In brief
basketball
Naismith document on original rules auctioned for $4.3 million
A historic document that details the original rules of basketball, written in 1891 as a winter sport for boys of a Massachusetts YMCA, was sold for $4.3 million Friday in Sotheby's in New York to raise money for charity.
James Naismith wrote the 13 rules on a two-page typed document with his handwritten notes while he was a physical education instructor at the Christian association.
The document includes Naismith's signature, added in 1931, and an afterword noting it was "hung in the gym so the boys might learn the rules."
The proceeds will benefit the Naismith International Basketball Foundation, which promotes sportsmanship and provides services to underprivileged children around the world.
The document was purchased by David Booth, who hopes to bring the rules to the University of Kansas, his alma mater. Naismith was the first basketball coach at the school.
Also: Duke freshman point guard Kyrie Irving had his right foot placed in a hard cast to help an injured toe heal. He is out indefinitely for the top-ranked Blue Devils.
Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman will miss at least three weeks because of an aggravated bone bruise and ligament sprain of his left ankle. He is averaging 10.5 points and 7.1 rebounds in 10 games.
baseball
Middle reliever Downs to get $15 million deal from Angels
The Los Angeles Angels and reliever Scott Downs agreed to a $15 million, three-year deal.
Downs, one of the top middle relievers on the free-agent market, went 5-5 with a 2.64 ERA in 67 games for the Toronto Blue Jays last season. The 34-year-old left-hander is 27-28 with 16 saves in 379 games in nine major league seasons.
Also: Jack Cust and the Seattle Mariners completed a $2.5 million, one-year contract, giving the team a new designated hitter.
The Boston Red Sox completed their one-year deal with catcher Jason Varitek. He will be paid a base salary of $2 million and could make $300,000 in incentives if he starts 80 games at catcher.
The Baltimore Orioles reached agreement on a $1.5 million, one-year contract with shortstop Cesar Izturis, who will apparently compete for a utility job behind newcomer J.J. Hardy.
Catcher Wil Nieves agreed to a $775,000, one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Houston Astros signed Australian left-hander Aaron Rowland-Smith to a one-year, $725,000 deal.
miscellaneous
Defending champs shoot 63, share lead in Shark Shootout
Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly combined for a 9-under-par 63 and Dustin Johnson and Ian Poulter matched their score to share the first-round lead at the Shark Shootout in Naples, Fla.
Stricker and Kelly, the defending champions, led for most of the day in the modified alternate-shot format. They had a two-stroke lead at 10 under until bogeying the par-5 17th when Stricker knocked his second shot near the lip of a greenside bunker. Johnson and Poulter birdied No. 16 to get to 9 under.
Also: American Bobby Gates shot a 1-under 71 in windy conditions to maintain a one-stroke lead after the third round of the Australian PGA in Coolum, Australia. Gates had a 12-under 204 total, one shot ahead of Aaron Townsend (70) and Peter Senior (68).
South African newcomer Anthony Michael shot a 3-under 69 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane, South Africa, to extend his lead to two shots in the European Tour's 2011 season opener. He had six birdies and three bogeys to finish the second round at 9-under 135.
Martina Navratilova was hospitalized in Kenya because of fluid accumulation in her lungs after attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The 54-year-old tennis great will spend two to three days in the hospital and is expected to recover. Navratilova was trying to climb the mountain in Tanzania as part of a 27-person team to raise money and awareness for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
The top 100 men in the world rankings and top 98 women are scheduled to play in the Australian Open from Jan. 17 to 30, giving the first Grand Slam of the year one of its best fields ever.
Top-ranked Rafael Nadal will attempt to win his fourth straight major, while No. 2 Roger Federer is chasing his fifth Australian Open title. Women's No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki is seeking her first Grand Slam title.
Kentucky senior quarterback Mike Hartline pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and alcohol intoxication after being arrested early Friday after an argument with a woman.
Top-seeded Louisville defeated North Carolina 2-1 and Akron beat Michigan 2-1 in the semifinals of the NCAA College Cup at Santa Barbara, Calif. The Cardinals (21-0-3) and the Zips (21-1-2) will play Sunday for the Division I men's soccer championship.
