IN BRIEF

PRO BASKETBALL

Knicks president set to consider Robinson trade

New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh said he will probably begin discussions with Nate Robinson's agent today about a request to trade the benched guard.

That's assuming Robinson really wants to be dealt.

Robinson said Sunday his preference is to stay with the Knicks, the day after his agent told Walsh he would like to look into getting his client out of New York.

The request came after Robinson was benched for eight straight games by coach Mike D'Antoni. Robinson said he is still ready to play for the Knicks, but added, "I haven't got that privilege to play the way that I like to play."

Also: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban officially filed a protest with the NBA office over what he termed "misapplication of the rules" by the officiating crew during Friday night's overtime loss to the Houston Rockets.

Cuban said officials were wrong to eject Dallas center Erick Dampier in overtime. Dampier was called for throwing an elbow that led to his ejection, and Cuban wants the final 1:01 of the overtime replayed with Houston in front, 110-104.

The Mavericks went on to lose, 116-108.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Connecticut's Calhoun on brink of new contract

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said a new multiyear contract with the school is "right on the horizon," but no deal has been reached.

Calhoun denied a report by ESPN.com, which said Saturday the 67-year-old coach had agreed to a five-year contract. Calhoun, who has two national titles and took the Huskies to the Final Four last season, is making $1.6 million in 2009-10, the final year of a six-year deal.

Also: Iowa starting guard Anthony Tucker was suspended indefinitely after Iowa City police said he was arrested for public intoxication. The 20-year-old Tucker is the team's second-leading scorer with 11.9 points per game.

The sophomore previously pleaded guilty to public intoxication in December 2008.

MISCELLANEOUS

Outfielder Crisp close to signing with A's

The Oakland Athletics were closing in on a deal with free-agent outfielder Coco Crisp for a one-year contract, with a club option for the 2011 season.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed an impending deal on condition of anonymity, because a formal announcement had not been made by the club.

The 30-year-old Crisp can play all three outfield positions but is primarily a center fielder. Crisp underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in June and batted .228 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 49 games last season for the Kansas City Royals, who last month declined their $8 million option to bring Crisp back in 2010.

Also: Blind Luck bounced back from a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with a seven-length victory in the $405,250 Hollywood Starlet on the season-ending day at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Blind Luck covered 1 1/16 miles in 1 minute, 41.96 seconds.

Lindsey Vonn capped a solid weekend with a third-place finish in a super-G in Val D'Isere, France, helping her reclaim the lead in the overall World Cup standings, two months before the Vancouver Olympics.

Following her victory in Friday's super combined, Vonn again earned a spot on the podium. Franzi Aufdenblatten posted her first World Cup victory, leading Nadia Styger to a 1-2 Swiss finish, with Vonn 0.26 seconds off the pace.