Kemp in Denver, wants to make comeback

Nuggets coach George Karl can see a different Shawn Kemp – not just a slimmer version of the former All-Star, but a wiser one.

“He seems clearer, stronger,” Karl said Monday after the Nuggets’ three-day camp for free agents. “His words are older. They have some wisdom to them. It’s the most grounded I’ve seen him.”

The 36-year-old Kemp, who reportedly ballooned to 340 pounds in recent years, has been out of the NBA for the last three years.

Kemp said he hired a trainer and dropped 75 pounds, helping trim his body fat to 11.5 percent.

The former “Reign Man” didn’t go on a special diet, he lost the weight the old-fashioned way – hard work.

“I started jogging, jogging and jogging,” he said. “I ran this weight off.”

Given his past relationship with Karl, he wouldn’t mind making a comeback with the Nuggets. Karl coached Kemp from 1991-97 when both were with the Seattle SuperSonics.•Connecticut center Josh Boone said he plans to hire and agent soon and remain in the NBA draft.

•Seattle Storm forward Wendy Palmer will miss at least a month with a partially torn left Achilles’ tendon.

Football

Texans hire Smith

The Houston Texans hired Rick Smith as general manager, reuniting the former Denver assistant GM with new coach Gary Kubiak.

Smith, who at 36 will be the NFL’s youngest GM, becomes the second general manager in Texans history, following Charley Casserly, who resigned following the draft.

•New England and New Orleans have agreed to a trade that would send wide receiver Bethel Johnson from the Patriots to the Saints for defensive lineman Johnathan Sullivan.

•Former NFL running back Rabih Abdullah, 31, was arrested after police noticed him driving erratically and found a gun and marijuana in his car, authorities in Tampa, Fla., said.

•Tennessee quarterback Jim Bob Cooter was suspended indefinitely after campus police arrested him on a drunken-driving charge.

Soccer

Teams warned

World Cup referees told teams in the tournament to behave – or else.

“We are determined to act together,” English referee Graham Poll said. “We’re all going to be battling together against cheating, elbowing and time-wasting to make sure the games flow well.”

•The United States beat Angola 1-0 in a practice match in Hamburg, Germany, that was closed to the media.

Miscellany

Arizona takes CWS lead

Taryne Mowatt homered and had three RBIs, and Alicia Hollowell threw a one-hitter as Arizona beat Northwestern 8-0 in Oklahoma City to win Game 1 of the best-of-3 Women’s College World Series softball championship.

•Duke University’s troubled lacrosse team will resume play next season under strict rules and close monitoring after three players were charged with rape, school President Richard Brodhead said.

•Mark Nielsen, New Zealand’s top tennis player, was banned for two years after testing positive for a masking agent at the Australian Open.

•John Daly claimed six skins worth $130,000 to win the Exelon Invitational in Lafayette Hill, Pa., after host Jim Furyk withdrew with a bad back.