In Brief

GOLF

Woods has ankle treated; agent refutes rumor of Achilles' injury

Tiger Woods had a cortisone shot in his right ankle 10 days ago to relieve lingering soreness. By Tuesday, he was back to work hitting balls and filming a commercial in Orlando, Fla.

Mark Steinberg, his agent at IMG, said Woods had intended all along to have the shot after the Chevron World Challenge, which ended Dec. 5. Woods has nearly two months off before his next tournament at Torrey Pines.

"This was always the plan," Steinberg said. "He's looking at 2011 as a big year for him."

Steinberg spoke in response to Internet chatter that Woods had torn his Achilles' tendon while skiing. He said Woods has not skied in more than three years.

At this year's Masters, Woods revealed he ruptured the Achilles' tendon in his right leg in December 2008 while recovering from knee surgery. Steinberg said it still causes soreness, prompting the cortisone shot.

BASKETBALL

Yao's ankle injury has Rockets seeking salary cap exception

The Houston Rockets asked the NBA for a disabled player salary cap exception in the wake of Yao Ming's season-ending ankle injury.

Yao has been out since Nov. 10, and the team announced Friday that he had a stress fracture in his left ankle. The seven-time All-Star, who missed all of last season following foot surgery, appeared in only five regular-season games this year before going down again.

The disabled player exception would allow the Rockets to acquire a free agent or trade for a player without having to match salaries, up to the value of the midlevel exception (about $5.75 million).

Team spokesman Nelson Luis confirmed the Rockets' decision, a request first reported by the Houston Chronicle. The NBA granted Portland a disabled player exception earlier this month after Greg Oden suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Also: Los Angeles Clippers forward Craig Smith will miss at least two weeks with a herniated disc in his lower back. Smith is averaging 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 24 games with the Clippers.

The Clippers also are without starting center Chris Kaman, who is out until at least next month with an injured left ankle, and reserve forward Brian Cook, who has missed two games with a sprained right ankle.

Mississippi State sophomore Renardo Sidney's long-awaited return to the court has hit a snag.

The 6-foot-10-inch forward was suspended for one game for "conduct detrimental to the team," school spokesman Gregg Ellis said. Ellis confirmed that the suspension is related to an incident during Monday's practice, but he declined to provide further details.

Sidney has played in only one game this season because of an NCAA suspension. He had 12 points and three rebounds in 25 minutes before fouling out in the Bulldogs' 88-57 loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday.

Sophomore guard Curtis Dennis said he will transfer from New Mexico to be closer to his home in New York City. The shooting guard started the first three games this season while Phillip McDonald was hurt, but he's rarely left the bench since.

MISCELLANEOUS

Future of Preakness in doubt after live racing vote rejected

The future of the Preakness at Pimlico is in doubt after a vote by Maryland's racing commission.

The board has voted to reject a proposal by the owners of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park to conduct live racing next year, meaning there won't be horse racing at either track next year unless an agreement is reached.

That would leave the future of the Triple Crown's second leg in doubt at the track where it has been run since 1873. Nearly $80 million was bet on the race this year, which was attended by more than 95,000.

"It's disappointing the parties involved could not reach an agreement," Gov. Martin O'Malley said in a statement. "We are prepared to aggressively protect the state's interests, as we did two years ago when presented with the threat of losing Maryland's treasured Preakness Stakes.

"We will continue to explore the legal options available to us."

UNLV's Kier Maitland was named Mountain West Conference men's swimmer of the week, and Jessica Heim won the MWC women's weekly honor. Maitland won all three of his events in the UNLV Winter Invitational, taking the 200-, 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle. In the same meet, Heim won the women's 200, 500 and 1,650 freestyle.

Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in Zurich to open a two-match exhibition series for charity between the world's top-ranked tennis players.

Federer sealed the victory on Nadal's serve with a backhand crosscourt return in front of 10,000 fans at sold-out Hallenstadion indoor arena. This was the first time they have played each other in Federer's home country.