HOOPS: LeBron hurt
LeBron James sprained his left index finger in the second quarter last night and did not return for the Cavaliers in a 109-74 loss to the Pistons in Auburn Hills.
The Cavs said X-rays were negative, adding he would be evaluated again today.
COLLEGE: Michigan eyes Miles
LSU athletic director Skip Bertman confirmed that his Michigan counterpart, Bill Martin, has requested permission to speak with Les Miles about becoming the next coach of the Wolverines, espn.com reported.
Bertman requested that the meeting not take place until after LSU plays Tennessee on Saturday for the SEC championship. Martin told Bertman he will comply, the report said.
* A familiar name from Duke’s football past was on campus yesterday: Steve Spurrier. The South Carolina grid coach met with athletic director Joe Alleva, two days after the Blue Devils fired coach Ted Roof.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reported that Spurrier was seen shaking hands with the AD as they left Duke’s athletic facility. A school spokesman told The Associated Press the two are old friends. Earlier this week, Alleva said he planned to consult with Spurrier during his search for a replacement for Roof.
* Greg Robinson will have another season to get Syracuse turned around. Athletic director Daryl Gross announced Robinson will remain as coach in 2008, despite leading the Orange through the worst three-year stretch in the history of the program, including the first two 10-loss seasons in school history.
“Despite our collective disappointment with this season, those I talked with agreed with me that stability is tremendously important to our program, specifically as it relates to recruiting, and stabilizing and building solid classes of student-athletes,” Gross said.
* Houston assistant Chris Thurmond was named interim football coach of the Cougars, a few hours after Art Briles accepted an offer to become the coach at Baylor. Thurmond, 54, will coach Houston through the Texas Bowl on Dec. 28.
BASEBALL: Linebrink, Chisox agree
Relief pitcher Scott Linebrink and the White Sox finalized a $19 million, four-year contract for the 31-year-old right-hander to serve as setup man.