Nba Draft

Moves Auto racing NASCAR -- Fined driver Juan Pablo Montoya $10,000 and placed him on probation through end of year for making obscene gesture on live television last week. Fined crew chief Todd Brewer $2,000 for using unapproved parts on No. 25 Ford Fusion during April 18 inspection. Baseball MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL -- Suspended minor league player Cedrick Brooks for 50 games for violating Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. ATHLETICS -- Activated 1B Dan Johnson from 15-day DL. Optioned C Adam Melhuse to Triple-A Sacramento.

Baseball ASTROS -- Called up OF Hunter Pence from Triple-A Round Rock. CARDINALS -- Optioned P Randy Keisler to Triple-A Memphis. Purchased contract of P Kelvin Jimenez from Memphis. PADRES -- Activated C Josh Bard from 15-day DL. Placed IF Russell Branyan on the bereavement list. REDS -- Agreed to one-year contract extension with P Todd Coffey through 2008. Sent P Jared Burton from Triple-A Louisville to Double-A Chattanooga on rehabilitation assignment. Traded OF Chris Denorfia to Athletics for cash and two players to be named.

Until he had to talk about June 30, former Lake Clifton and George Washington star Shawnta Rogers was having a happy draft at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor Hotel last night.For starters, Rogers was invited to the International Basketball League draft, unlike the NBA version at the MCI Center in Washington, which he watched at home.And as the third-round pick of the Baltimore BayRunners, it was a warmer feeling than three weeks ago, when Rogers sat waiting for a call that wouldn't come."My stats and my abilities speak for themselves -- better than any other guard in the draft," he said, "So I think that I should have been taken in the NBA draft."

The production staff that will telecast tomorrow night's NBA draft from Washington's MCI Center for TNT has been preparing for four months and we are assured that they have a game plan for how to cover the two-round extravaganza.But producer Jeff Behnke isn't expecting the script to last for very long."About three minutes into the telecast, we'll have the ceremonial burning of the format," Behnke said yesterday. "Maybe it will make it to 7: 52.""If it lasts that long," chimed in host Ernie Johnson.

COLLEGE PARK -- Steve Francis discussed his options with family, friends and Washington Wizards guard Rod Strickland, who works in the league he aspires to. Gary Williams conferred with more than a dozen NBA insiders, and distilled the matter down to the basics."

In less than a year, they went from three-time NBA champions to league pushovers, earning the No. 1 pick in the draft. Now, the Chicago Bulls have some decisions to make entering tonight's NBA draft.Should they keep the pick and draft Steve Francis, Elton Brand or the mysterious Lamar Odom? Or should the Bulls make a deal with one of the teams eager to move up in the draft?Those are two of the many questions that will be answered at tonight's draft, which will be held at the MCI Center in Washington.

WASHINGTON -- As the top pick in last night's NBA draft, Duke's Elton Brand was booed by the pro-Maryland fans at the MCI Center. As the No. 2 pick, former Maryland star Steve Francis all but booed the team that selected him.Brand was selected first by the rebuilding Chicago Bulls, and Francis was picked second by the Vancouver Grizzlies as the Atlantic Coast Conference dominated the top two picks of the 1999 draft.Overall, there were few surprises among the top 10 selections. The draft was expected to be dominated by point guards, and four point guards were among the first 10 selections.

I just don't like going to school." That was Jason Williams' explanation for why he left the third college in as many years to join last year's NBA draft. Mr. Williams just wanted to skip the charade and start making the big bucks, as 27 underclassmen and high school graduates are hoping to do in today's NBA draft.Judging by the numerous scandals involving athletes and academics, Mr. Williams should be commended for his decision. Both he and the University of Florida won. Why should Mr. Williams and others go for yet another year of dozing through lightweight courses to remain eligible for their nonacademic scholarships?

BaseballCardinals: Optioned P Sean Lowe to Triple-A Memphis.Cubs: Recalled IF Jason Hardtke from Triple-A Iowa.Devil Rays: Recalled P Scott Aldred from Triple-A Durham. Optioned P Ramon Tatis to short-season Single-A Hudson Valley. Transferred P Bryan Rekar from 15-day to 60-day DL, retroactive to March 31.Diamondbacks: Claimed P Amaury Telemaco off waivers from Cubs.Dodgers: Recalled P Dennis Reyes from Triple-A Albuquerque. Returned P Frank Lankford, Rule 5 draft choice, to Yankees' Triple-A Columbus.

