Madonna: Boy I Plan to Adopt Is Healthy

CHICAGO - Madonna said the 13-month-old boy she plans to adopt from the African country of Malawi is healthy and thriving in her London home, in an interview that aired Wednesday on "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

The child, David Banda, was taken to London last week after Malawi's High Court granted Madonna and her husband, director Guy Ritchie, an interim adoption order.

Madonna said David was healthy, despite having overcome malaria and tuberculosis. The interview was taped Tuesday via satellite from London.

"David is amazing," the 48-year-old pop star said. "What really surprises me is how great my children are with him and how he's transitioned so easily from …

Star's journey: from hoops to volleyball to hoops

Elena Delle Donne stood alone in the University of Delaware gym, making jumper after jumper. She looked completely at home.

Getting there just took a while.

More than a year ago, the former national high school player of the year abruptly left coach Geno Auriemma and a Connecticut team bound for a perfect season and sixth national championship. Now, after a stint starring in volleyball, she's set to play basketball again.

"I can't wait for the season to start, especially games," Delle Donne said in an interview with The Associated Press. "The last time I was this happy was in high school before the whole recruiting thing started. …

Phillips suspended 2 games for outburst, will appeal

Tony Phillips was handed a two-game suspension Tuesday by AmericanLeague president Gene Budig "for his actions leading up to andfollowing his ejection" by umpire John Shulock in the White Sox' gameApril 21.

Phillips is appealing the suspension, so he was in the Sox'starting lineup at third base.

"I'm not sure we can (get it overturned)," Sox general managerRon Schueler said. "I think Tony thinks he can."Schueler was disappointed that Budig's decision took so long.The Sox just returned from New York, where the appeal could have beenheard at the league office on Monday's off day.Phillips is miffed by the decision because there was no physicalcontact."How can you …

Atlantic City embracing Roaring '20s party vibe

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — From flapper costumes to swing dance contests and whiskey-soaked cocktails, Atlantic City is going retro, embracing the Roaring '20s in a big way.

It's a new strategy to attract new business by invoking the round-the-clock party vibe of a bygone era and cashing in on nationwide interest in the hit HBO show "Boardwalk Empire" about Prohibition-era Atlantic City.

Casinos are dressing workers in period costumes, serving drinks from the speakeasy era, teaching jazz and swing tunes to entertainers and sponsoring dance contests like the Lindy, the Charleston and the Shimmy.

Resorts Casino Hotel, whose hotel was built in the 1920s, re-branded itself …

Euro 2008 at 1200 GMT

SPAIN-ITALY: World Cup champion plays Spain in the Euro 2008 quarterfinals

VIENNA, Austria _ World Cup champion Italy, which struggled in the first round of the European Championship, plays Spain in the quarterfinals on Sunday. The Spanish cruised to three straight wins in Group D, but the other three group winners at the tournament have all been upset in the first knockout round. BC-EU-SPT-SOC--EURO 2008-SPAIN-ITALY. Match starts at 1845 GMT. By Stuart Condie.

GERMANY: Turkey adopts some German qualities ahead of Euro 2008 semifinals

TENERO, Switzerland _ Fight to the last second, never give up. Late comebacks. Win on penalties. Sounds like …

Flatwater parties to celebrate its riverside debut

Scenesters have begun docking at Flatwater, 321 N. Clark. Open forbusiness since July, the hip new restaurant on the Chicago River heldits grand opening party last Thursday.

"This is so elegant," said Ben Rodgers, one of about 450 guestswho attended the party. "I'm hoping people will set up more placeslike this along the river. It's such a waste of real estate if theydon't."

Flatwater's outdoor dining room offers a striking nighttime view.After 8 p.m., bright blue Clark Street bridge lights and thesurrounding buildings cast a glittering reflection on the river.

"This is very Miami," said Roxanne Brazin. "It's so pretty outhere and we're right in the …

Carter and Carter appoints U.S. collision business unit director

Carter and Carter International announced that Peter Fridrich has joined the company as the Collision Business Unit Director for the United States. He will be responsible for business development in the collision sector. Prior to joining Carter and Carter International, Fridrich worked as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for Sterling Autobody Centers. Carter and Carter also …

In a spin: Sehwag's offbreaks trouble Australia

Offspinner Virender Sehwag has taken just 27 wickets in his 63-test career, but none were more valuable than the three he captured Friday to rattle Australia on the third day of the third test.

After captain and legspinner Anil Kumble departed the field with split webbing in his left hand during the middle session, Sehwag successfully filled the void as Australia posted 338-4 in reply to India's first-innings 613-7.

Sehwag took 3-66 in 22 overs, including bowling Michael Hussey for 53 in the fourth-last over at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium. He earlier bowled Ricky Ponting for 87 after winning an lbw decision with Matthew Hayden on 83.

"All three …

Concert at cathedral ; In brief

BRENTWOOD: A concert featuring a choir from Austria is takingplace at Brentwood Cathedral this weekend.

The concert is being staged by the Hutton and …

IAEA Says North Korea Has Shut Reactor

SEOUL, South Korea - United Nations inspectors have verified that North Korea has shut down its sole functioning nuclear reactor, the chief of the watchdog agency said Monday, confirming the isolated country had taken its first step in nearly five years to halt production of atomic weapons.

South Korea sent more oil to the North on Monday to reward its compliance with an international disarmament agreement.

"Our inspectors are there. They verified the shutting down of the reactor yesterday," said Mohamed ElBaradei, chief of the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency.

"The process has been going quite well and we have had good cooperation from North Korea. It's a …

Captain of Air France Flight 447 was son of pilot

Marc Dubois grew up to be a pilot, just like his dad.

