IN BRIEF

BASKETBALL

Rockets' McGrady has shoulder, knee ailments

Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady says his left shoulder is arthritic and will require surgery after this season. He also said at the team's media day Monday that his left knee is still bothering him after surgery in May.

McGrady sprained his shoulder against Sacramento on March 24 and wore padding to protect it for the rest of the season. He had surgery in May to clear loose tissue in his shoulder and knee. He said his knee is "probably 75-80 percent" healthy and will take another two months to fully heal.

McGrady said an MRI revealed the arthritis in his shoulder.

The Rockets also announced the signing of rookie forward Joey Dorsey.

The 6-foot-8-inch Dorsey, who helped Memphis reached the NCAA title game against Kansas, was drafted by Portland early in the second round before the Rockets acquired his rights.

Also: Backup point guard Sam Cassell is back to help the Boston Celtics try to repeat as NBA champions.

The 38-year-old Cassell, who joined the team in March for the playoff run, showed up for media day to sign a contract for his 16th NBA season.

Miami Heat general manager Randy Pfund, who helped the team win the 2006 NBA championship as the highlight of his 13 years with the franchise, resigned.

Team president Pat Riley will assume Pfund's duties.

Deanna Nolan scored 21 points, and Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 19 to help the host Detroit Shock reach the WNBA Finals for the third straight season with a 75-73 win over the New York Liberty.

The Shock won the best-of-3 Eastern Conference finals 2-1 and advanced to play San Antonio for the championship.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Cal running back Best has dislocated elbow

California running back Jahvid Best will miss at least one game with a dislocated left elbow, but the versatile speedster won't require surgery.

Best was injured in the third quarter of the Golden Bears' 42-7 victory over Colorado State on Saturday. The sophomore is third in the nation with 215.5 all-purpose yards per game, and third in the Pac-10 with 105.3 yards rushing.

Also: Washington quarterback Jake Locker will be out for up to eight weeks after breaking his right thumb, a damaging blow for a team looking at a possible 0-5 start for the first time in 39 years.

Locker had surgery to repair the fracture. He was injured throwing a block in the second quarter of a 35-28 loss to Stanford on Saturday.

Connecticut coach Randy Edsall said quarterback Tyler Lorenzen is expected to be out six to eight weeks following surgery on his broken right foot.

The No. 24 Huskies lost Lorenzen and starting tight end Steve Brouse (broken right leg) in Friday night's 26-21 win at Louisville.

Pat White has a bruised thumb, but West Virginia coach Bill Stewart said his quarterback will play Saturday in the Big East opener against Rutgers.

Kansas State safety Gary Chandler, the Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year last season, was suspended indefinitely after being arrested for driving on a revoked license and obstructing the legal process in Riley County, Kan.

MOTOR SPORTS

Menard leaving DEI, taking sponsor with him

Paul Menard will leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season to drive for Yates Racing, The Associated Press has learned.

Menard is expected to announce today that both he and his sponsorship will move to Yates, a person familiar with Menard's decision said.

The loss could be devastating to DEI because Menard's sponsor is his father's Midwest-based hardware chain. The loss of driver and sponsor leaves DEI with just one full-time sponsor, three drivers and horrendous economic conditions that combine to create a bleak outlook for the storied team founded by the late Dale Earnhardt.

MISCELLANEOUS

Blackhawks put goalie Khabibulin on waivers

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin has been put on waivers.

Khabibulin is entering the final season of a four-year, $27 million contract. He joined the Blackhawks from Tampa Bay as a free agent after leading the Lightning to the 2004 Stanley Cup.

The Blackhawks signed free-agent goalie Cristobal Huet to a four-year, $22.5 million deal in July, giving them two top goaltenders.

Also: Welterweights Terrence Jett and Charles Wade meet tonight in a six-round bout to headline a five-fight card by Richard Steele Promotions at the Silver Nugget Events Center.

Tickets, priced at $20 and $30, can be purchased at the door.

The No. 21 UNLV men's golf team was named Golfweek's Men's College Team of the Week, after the Rebels won the William H. Tucker Invitational on Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M.