In Brief

BASKETBALL

Lakers GM on Gasol trade talk:
All options will be considered

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said he must explore every opportunity to improve his club, even if Kobe Bryant doesn't like it.

Kupchak issued a statement Monday night in response to Bryant's criticism of the Lakers' top brass about the uncertainty surrounding Pau Gasol. The four-time All-Star is having the lowest-scoring season of his career amid constant speculation about his departure in a trade, ever since the Lakers attempted to move him for Chris Paul before the season.

After Sunday night's loss at Phoenix, Bryant said he wanted Kupchak to decide whether Gasol would be traded or not.

Kupchak said such an announcement "would serve no purpose and put us at a competitive disadvantage."

Also: San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili is expected to miss two weeks with a strained left oblique. Ginobili was hurt during the Spurs' 103-100 victory at the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

The Portland Trail Blazers said a procedure to clear debris out of center Greg Oden's left knee resulted in another microfracture surgery.

Oden had the surgery in Vail, Colo. Although it was originally expected to be an arthroscopic procedure to clean out the 7-footer's knee, the surgeon determined there was additional damage.

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo was suspended two games without pay by the NBA for throwing a ball at an official during a game.

Rondo received two technical fouls and was ejected late in the third quarter of Boston's 96-81 loss at the Detroit Pistons. He was upset that a foul wasn't called and tossed the ball at referee Sean Wright.

Rondo missed Monday night's game at Dallas and will Wednesday's matchup with Oklahoma City.

Quincy Acy had 22 points and 16 rebounds to power No. 13 Baylor to a tough 77-72 win over Texas (17-11, 7-8 Big 12) in Austin, Texas.

Baylor (23-5, 10-5 Big 12) rallied from a 12-point deficit early in the second half.

UNLV

Freshman Fedde pitches UNLV
to win over No. 27 UC Irvine

Freshman Erick Fedde, a Las Vegas High School product, scattered five hits over six innings and struck out three in his first college start as the UNLV baseball team beat No. 27 UC Irvine 3-2 in Irvine, Calif.

Scott Dysinger drove in a run with a double, and Trent Cook added an RBI single for UNLV (2-2).

Also: The UNLV women's golf team shot a combined 10-over 586 (290-296) to trail leader and 17th-ranked Arizona (289-294--583) by three strokes after the first two rounds of the 11-team UNLV Spring Invitational at Cascata Golf Club.

UNLV's Dana Finkelstein (72-74) and Mayko Chwen Wang (73-73) were tied for second at 2-over 146, one shot behind individual leader Nikki Koller of Arizona.

MISCELLANEOUS

Boxer Chisora apologizes for
his part in brawl with Haye

Dereck Chisora apologized "wholeheartedly" for the brawl with David Haye that followed his loss to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.

Haye blamed Chisora for the clash that followed his fellow Londoner's defeat in Munich, and the beaten challenger has acknowledged that the violence at the postbout news conference marred the biggest night of his career.

"Whilst my behavior was inexcusable, there were many things that went on behind the scenes that ultimately caused my frustrations to boil over," Chisora said. "Despite all of this, the bottom line is I have let my family, my team and -- worst of all -- the sport I love down.

"I acknowledge that my actions were totally unprofessional, with or without provocation. Now, with a cool head and the benefit of hindsight, my actions at the weekend were regrettable to say the least, and I am deeply embarrassed."

Also: Bob Baffert didn't stop with just one Kentucky Derby hopeful. A pair of Baffert-trained horses, Castaway and Secret Circle, won both divisions of the $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Jockey Rafael Bejarano rode both horses to the wins in the mile Derby prep race, which was split into two divisions after 21 horses were entered.

Castaway won the first of the two races, pulling away down the stretch for a three-length win over Jake Mo. In the second race, heavy favorite Secret Circle held off Scatman by a length.

City to City, beaten as the heavy favorite in her last two starts, rallied to win by a head as a long shot amid a big field of fillies and mares in the $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to terms on a $19.6 million, three-year deal with cornerback Stanford Routt, which should help the team absorb the potential loss of Brandon Carr.

The deal includes a $4 million signing bonus and $6 million the first season.