Roundup

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass, Dubai World Cup winner Curlin and the late filly Eight Belles were among Eclipse Award finalists announced. Big Brown, Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John and Raven's Pass were nominated for 3-year-old male honors. Winners will be honored at the 38th annual ceremony Jan. 26 in Miami Beach, Fla., where finalists for Horse of the Year will be announced. Curlin, nominated along with Commentator and Brazilian-bred Einstein for older male, is expected to be in the running for his second consecutive Horse of the Year honor. For a list of the finalists, see For the Record on Page 6.

Golf:: Geoff Ogilvy opened the PGA Tour season with a 6-under-par 67 and a one-shot lead in the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Kapalua, Hawaii. Ernie Els, Kenny Perry and Johnson Wagner were a stroke behind.

NBA: : Tony Parker scored 19 points and the host San Antonio Spurs (24-11) won, 106-84, over the Los Angeles Clippers (8-27). The Clippers have lost nine straight. ... Josh Howard scored 19 points to help the Dallas Mavericks (22-13) win, 99-94, over the visiting New York Knicks (13-21). Center Eddy Curry had two points and two rebounds in 2 1/2 minutes in his first game this season for the Knicks. He missed the first 33 with a right knee injury.

Tennis:: Top-ranked Rafael Nadal was eliminated from the ATP Qatar Open in Doha, while Roger Federer advanced to the semifinals of the tuneup for the Australian Open. Nadal lost to Gael Monfils, 6-4, 6-4, and Federer saved three set points to defeat Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-2, 7-6 (6). Federer will face Andy Murray, who defeated Sergiy Stakhovsky, 6-4, 6-2. Monfils will play Andy Roddick. The eighth-ranked American beat Victor Hanescu, 6-3, 6-2.

Auto racing:: Richard Petty's famed No. 43 Dodge was rescued from near ruin when Gillett Evernham Motorsports agreed to merge with Petty's slumping organization, Petty Enterprises, to create a new, four-car team.

Figure skating:: Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto will have to share the record of five U.S. dance titles a little while longer. They withdrew from this month's U.S. championships because of Agosto's back injury.

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