The younger Dubois was last heard from Sunday night, when the Air France Flight 447 he was captaining encountered fierce thunderstorms over the mid-Atlantic and plunged into the ocean with 228 people on board.

Marc Dubois, 58, had been flying jets for Air France for more than 20 years after joining the airline from rival French domestic carrier Air Inter in 1988, according to colleagues.

His father, Jean-Paul Dubois, had also been an Air France pilot, and died last March at age 89, according to the La Nouvelle Republique newspaper.

Marc Dubois had 11,000 hours of flying time for Air …

Volvo Aero signs engine component deal with Rolls-Royce worth US$6.7 billion over 40 years

Sweden's Volvo AB said Tuesday that its aircraft unit Volvo Aero has signed a contract with Rolls-Royce to develop an engine component for the Airbus A350XWB aircraft.

The bus and truck maker said it expects the contract will be worth around 40 billion kronor (US$6.7 billion) over 40 years.

Under the agreement, Volvo will develop and manufacture the intermediate compressor case for the Trent XWB engine in Trollhattan, Sweden.

It said the Trent XWB program has already generated 362 firm aircraft orders.

The A350XWB is scheduled to enter service in 2013.

Rice: Democrats Won't End Iraq Mission

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the Democratic wave that won the party control of Congress did nothing to deter the Bush administration from continuing its Iraq mission until "the goal that took us to Iraq" is reached.

"It's too important to our own security," Rice said in a newspaper interview distributed Thursday by the State Department. "Iraq has to be successful for America to be secure."

Rice said President Bush has promised "that we will certainly make adjustments to our policy" in Iraq. "We will certainly look to new ideas."

But while "the American people clearly were voting for change, as the president said," they "were not voting for anything less than a success in Iraq."

Polling found that qualms about the Iraq war ranked high on the list of reasons given by voters Tuesday for taking away from the GOP control of both the House and the Senate.

One of Bush's first public acts was to remove Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, widely viewed as the architect of the war effort, and nominate former CIA Director Robert Gates to replace him.

"The American commitment to the goals that took us to Iraq remains absolutely steadfast, and that is what is important," Rice said.

Interviewer Derwin Pereira of the Singapore newspaper The Straits Times asked, "So you're saying that the U.S. will stay the course?"

Rice replied: "The United States will certainly keep after the goal that took us to Iraq, because it's too important to our own security. Iraq has to be successful for America to be secure. And so we will maintain that course."

`Spunk' plays well, but reads better

Long before there was Toni Morrison, Alice Walker or GloriaNaylor, there was Zora Neale Hurston.

The most formidable as well as the most controversial blackfemale writer to emerge during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s,Hurston was a trained anthropologist, folklorist and prolificstoryteller whose work fed hungrily on her rural roots.

Despite criticism by peers who accused her of perpetuatingstereotypes, Hurston (1891-1960) forged ahead, convinced that therewas something worth celebrating in the distinctive dialect andmemorable "types" that were a part of the black life she knew.

It was Alice Walker who helped bring Hurston's literaryachievements back into the light. But it was playwright George C.Wolfe (author of "The Colored Museum") who first tapped thetheatrical potential of her writing in "Spunk," his adaptation ofthree of her stories. Developed at the Mark Taper Forum in LosAngeles, premiered by New Jersey's Crossroads Theatre Company andstaged at New York's Public Theatre in 1990, the blues-infused playopened Monday night at the Goodman Studio Theatre.

I can't quarrel for a minute with Donald Douglass' stylish,richly musical direction and choreography, or with his talented castof seven. But I much prefer reading Hurston's stories to seeing themall dressed up and fussed over for the stage. There's just so muchinnate theatricality in her writing that adding music, masks, puppetsand story theater-style narration too often seems like overkill.

Nevertheless, the show has it pleasures. And best of all, itwill undoubtedly lead many theatergoers back to the printed page.

The three stories in "Spunk" are variations on that most basictheme: the relationship between men and women. One is tragic, one iscomic and one is simply wise. But all are memorable for Hurston'slush use of language, which is amplified by Chic Street Man's bluesyscore, sung throughout with fiery force by Shari A. Seals (calledBlues Speak Woman), working in tandem with guitarist Stevie Robinson.

The show opens with the grimmest story, "Sweat," about an abusedwife (played movingly by Wandachristine), who finally finds thestrength to stand up to her sadistic husband (Donald Griffin).

It moves on to "Story in Harlem Slang" (a glossary is includedin the program), a broadly farcical tale about two penniless,rambunctiously zoot-suited male prostitutes (played by the remarkablyelastic Ellis Foster and Griffin). The pair have the unmitigatedgall to try to entice a stunning woman (the enchanting JoNellKennedy, who has stardom written all over her) to treat them todinner in exchange for their sexual favors. The joke is on them.

The final story, "The Gilded Six-Bits," is the most effective,in part because it's the most simply told. It's about a poor, youngcouple (Kennedy and Robert Barnett) who are madly in love but brieflytorn apart by the wife's efforts to get a bit of gold. The highlightof the evening comes in a breathtaking blues-induced labor anddelivery scene that beautifully enhances Hurston's words rather thangilding them.

Cop guilty of attacking female bartender fired

A Chicago Police officer convicted of beating a woman in a bar has been fired, the Chicago Police Board announced Tuesday.

The firing of Anthony Abbate was a formality because the police department does not allow felons on the force. He repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a police board hearing.

Abbate was convicted of felony aggravated battery for beating Karolina Obrycka on Feb. 19, 2007, in a Northwest Side bar. He was sentenced to two years probation. A videotape of the beating was widely circulated on the Internet and watched around the world.

