Fast Break
NBA
Kidd trade finally a go
The Jason Kidd era is over in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Nets and Dallas on Tuesday completed a trade sending the All-Star to the Mavericks, who now have one of the NBA’s best point guards as they look toward the playoffs. This will be Kidd’s second stint with Dallas.
The eight-player deal, in the making since before the All-Star break, sends Kidd, forward Malik Allen and guard Antoine Wright to Dallas for point guard Devin Harris, center DeSagana Diop and swingman Maurice Ager, plus retired forward Keith Van Horn and Trenton Hassell. New Jersey also gets two first-round draft picks and $3 million.
Van Horn and Hassell replace Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George in an original trade proposal.
NFL
Roos auction returns March 1
Michael Roos, the highest NFL draft pick out of Eastern Washington University, is returning to the area for the second Michael Roos Foundation Dinner, Sports Auction and Poker Tournament at Northern Quest Casino on March 1.
Roos, who has started every game of his three-year pro career at left tackle for the Tennessee Titans after being drafted in the second round, is bringing along memorabilia to raise money for local non-profit organizations, including EWU’s Eagle Athletic Association, Special Olympics in Washington and Boys and Girls Clubs of Spokane County. Last year, nearly $40,000 was raised.
Items include a weekend in Nashville and numerous signed jerseys, including Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Joe Montana.
Tickets are $50 per person. Patron tickets, which include a special gift, are $100 each. Donations to the Foundation are also being accepted.
To order tickets, go to www.GOEAGS.com or call 1-800-326-3031.
College baseball
GU, WSU open Friday
Friday marks the universal start date in collegiate baseball this season as the NCAA adopted new legislation that was created to level the playing field for cold-weather schools.
Washington State will host Creighton at Bailey-Brayton field at 3:30 p.m. and Gonzaga opens at Oklahoma State at 2. The Zags’ home opener is Feb. 28 against Brigham Young.
Prior to this season, Division I teams could open the season as early as mid-January. Many warm-weather programs would open the home slate of the schedules a month or more prior to that of cold-weather schools.
This season, teams could not begin practicing until Feb. 1 and cannot start playing games until Friday, providing 13 weeks to complete a full schedule. Despite the shortening of the season by nearly three weeks, teams will still play a 56-game schedule.