It's a draft that Denver Nuggets general manager Dan Issel describes as not having "an immediate-impact player," a draft that Seattle SuperSonics general manager Wally Walker says is "not particularly star-heavy," a draft in which possibly the best player, Nigerian-born Michael Olowokandi, has been seen by few fans outside the Big West Conference.So that, naturally, translates to a weak draft, right?Hardly.Unlike a year ago, when Tim Duncan and Keith Van Horn had "can't miss" written all over them, there will be few instant superstars available when the NBA holds its annual draft in Vancouver, British Columbia, tonight.

Georgetown forward DaJuan Summers, who grew up in Baltimore and played for McDonogh as well as the Cecil-Kirk Amateur Athletic Union team, will get a chance to fulfill his NBA dream after he was drafted 35th overall by the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night in the second round of the NBA draft. "I'm very excited," said Summers, who celebrated draft night with his family and friends with a party in the Inner Harbor at the ESPN Zone. "That's where I wanted to go. Didn't think I'd go in the second round, thought it was the first.

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez, who led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists last season, said Monday that he has opted to return for his senior season. The decision means Vasquez, who spent the past month performing workouts and drills for NBA teams, has withdrawn his name from the June 25 NBA draft. Coach Gary Williams met with Vasquez on Monday afternoon in the coach's Comcast Center office. Vasquez left after the meeting was over, then returned a short while later and enthusiastically shook hands with the coach he has often defended.

Colleges Memphis says it found no evidence of wrongdoing Memphis says it should keep the victories from the 2007-08 season that ended in the national title game after an internal investigation turned up no proof that a former men's basketball player cheated on his SAT. "Certainly, the University of Memphis should not suffer a financial penalty or vacation of records for the 2008 NCAA tournament as a result of this allegation," a report detailing the...

WASHINGTON -- Maryland guard Greivis Vasquez worked out with his third NBA team, the Washington Wizards, on Thursday and said his decision whether to remain in the NBA draft - or return to school - might not be made until just before the June 15 deadline. The 6-foot-6 junior, who was Maryland's leading scorer and rebounder last season, donned black shorts and a black Wizards practice jersey during a workout at Verizon Center with three other prospects. Flip Saunders, Washington's new coach, led the workout, and team president Ernie Grunfeld watched from a balcony above the practice court.

Vasquez entering NBA draft sans agent col. hoops Maryland junior guard Greivis Vasquez has officially declared for the NBA draft, the school announced Thursday. Vasquez doesn't plan to hire an agent, which gives him the option of returning to the Terps for his senior season. "It's a good opportunity for Greivis to test his marketability," coach Gary Williams said in a statement. Vasquez averaged 17.5 points, 5.0 assists and 5.4 rebounds this past season and was named second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.

Celtics' Garnett could miss playoffs nba Kevin Garnett, the centerpiece of the Boston Celtics' 2008 championship and a key to its hopes of a repeat, could miss the playoffs because of a knee injury that has limited him to four games over the final two months of the season. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that Garnett will not be ready for Game 1 against the Chicago Bulls and might not be back at all. "It's not official that he's out for the entire playoffs, but it's official as far as I'm concerned," Rivers said.

MLB payrolls drop by $47M from 2008 baseball The recession has hit baseball salaries. Teams cut payrolls for their active rosters and disabled lists by $47 million from Opening Day in 2008 to the first day of this season, according to an analysis by the Associated Press. That comes out to a decline of 1.7 percent. The drop is the first since 2004 and just the second since the 1994-1995 strike. Sixteen of the 30 clubs cut payroll. Among those who lowered spending - the mighty New York Yankees.

Sooners' B. Griffin entering NBA draft col. hoops Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin will give up his final two years of eligibility and head to the NBA after a sophomore season that ended with his being recognized as college basketball's top player. Griffin announced his decision Tuesday, saying it was time to take his game to the next level. Griffin, who helped the Sooners win 30 games for only the fifth time, led the nation with 30 double doubles and 14.4 rebounds while also averaging a Big 12-best 22.7 points.

The University of Memphis gave Kentucky permission Monday to speak to John Calipari about the Wildcats' head coaching position, then made a final push to try to keep the coach. Some of Memphis' key boosters met with Calipari on Monday. One booster expects Calipari to go to Kentucky, though the person, speaking to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged the coach was torn between the two great opportunities. The Wildcats had a short meeting at their practice gym Monday afternoon.

NCAA wrestling 7 p.m. [ESPN2] While some guys playing in the basketball tournament are wrestling with a decision on whether to enter the NBA draft, other athletes are wrestling, period. ESPN2 is carrying coverage of the Division I championships (left), perfect for those of you who have a wrestling mania, as opposed to WrestleMania.