Police Supt. Jody Weis had asked the police board to fire Abbate. The nine-member civilian board makes decisions on police discipline.

Abbate's firing was praised by the Chicago chapter of the National Organization for Woman.

Photo: Anthony Abbate Photo: Karolina Obrycka Photo: Anthony Abbate confronts Karolina Obrycka in the videotaped attack.

Court won't review claim of mental impairment

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won't review a claim by a Texas death row inmate who says his mental impairment should prevent his execution.

The court said Monday won't hear an appeal from Michael Wayne Hall. A federal trial judge and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans have found that Hall is not mentally impaired.

Hall scored 67 on an intelligence test at the time of his trial for the murder of a 19-year-old woman in 1998; a score of 70 generally is the threshold for impairment.

Hall and Robert Neville Jr. shot Amy Robinson, a mentally impaired woman who once worked with them at a Dallas-area supermarket.

Neville was executed in 2006.

The case is Hall v. Thaler, 10-37.

Calling halt to walking tours

GUIDED tours of Carmarthen's medieval past have finished for theyear, the town council have been told.

Deputy mayor Philip Grice confirmed the final walk of the yearhad been held earlier that day. The walks were organised byCarmarthen Town Council and have been successfully resurrected inrecent years.

They will start again next May, councillors heard.

Local sports

HOLES IN ONE

* Adam Beck aced the 142-yard No. 6 at Shawnee Golf Course with a7-iron. The witnesses were Josh Titlow and Darren Wilburn.

* Jansen Arnold aced the 157-yard No. 5 at Big Bend with an 8-iron.

The witnesses were Mark Sanders and Steve Kosior.

ALL-STAR BASEBALL

South Charleston's Josh Daniel pitched a perfect game in 15-16Little League District 3 tournament action Tuesday at BlackwellField. SC beat South Putnam, 15-0, as Daniel struck out 14 of the 15batters he faced.

AMERICAN LEGION

Pitching for South Charleston American Legion Post 94, formerHerbert Hoover ace Adam Myers threw a five-inning no-hitter in histeam's 10-0 victory over Charleston. Myers struck out five.

LOCAL GOLF

Defending champ Betty Brandon took a 12-shot lead into today'sfinal round of the Kanawha Valley Women's Golf Association Tournamentat Edgewood Country Club.

Brandon opened with a 75 on Tuesday at Kanawha Country Club butstumbled to an 82 Wednesday at Berry Hills.

Her two-day total of 157 is 12 shots better than second-placeBarbara Dawson's 169. Dawson had Wednesday's best round, an 81.

In third place going into today is Mary Payne, who stood at 172.

UN: Migrant worker cuts won't solve global crisis

Any move by countries to cut their migrant worker numbers in response to the global financial crisis will not work, a senior U.N. official said Tuesday.

There is no evidence yet that the global financial crisis has threatened the jobs of the millions of migrant workers, but that is a very real prospect, said Peter Sutherland, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative on migration.

"It is inevitable that if GDP growth globally declines as it clearly is doing ... then this will have an effect on migrants, either in terms of wanting to go home or in terms of being unemployed in the places to which they've come," he told reporters in Manila.

But any labor restrictions that developed countries might impose in a bid to reduce the impact of the economic slowdown won't work because migrants always find a way to go abroad, he said.

"We've seen how ineffective simple prohibition policies in regard to migration actually are," Sutherland said. "They don't really work."

Sharan Burrow, president of the International Trade Union Confederation, said Monday that any new restrictions may lead to a rise in illegal migrants. She estimated there were up to 40 million illegal migrant workers across the world, a quarter of them in the United States.

The International Labor Organization said earlier that the global financial crisis may result in 20 million people losing their jobs between now and the end of next year, raising the total number of people unemployed globally to 210 million.

Sutherland and Burrow were attending the Global Forum on Migration and Development, a U.N.-funded conference scheduled to be addressed by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Manila on Wednesday.

The forum aims to come up with coherent policies for the protection of migrant workers, Sutherland said.

The UN and European Union also announced Tuesday a 15 million euro ($18.7 million) joint initiative to aid migration and protect migrant workers.

The program, to be funded by the EU and implemented by UN agencies, will provide grants for projects in 16 labor-providing countries, including the Philippines, said Gerhard Sabathil, a European Commission director.

With more than 8 million Filipinos working overseas, the Philippines is among the world's top exporters of labor _ together with Mexico, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said last week that most of the Filipinos working overseas had not been affected yet by the financial crisis, but a contingency plan has been put together to cope with possible layoffs.

___

On the Net:

Global Forum on Migration: http://government.gfmd2008.org

Operatic launch

THE Metropolitan Opera's 2011/12 season launches at Theatr Mwldanin Cardigan, with Donizetti's Anna Bolena, starring Anna Netrebko onSaturday, October 15 at 6pm.

Tickets, are Pounds 18 (Pounds 16 concessions).

Giuliani: big state of mind; Former NYC mayor banking on votes in Florida, Illinois to make Iowa, N.H. irrelevant

The conventional wisdom is that Rudy Giuliani has seen hiscampaign hit a soft spot and he faces perilous waters in the earlyvoting, but he's entertaining none of that negative thinking.

Point to slippage in some national surveys of the Republicanpresidential standings, and he can cite the more reliableRealClearPolitics.com average of all polls showing the trend linestill gives him a comfortable advantage. And he will reel off thenames of big states where he has big leads.

Bring up the surge by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee andGiuliani will laugh, saying nothing surprises him in politics.Moreover, while Huckabee's rise is built on evangelicals unhappywith other candidates, Giuliani told me during his latest Chicagovisit that he sees no erosion in his support among socialconservatives, a standing that continues to mystify the pundits.

