HOUSTON — James Harden plans to sign a long-term extension with the Houston Rockets before the regular season begins.
Harden expects
to sign long-term
deal with Houston
HOUSTON — James Harden plans to sign a long-term extension with the Houston Rockets before the regular season begins.
The reigning Sixth Man of the Year joined his new team Sunday after he was traded to the Rockets from Oklahoma City late Saturday. The Thunder acquired guards Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb, two first-round picks and a second-round pick in the surprising deal. Oklahoma City also sent center Cole Aldrich and forwards Daequan Cook and Lazar Hayward to Houston.
“It happened so fast, it happened very fast,” Harden said. “But this is the position I’m in in now. Just have to make the best out of it. I’m with Houston now. I just have to come in here and play hard and win games.”
Thunder general manager Sam Presti said Houston was able to offer Harden a contract that Oklahoma City could not.
World Series
averages record low television rating
NEW YORK — The San Francisco Giants’ sweep of the Detroit Tigers set a record low for the World Series’ television ratings.
The four games on Fox averaged a 7.6 rating and 12 share, Nielsen Media Research said Monday. The previous low was an 8.4 for the 2008 Phillies-Rays and 2010 Giants-Rangers series, which each went five games.
Last year’s Cardinals-Rangers World Series went the full seven games and built momentum to average a 10.0/16.
San Francisco’s 2-0 win in Game 3 on Saturday night earned a 6.1/11, down from a 6.6/12 for St. Louis’ 16-7 win over Texas in the third game last year and matching the lowest for any World Series game. Philadelphia’s 5-4 win in Game 3 in 2008 also had a 6.1 rating on a night a rain delay pushed the start after 10 p.m. on the East Coast and the game didn’t end until 1:47 a.m.
The Giants’ 4-3, 10-inning victory in the finale Sunday night drew an 8.9/14, up slightly from the 9.2/14 for the Rangers’ 4-0 win over the Cardinals in 2011.
Ratings represent the percentage of all homes with TVs tuned into a program. Shares represent the percentage watching among all homes with TVs in use at the time.
Fox said it projects to win Saturday and Sunday nights among viewers 18 to 49.
Rowdy fans take
to streets after Giants’ victory
SAN FRANCISCO — The city of San Francisco cleaned up Monday after a rowdy World Series celebration turned violent in some neighborhoods and police arrested three dozen people.
The majority of arrests occurred in the Mission District, and included two people on gun charges, police Sgt. Michael Andraychak said.
“There were celebrations all over the city, and they were all peaceful and upbeat,” Andraychak said. “Unfortunately, as the night progressed, this other element emerged and were intent on doing violence.”
Bonfires of trash were lit in several intersections around the city, and a public transit bus was torched. Windows of several businesses and vehicles were broken, including a news van.
Firefighters needed a police escort to douse a bonfire near the Giants’ ball park. They also fought fires fueled by couches, news racks and other debris throughout the city.
NCAA poised to approve new enforcement policies
INDIANAPOLIS — Rule-breakers are about to find out just how tough the NCAA is going to be.
After debating changes for more than a year, the board of directors is poised to vote Tuesday on an enforcement proposal that would streamline the infractions process, impose harsher sanctions on the worst violators, expand the current two-tiered penalty structure to four and create a more standard set of penalty guidelines.
The details were first released in August when the board endorsed a proposal that has remained essentially unchanged.
“It’s something the membership put forward and, ultimately, I think it will be better,” Chris Strobel, the NCAA’s director of enforcement, told The Associated Press on Monday. “It’s allowing the enforcement staff to use its resources on the most severe cases, and it will include stronger and more consistent penalties, so I think it’s moving in the right direction.”
Strobel would not predict whether the sweeping changes would be approved, though it appears to be a foregone conclusion given the board’s previous stance.
McIlroy beats Woods in China exhibition
ZHENGZHOU, China — Rory McIlroy outdueled Tiger Woods in the first one-on-one exhibition match between golf’s two biggest names.
Woods thinks he’ll have plenty of chances to get revenge.
McIlroy shot a 5-under 67 to beat Woods by one stroke in an 18-hole match between the two top-ranked golfers at the Jinsha Lake Golf Club in central China on Monday.
“This is certainly not like most Mondays. To have this many people come out and watch us play golf in an exhibition was something special. This doesn’t happen,” Woods said. “As far as doing something like this down the road, it would be fun.”
The event, dubbed “Duel at Jinsha Lake,” marked the first time the two golfers had played head-to-head without other competitors. It probably won’t be the last.
Benneteau downs Troicki at Paris
PARIS — Julien Benneteau was among three French winners in the opening round of the Paris Masters on Monday, downing Victor Troicki of Serbia 6-4, 7-5 to set up a match against countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The other local winners were Gilles Simon and Benoit Paire. Simon beat 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 7-5, 6-1, and Paire defeated Pablo Andujar of Spain 6-3, 6-4.
In other first-round action, Andrea Seppi twice came back from the brink of defeat to beat Martin Klizan of Slovakia 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (5); Carlos Berlocq of Argentina beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 7-6 (2), 6-2.
Clijsters to play farewell match against V. Williams
BRUSSELS — Kim Clijsters will play a ceremonial farewell match on Dec. 12 against Venus Williams.
Clijsters retired from tennis after the U.S. Open in August but announced on her website on Monday that she will face her longtime rival in the Kim’s Thank You Games at the Antwerp Sports Palace.
The 29-year-old Belgian, a four-time Grand Slam winner, initially retired in 2007 only to make a return to the sport two years later. This time, she insists her retirement is for good.
Novak Djokovic to finish year as No. 1
LONDON — Novak Djokovic has clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking.
Djokovic lost the top spot to Roger Federer in July but will return to No. 1 next week.
The ATP says Federer will drop points from his 2011 title wins at the Swiss Indoors and Paris Masters. He lost in the Swiss Indoors final Sunday to Juan Martin del Potro, and then pulled out of next week’s Paris tournament.
The ATP says Federer will not be able to earn enough points to finish the year ahead of Djokovic.
The Serb will become the first player to finish No. 1 in consecutive years since Federer did it four straight times from 2004-07.
Djokovic will be officially crowned No. 1 during a presentation at the World Tour Finals in London next week.
By wire sources