locked up one of the key components of their Stanley Cup run, re-signing restricted free agent defenseman Jordan Leopold to a one-year, $950,000 contract.

U.S. Open wild cards announced

Alexandra Stevenson and Ashley Harkleroad were among eight women given U.S. Open wild cards at White Plains, N.Y.

Martina Navratilova, who played singles at the French Open and Wimbledon, did not ask for a wild card, the U.S. Tennis Association said. Navratilova, 47, has said she’ll retire at the end of the season.

The other wild card entries for the year’s last Grand Slam tournament, which starts Aug. 30, are Angela Haynes, Jamea Jackson, Jessica Kirkland, Amber Liu, Bethanie Mattek and Kelly McCain.

Miscellany

At Las Vegas, Nev., NASCAR Busch Series rookie Kyle Busch has been fined $100 by Las Vegas Motor Speedway for confronting a driver after a Legend Cars Pro/Master feature race last weekend.

“Sabellina made a move at the quarter pole and surged past On the Bus in the stretch to win the $114,800 Yaddo Handicap at Saratoga Race Course at Saratoga Springs, N.Y.