I mentioned the rise of Democrat Barack Obama and his appeal ofgenerational change, and the former New York mayor cited pollingshowing that he, like Obama, does well among younger voters.

Political candidates always are upbeat about their prospects --how else could they take on the challenge when the odds of victoryare often long? -- but the optimism Giuliani voices reflects apositive tone to his campaign that doesn't always come across in theharsh exchanges of the televised debates. That optimism was ondisplay in a town hall meeting at the Italian American NationalSports Hall of Fame in Chicago Friday as he discussed how theRepublican Party had to stand for freedom of the individual incontrast to the Democrats' reflex of turning over more control ofour lives to government.

Huckabee is portrayed as the fresh face in the GOP primarysweepstakes. But his policies betray him as the candidate ondomestic issues who most resembles President Bush -- a socialconservative, big-government Republican. And he outdoes Bush on bothcounts. He's not just pro-life and anti-embryonic stem cellresearch, he doesn't believe in evolution. He's not just in favor ofgovernment doing more for the people, he has a record of raisingtaxes to pay for it.

Giuliani is not from the Bush mold. Where he represents a turningof the page for Republicans that Huckabee does not is that he can becompetitive in states in the Northeast and Midwest that would haveto be surrendered, again, by a socially conservative southernRepublican nominee.

That appeal is central to the New Yorker's approach to winningthe nomination. Giuliani is not ignoring Iowa and New Hampshire, buthe won't do well in the Hawkeye State caucuses. His hopes are higherin New Hampshire and other early test states, Michigan, Nevada andSouth Carolina. But his strategy is banking on moderate big statesthat bumped up their voting to earlier in the season to steal someof the selection thunder from Iowa and New Hampshire.

First up is Florida Jan. 29 where polls give Giuliani a big lead.Then come Tsunami Tuesday, Feb. 5, and 22 contests with more than1,100 national convention delegates at stake. Illinois, which hasmore than twice as many delegates as New Hampshire and Iowacombined, is one of those states, and Giuliani has spent more timehere than the other GOP candidates and has the best organization.The biggest contest is in California, where the RealClearPoliticsaverage puts Giuliani with a double-digit lead. Also voting that dayis his home state, New York. Next door is New Jersey, where his polllead is 40 points.

The threat is that someone else comes out of Iowa and NewHampshire with back-to-back wins and steamroller momentum. Thatdoesn't seem likely. Which means Giuliani will have the chance tomake in the big states his very credible case that he represents thebest GOP hope of keeping the White House.

Federer, Nadal Reach Wimbledon Semis

WIMBLEDON, England - Roger Federer showed brief moments of vulnerability Friday before reaching the Wimbledon semifinals and moving one step closer to a fifth straight title.

Federer dropped a set for the first time this year at the All England Club, but still beat No. 20 Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

"OK, a set is lost, but a match isn't lost," Federer said.

The man he beat in last year's final, Rafael Nadal, was back to his best, playing for the fifth consecutive day and reaching the semifinals by beating Tomas Berdych 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-2.

Federer was broken in the first set Thursday, when he and Ferrero played for 37 minutes before play was suspended by rain at deuce at 5-5. The 10-time Grand Slam champion won the opening two points on serve Friday, and then easily won the tiebreaker after Ferrero held.

On match point with Ferrero serving, Federer flicked a cross-court forehand that Ferrero couldn't reach.

Ferrero, the 2003 French Open champion and a former No. 1, broke Federer to go up 5-3 in the second set and then served it out, but that was the end of the Spaniard's influence on the match.

From 1-1 in third set, Federer won 20 of next 24 points to take set.

Before his brief spell on court Thursday, the top-ranked Federer had not played since beating Marat Safin last Friday in the third round. His fourth-round opponent, Tommy Haas, withdrew with an injury, giving Federer almost a week off.

"It was hard for me. I had many days off," Federer said. "I'm just really happy I came through it and I'm back in the rhythm now."

Federer, who stretched his grass-court winning streak to 52, is trying to win a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title, something only Bjorn Borg has done in the past 100 years.

Nadal was broken once early in the first set, but didn't faced any more serious challenges. He broke the Czech in the opening games of the second and third sets.

Nadal had his first match point on Berdych's serve at 5-1 in the third set, but the Czech erased it with an ace. Nadal wasted another in the next game, but won when Berdych sent a forehand into the net.

"I had to concentrate with the movement because the ball was very difficult to touch," Nadal said. "Today was very tough with the wind, but anyway I played very good."

The second-seeded Spaniard was stretched to five sets in the previous two rounds, with the former being played over a span of three days at the All England Club. If he wins Saturday's semifinal against Novak Djokovic or Marcos Baghdatis, then Sunday's final would mark Nadal's seventh consecutive day on court.

"Two very, very tough games, tough matches against (Robin) Soderling and (Mikhail) Youzhny," Nadal said. "The most important thing is the victory."

Later Friday, No. 3 Andy Roddick was also scheduled to play No. 12 Richard Gasquet, and No. 4 Djokovic was facing No. 10 Baghdatis.

In the women's semifinals, No. 1 Justine Henin was scheduled to take on No. 18 Marion Bartoli, and No. 6 Ana Ivanovic was to play No. 23 Venus Williams.

Nadal, who lost to Federer in last year's final, is trying to become the first man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Bjorn Borg in 1980. The Spaniard has won the last three titles at Roland Garros.

Berdych was playing in the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam for the first time. He won the grass-court warm-up tournament in Halle, Germany, in the absence of Federer, but struggled Friday with several bad hops. In the final game, a serve from Nadal took another awkward bounce that went toward his body.

