Penn State police on the lookout for Paterno’s glasses

Penn State police are looking out for Joe Paterno’s Coke bottle-thick glasses – the bronzed ones that were perched on the statue of the iconic football coach that stands outside Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.

Vandals apparently cut the glasses off just above the base of the ears of the 7-foot sculpture between 11 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, when a police officer noticed the damage.

An officer “observed someone had removed the glasses from the Joe Paterno statue located on the east side of Beaver Stadium,” said a university police log.

•Simms will transfer: Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe said quarterback Matt Simms will transfer from the program. Simms is the son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms.

NFL

Titans get healthy

The odds of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco being sacked on Saturday have suddenly increased.

Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch took part in their first full practice in weeks and they couldn’t be more eager to chase the rookie QB in the Titans’ AFC divisional playoff game.

•Tomlinson likely won’t play: LaDainian Tomlinson confirmed that he has a torn tendon in his groin and listed himself as doubtful for the San Diego Chargers’ playoff game at Pittsburgh on Sunday.

•Bush has surgery: The New Orleans Saints have confirmed that running back Reggie Bush had surgery on his left knee, and will require months of rehabilitation.

However, Bush is expected to be ready for minicamp in June.

•Cowboys hire DeCamillis: The Dallas Cowboys hired Jacksonville Jaguars assistant Joe DeCamillis to coach their special teams.

•Eller’s felony charges dropped: Two felony charges against Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller were dropped as part of a deal that calls for a judge to rule on two lesser charges stemming from his clash with police last April in Minneapolis.

A judge will decide whether Eller is guilty of one count of fourth-degree assault on a police officer and one count of refusal to submit to a field sobriety test. A decision is to come by Jan. 26.

NBA

Celtics’ slide extended

Von Wafer hit a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left to give Houston the lead and Yao Ming scored 26 as the Rockets beat Boston 89-85 in Boston. It was the sixth loss in eight games for the defending NBA champions.

•Jazz crush Hornets: Paul Millsap had 27 points and 14 rebounds to extend his NBA-leading double-double streak to 19 games and the Utah Jazz rolled to a 116-90 victory over the visiting New Orleans Hornets at Salt Lake City.

Millsap also had five assists to go with his latest double-double, the most by a Utah player since John Stockton had 18 in a row in 1992.

•Cavs still unbeaten at home: LeBron James scored 21 points before grabbing an early seat on the bench, Mo Williams added 15 points and Cleveland warmed up for its highly anticipated matchup with Boston by blowing out the Charlotte Bobcats 111-81, raising the Cavaliers’ record at home to 18-0.

Blazers stop Pistons: Travis Outlaw hit a fadeaway jumper with 8.9 seconds to go and the host Portland Trail Blazers snapped Detroit’s seven-game winning streak with an 84-83 victory.

•Nuggets, Thunder deal: The Denver Nuggets sent point guard Chucky Atkins and a protected first-round pick in this summer’s draft to Oklahoma City for center Johan Petro and the Thunder’s second-round pick this year.

•Grizzlies get Livingston: The Miami Heat traded guard Shaun Livingston and cash to Memphis for a conditional 2012 second-round pick.

NHL

Surgery for Sakic

Colorado Avalanche star Joe Sakic, already sidelined after a snow blower accident last month, underwent surgery for a herniated disk and will need about 10 weeks to recover.

•Leafs acquire May: The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired hard-hitting forward Brad May from the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional 2010 sixth-round draft pick.

•Sundin returns: After nine months on the sidelines, Mats Sundin made his Vancouver Canucks debut against the Edmonton Oilers.

Vancouver won, 4-2.

College men’s basketball

Harvard upsets B.C.

Jeremy Lin scored 27 points to lead Harvard (8-6) to an 82-70 upset over No. 17 Boston College (13-3), three days after the Eagles upset previously top-ranked North Carolina.

•Duke tops Davidson: Jon Scheyer and Kyle Singler scored 22 points apiece and No. 2 Duke (13-1) held off a late Stephen Curry-led charge to beat visiting Davidson (10-3) 79-67. Curry, the nation’s leading scorer, scored 29 points.

Miscellany

Storm re-sign Wright

The Seattle Storm of the WNBA re-signed guard Tanisha Wright, bringing back the versatile guard that had the best season of her career a year ago.

•McClatchy severs ties: Former Pirates managing general partner Kevin McClatchy has sold his remaining shares in the team, ending a 13-year relationship that began with the newspaper heir ensuring that the club remained in Pittsburgh.

•Parker expecting: Candace Parker is expecting her first child this spring, and the WNBA star will keep working out leading to the 2009 season. Her husband is Shelden Williams of the Sacramento Kings.

•Ballesteros looks to return: Seve Ballesteros said he plans to return next year to his role as captain of Europe’s Royal Trophy team.

•Davydenko out: Fifth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko will miss the Australian Open because of an injury in his left heel.

•Home Depot bows out: Home Depot said it was ending its sponsorship deal with the U.S. Olympic Committee.