"He's not making a lot of mistakes," Berdych said of Nadal. "He's trying to play similar game like on the clay."

Rain on nine of the first 10 days of the tournament created a huge backlog in the schedule, forcing many of the remaining men and women to play on consecutive days.

2010 Sports Calendar

1 _ Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany _ ski jumping, World Cup.

1 _ Oberhofen, Switzerland _ skiing, cross country World Cup.

1-17 _ Various sites, Argentina, Chile _ auto racing, Dakar Rally.

2-3 _ Innsbruck, Austria _ ski jumping, World Cup.

2-3 _ Oberhof, Germany _ skiing, Nordic combined World Cup.

3 _ Zagreb, Croatia_ skiing, Alpine World Cup, women's slalom.

3-7 _ Sydney _ cricket, Australia vs. Pakistan, 2nd test.

3-7 _ Cape Town, South Africa _ cricket, South Africa vs. England, 3rd test.

3-10 _ Brisbane, Australia _ tennis, ATP-WTA, Brisbane International

4 _ Mirpur, Bangladesh _ cricket, Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series.

4-9 _ Doha, Qatar _ tennis, ATP, Qatar Exxon Mobil Open.

4-9 _ Auckland, New Zealand _ tennis, WTA, ASB Classic.

4-10 _ Chennai, India _ tennis, ATP, Chennai Open.

4-10 _ Oberhof, Germany _ biathlon, World Cup.

5 _ Mirpur, Bangladesh _ cricket, India vs. Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series.

5 _ Oberndorf, Austria _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

5-6 _ Bischofshofen, Austria _ ski jumping, World Cup.

6 _ Haus im Ennstal, Austria _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, women's downhill, super-G.

6 _ Zagreb, Croatia_ skiing, Alpine World Cup, men's slalom.

6 _ Various sites, Asia, Middle East _ football, Asian Cup qualifiers: Yemen vs. Japan, Bahrain vs. Hong Kong, Kuwait vs. Australia, Indonesia vs. Oman, United Arab Emirates vs. Malaysia, Lebanon vs. Vietnam, China vs, Syria, Thailand vs. Jordan, Singapore vs. Iran.

6-7 _ Kreischberg, Austria _ snowboarding, World Cup.

7 _ Mirpur, Bangladesh _ cricket, Bangladesh vs. India, ODI tri-series.

7-10 _ Kapalua, Hawaii _ golf, US PGA, SBS Championship.

7-10 _ East London, South Africa _ golf, European, Africa Open.

8 _ Mirpur, Bangladesh _ cricket, Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series.

8-10 _ Tauplitz/Bad Mitterndorf, Austria _ ski jumping, World Cup.

8-10 _ Calgary, Alberta _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

9 _ Les Contamines, France _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

9-10 _ Adelboden, Switzerland _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, men's slalom, giant slalom.

9-10 _ Val di Fiemme, Italy _ skiing, Nordic combined World Cup.

9-11 _ Bad Gastein, Austria _ snowboarding, World Cup.

10 _ Mirpur, Bangladesh _ cricket, India vs. Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series.

10 _ Orlando, Florida _ athletics, Disney World Marathon.

10-16 _ Hobart, Australia _ tennis, WTA, Moorilla Hobart International.

10-16 _ Sydney _ tennis, ATP-WTA, Medibank International.

10-24 _ Tokyo _ sumo, January Grand Sumo Tournament.

10-31 _ Various sites, Angola _ football, African Cup of Nations.

11 _ Mirpur, Bngladesh _ cricket, Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series.

11-16 _ Auckland, New Zealand _ tennis, ATP, Heineken Open.

11-17 _ Ruhpolding, Germany _ biathlon, World Cup.

12 _ Flachau, Austria _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, women's slalom.

13 _ Mirpur, Bangladesh _ cricket, ODI tri-series final.

13 _ Alpe d'Huez, France _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

13-16 _ Hua Hin, Thailand _ golf, Asian Tour Qualifying School finals.

13-17 _ Wengen, Switzerland _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, men's downhill, slalom, super-combined.

14-15 _ Veysonnaz, Switzerland _ snowboarding, World Cup.

14-16 _ Deer Valley, United States _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

14-17 _ Honolulu _ golf, US PGA, Sony Open.

14-17 _ Johannesburg _ golf, European, Joburg Open.

14-18 _ Johannesburg _ cricket, South Africa vs. England, 4th test.

14-18 _ Hobart, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. Pakistan, 3rd test.

15-17 _ Sapporo, Japan _ ski jumping, World Cup.

15-17 _ Lahaina, Hawaii _ golf, Champions, Wendy's Champions Skins Game.

16-17 _ Maribor, Slovenia _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, women's slalom, giant slalom.

16-17 _ Otepaa, Estonia _ skiing, cross-country World Cup.

16-17 _ Chaux-Neuve, France _ skiing, Nordic combined World Cup.

17 _ Nendaz, Switzerland _ snowboarding, World Cup.

17 _ Houston _ athletics, Houston Marathon.

17-21 _ Chittagong, Bangladesh _ cricket, Bangladesh vs. India, 1st test.

17-24 _ Various sites, Australia _ cycling, UCI ProTour, Tour Down Under.

18 _ Malaga, Spain _ football, Finland vs. South Korea, friendly.

18-24 _ Antholz-Anterselva, Italy _ biathlon, World Cup.

18-31 _ Melbourne, Australia _ tennis, Australian Open.

19-23 _ Tallinn, Estonia _ figure skating, European Championships.

19-24 _ Kitzbuehel, Austria _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, men's slalom, downhill, super-G.

20 _ Blue Mountain, Canada _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

20 _ San'a, Yemen _ football, Asian Cup qualifier: Yemen vs. Bahrain.

20-24 _ Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, women's downhill, giant slalom, super-G.

20-24 _ Stoneham, Canada _ snowboarding, World Cup.

20-24 _ LaQuinta, California _ golf, US PGA, Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

21 _ Collingwood, Ontario _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

21-24 _ Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates _ golf, European, Abu Dhabi Championship.

21-24 _ Lake Placid, United States _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

21-23 _ Zakopane, Poland _ ski jumping, World Cup.

22 _ Brisbane, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. Pakistan, 1st ODI.

22-24 _ Kaupulehu, Hawaii _ golf, Champions, Mitsubishi Electric Championship.

22-24 _ Rybinsk, Russia _ skiing, cross-country World Cup.

22 _ Dubai, United Arab Emirates _ athletics, Dubai Marathon.

23-24 _ Schonach, Germany _ skiing, Nordic combined World Cup.

24 _ Sydney _ cricket, Australia vs. Pakistan, 2nd ODI.

24-28 _ Mirpur, Bangladesh _ cricket, Bangladesh vs. India, 2nd test.

24 _ Monte Carlo, Monaco _ auto racing, Monte Carlo Rally.

25-31 _ Jeonju, South Korea _ figure skating, Four Continents Championships.

26 _ Adelaide, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. Pakistan, 3rd ODI.

26 _ Schladming, Austria _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, men's slalom.

27-31 _ St. Moritz, Switzerland _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, women's downhill, super-G, super-combined.

28-31 _ La Jolla, California _ golf, US PGA, San Diego Open.

28-31 _ Doha, Qatar _ golf, European, Qatar Masters.

28-31 _ Queenstown, New Zealand _ golf, Australasian, New Zealand Open.

29 _ Perth, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. Pakistan, 4th ODI.

29 _ New York _ athletics, IAAF Indoor, Millrose Games.

29-31 _ Oberstdorf, Germany _ ski jumping, World Cup.

30 _ Vancouver, British Columbia _ skiing, freestyle World Cup.

30 _ Calgary, Alberta _ snowboarding, World Cup.

30-31 _ Kranjska Gora, Slovenia _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, men's slalom, giant slalom.

30-31 _ Seefeld, Austria _ skiing, Nordic combined World Cup.

31 _ Perth, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. Pakistan, 5th ODI.

31 _ Miami _ athletics, Miami Marathon.

FEBRUARY

1-7 _ Johannesburg, _ tennis, ATP, SA Open.

1-7 _ Zagreb, Croatia _ tennis, ATP, PBZ Zagreb Indoors.

1-7 _ Santiago, Chile _ tennis, ATP, Movistar Open.

2-3 _ Klingenthal, Germany _ ski jumping, World Cup.

2-7 _ Crans Montana, Switzerland _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, women's downhill, super-G, super-combined.

3 _ Hamilton, New Zealand _ cricket, New Zealand vs. Bangladesh, Twenty20.

4-7 _ Pacific Palisades, California _ golf, US PGA, Northern Trust Open.

4-7 _ Dubai, United Arab Emirates _ golf, European, Dubai Desert Classic.

4-7 _ Bangkok _ golf, Asian, Asian Tour International.

4-7 _ Kvitfjell, Norway _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, men's downhill, super-G.

5 _ Melbourne, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. Pakistan, Twenty20.

5 _ Napier, New Zealand _ cricket, New Zealand vs. Bangladesh, 1st ODI.

5-6 _ Lahti, Finland _ skiing, Nordic combined World Cup.

5-6 _ Canmore, Canada _ skiing, cross-country World Cup.

5-7 _ Wellington, New Zealand _ rugby, New Zealand Sevens.

5-7 _ Willingen, Germany _ ski jumping, World Cup.

5-7 _ Lahti, Finland _ ski jumping, World Cup. 6 _ Stuttgart, Germany _ athletics, IAAF Indoor, Sparkassen Cup.

6 _ Sudelfeld, Germany _ snowboarding, World Cup.

6 _ Daytona Beach, Florida _ auto racing, NASCAR, Budweiser Shootout.

6-7 _ Various sites _ tennis, Fed Cup: World Group I: Italy vs. Ukraine, Czech Republic vs. Germany, Serbia vs. Russia, France vs. United States; World Group II: Australia vs. Spain, Slovakia vs. China, Belgium vs. Poland.

6 _ Tokyo _ football, Japan vs. China, friendly.

6 _ Dublin _ rugby, Six Nations, Ireland vs. Italy.

6 _ Twickenham, England _ rugby, Six Nations, England vs. Wales.

7 _ Miami _ American football, Super Bowl.

7 _ Tokyo _ football, South Korea vs. Hong Kong.

7 _ TBA, Japan _ football, East Asian Cup: China vs. Japan; Hong Kong vs. South Korea.

7 _ Warsaw, Poland _ football, Euro 2012 qualifying draw.

7 _ Edinburgh, Scotland _ rugby, Six Nations, Scotland vs. France.

7 _ Melbourne, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. West Indies, 1st ODI.

7 _ Moscow _ athletics, IAAF Indoor, Russian Winter.

7-8 _ Vancouver, British Columbia _ Olympics, IOC executive board meeting.

8 _ Dunedin, New Zealand _ cricket, Banglesh vs. New Zealand, 2nd ODI.

8-9 _ Kuopio, Finland _ ski jumping, World Cup.

8-13 _ Costa do Sauipe, Brazil _ tennis, ATP, Brazil Open.

8-14 _ San Jose, California _ tennis, ATP, SAP Open.

8-14 _ Rotterdam, Netherlands _ tennis, ATP, ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.

8-14 _ Paris _ tennis, WTA, Open GDF SUEZ.

8-14 _ Pattaya City, Thailand _ tennis, WTA, PTT Pattaya Open International.

9 _ Adelaide, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. West Indies, 2nd ODI.

9 _ Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany _ skiing, Alpine World Cup, men and women.

10 _ Stockholm _ athletics, IAAF Indoor, GE Galan.

10 _ Tokyo _ football, South Korea vs. China, friendly.

10-11 _ Vancouver, British Columbia _ Olympics, IOC session.

11 _ Tokyo _ football, Japan vs. Hong Kong, friendly.

11 _ Christchurch, New Zealand _ cricket, Banglesh vs. New Zealand, 3rd ODI.

11 _ TBA, Japan _ football, East Asian Cup: China vs. South Korea, Hong Kong vs. Japan.

11 _ Daytona Beach, Florida _ auto racing, NASCAR, Gatorade Duel 1 & 2.

11-12 _ Lillehammer, Norway _ ski jumping, World Cup.

11-14 _ Pebble Beach, Caliornia _ golf, US PGA, AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

11-14 _ New Delhi _ golf, Asian, Avantha Masters.

12 _ Sydney_ cricket, Australia vs. West Indies, 3rd ODI.

12-14 _ Various sites, Sweden _ auto racing, WRC, Swedish Rally.

12-14 _ Naples, Florida _ golf, Champions, The ACE Group Classic.

12-28 _ Vancouver, British Columbia _ Winter Olympics.

13 _ Cardiff, Wales _ rugby, Six Nations, Wales vs. Scotland.

13 _ Paris _ rugby, Six Nations, France vs. Ireland.

13 _ Valencia, Spain _ athletics, IAAF Indoor, Reunion International.

13-14 _ Las Vegas _ rugby, United States Sevens.

13-14 _ Oslo _ skiing, Nordic combined World Cup.

13-14 _ Oslo _ ski jumping, World Cup.

14 _ TBA, Japan _ football, East Asian Cup: Hong Kong vs. China; South Korea vs. Japan.

14 _ Brisbane, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. West Indies, 4th ODI.

14 _ Rome _ rugby, Six Nations, Italy vs. England.

14 _ Dallas _ basketball, NBA All-Star game.

14 _ Daytona Beach, Florida _ auto racing, NASCAR, Daytona 500.

14 _ Gent, Belgium _ athletics, IAAF Indoor, Flanders Indoor.

14-20 _ Dubai, United Arab Emirates _ tennis, WTA, Dubai Championships.

14-21 _ Memphis, Tennessee _ tennis, ATP-WTA, Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.

15-19 _ Hamilton, New Zealand _ cricket, New Zealand vs. Bangladesh, test.

15-21 _ Marseille, France _ tennis, ATP, Open 13.

15-21 _ Buenos Aires, Argentina _ tennis, ATP, Copa Telmex.

15-21 _ Bogota _ tennis, WTA, Copa Colsanitas.

16-17 _ Various sites, Europe _ football, Champions League.

17 _ Athens, Greece _ athletics, IAAF Indoor, Athina 2010.

18 _ Various sites, football, Europa League.

18-21 _ Marana, Arizona _ golf, WGC, Accenture Match Play Championship.

18-21 _ Playa del Carmen, Mexico _ golf, US PGA, Mayakoba Classic.

18-21 _ New Delhi _ golf, Asian, Nimbus Pro-Am Championship.

18-21 _ Chonburi, Thailand _ golf, US LPGA, Honda LPGA Thailand.

19 _ Melbourne, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. West Indies, 5th ODI.

19-21 _ Boca Raton, Florida _ golf, Champions, Allianz Championship.

19-22 _ Perth, Australia _ golf, Australasian, Johnnie Walker Classic.

20 _ Birmingham, England _ athletics, IAAF Indoor, Aviva Indoor GP.

21 _ Fontana, California _ auto racing, NASCAR, Auto Club 500.

21-27 _ Acapulco, Mexico _ tennis, ATP-WTA, Abierto Mexicano Telcel.

21 _ Hobart, Australia _ cricket, Australia vs. West Indies, 1st Twenty20.

22-27 _ Dubai, United Arab Emirates _ tennis, ATP, Dubai Tennis Championships.

22-28 _ Delray Beach, Florida _ tennis, ATP, Delray Beach International Championships.

22-28 _ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia _ tennis, WTA, Malaysia Classic.

23 _ Sydney _ cricket, Australia vs. West Indies, 2nd Twenty20.

23-24 _ Various sites, Europe _ football, Champions League.

24 _ Pasadena, California _ football, United States vs. Mexico, friendly.

25 _ Various sites, Europe _ football, Europa League.

25-28 _ Scottsdale, Arizona _ golf, US PGA, FBR Open.

25-28 _ Singapore _ golf, US LPGA, HSBC Women's Championship.

25-28 _ Christchurch, New Zealand _ golf, Ladies European-Australian, New Zealand Women's Open.

26 _ Wellington, New Zealand _ cricket, New Zealand vs. Australia, 1st Twenty20.

26 _ Cardiff, Wales _ rugby, Six Nations, Wales vs. France.

26-28 _ Rostock, Germany _ diving, FINA Grand Prix.

26-March 1 _ Marana, Arizona _ golf, WGC, Accenture Match Play Championship.

27 _ Rome _ rugby, Six Nations, Italy vs. Scotland.

27 _ Twickenham, England _ rugby, Six Nations, England vs. Ireland.

28 _ Christchurch, New Zealand _ cricket, New Zealand vs Australia, 2nd Twenty20.

28 _ Mirpur, Bangladesh _ cricket, Bangladesh vs. England, 1st ODI.

28 _ Wembley, England _ football, League Cup final.

28 _ Tokyo _ athletics, Tokyo Marathon.

28 _ Las Vegas _ auto racing, NASCAR, Shelby American.

28 _ Leeds, England _ rugby league, World Club Challenge: Leeds Rhinos vs. Melbourne Storm.

28-March 13 _ New Delhi _ field hockey, World Cup.

Weather Almanac

Yesterday's high 68

Record high 84, 2004

Normal high 63

Yesterday's low 31

Record low 24, 1976

Normal low 40

Precipitation 0.00"

Total for month 0.00"

Total for year 42.47"

Sunrise 7:53 a.m.

Sunset 6:26 p.m.

LeBron Goes for 41 As Cavs Beat Pistons

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - LeBron James scored a season-high 41 points, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 101-97 overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.

"Big win," James said. "We showed maturity in a hostile environment."

James almost won the game in regulation with a 27-footer, but a video review negated the dramatic shot.

He set the tone early in the overtime, making free throws and blocking Richard Hamilton's shot with a fantastic block in front of the rim.

James had a chance to make it a two-possession game with 17 seconds left, but missed the first of two free throws.

Rasheed Wallace - after missing three games with a sprained left foot - missed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession. Cleveland's Anderson Varejao grabbed the rebound, was fouled and made one of two free throws to seal the win.

Cleveland pulled within two games of the Pistons for the top spot in the Central Division and Eastern Conference with its fourth win in five games.

Detroit won the previous two meetings at Cleveland by an average of 14 points.

"The way they handled us so far this year, it was very big to come on their court and get a win," James said.

Hamilton scored 29 points, Chris Webber had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Chauncey Billups had 16 points and 14 assists, and Tayshaun Prince added 12 points.

The Pistons have lost three of four.

James led the way, but his team reached a season-high 11 games over .500 because the star had plenty of help. Drew Gooden had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 14 points and 10 boards, and Larry Hughes added 12 points.

"If we play well, nobody can beat us," James said. "We believe that."

Free throws kept the Pistons in the game, and perhaps prevented Cleveland from winning in regulation.

Detroit was 33-of-42 from the line before overtime while the Cavs - the NBA's worst free throw shooting team - were 9-of-18 entering overtime. Cleveland was 4-of-6 in overtime at the line.

After leading only once - briefly - through three quarters, Detroit opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 79-70 lead.

James made three go-ahead baskets in the final 2 1/2 minutes and made it 93-all on a dunk with 5.7 seconds left.

"He had it going, hitting some tough, tough shots," Billups said. "That's what makes him a great player."

Hamilton missed a 16-footer with 2 seconds left and after a timeout, James had the ball a split second too long on his deep shot that was waved off after a review.

"If we had one second, instead of point-nine, it would've been good," James said.

As they often do, the Pistons dug a big hole in the first quarter and spent the rest of the game trying to erase it.

James scored 14 points in the opening quarter, helping the Cavs go ahead by as much as 12 and lead 34-24 - one point away from the season high allowed by Detroit in the first quarter.

Cleveland clung to a 52-50 lead at halftime and it was 70-all after three quarters.

Notes:@ James' previous season high was 39 points. ... The Pistons were without reserve point guard Lindsey Hunter, who was suspended Wednesday for 10 games for taking a banned substance primarily used for weight loss. Seldom-used reserve Flip Murray took his place in the rotation. ... Cleveland coach Mike Brown was called for a technical with 16 seconds left in the first half, upset about the foul disparity. Detroit shot 29 free throws to the Cavs' 10 in the first half. ... The Pistons begin a season-high five-game road trip Friday at Denver. ... Kid Rock and Lions linebacker Boss Bailey were among the faces in the crowd. ... The Pistons are 6-5 in the Central Division, and 31-16 against the rest of the league.

Showdown Looms Over Fired Prosecutors

WASHINGTON - A House panel cleared the way Thursday for contempt proceedings against former White House counsel Harriet Miers after she obeyed President Bush and skipped a hearing on the firings of federal prosecutors.

Addressing the empty chair where Miers had been subpoenaed to testify, Rep. Linda Sanchez ruled out of order Bush's executive privilege claim that his former advisers are immune from being summoned before Congress.

The House Judiciary subcommittee that Sanchez chairs voted 7-5 to sustain her ruling. The next step would be for the full Judiciary Committee to issue a finding that Miers, Bush's longtime friend and former Supreme Court nominee, was in contempt. Ultimately, the full House would have to vote on any contempt citation.

"Those claims are not legally valid," Sanchez, D-Calif., said of Bush's declaration, made Monday. "Ms. Miers is required pursuant to the subpoena to be here now."

The question grew more pressing when Bush ordered Miers to defy the committee's subpoena, unlike a lower-ranking former White House aide, Sara Taylor, who took a different approach Wednesday.

Acting under her own subpoena, Taylor appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee in an attempt to satisfy both Congress and the White House and thereby avoid a contempt citation. It's unclear whether she was successful. She answered some questions while saying she could not answer others under Bush's directive. The Senate committee's ranking Republican advised Taylor that she might have been on safer legal ground had she said nothing.

Saying nothing is the strategy that Miers, on Bush's orders, adopted Thursday.

Like Taylor, Miers participated in the process of deciding which prosecutors to fire, according to e-mails released by the Justice Department. At one point, the documents showed, Miers proposed firing all 93 U.S. attorneys, but Attorney General Alberto Gonzales rejected that suggestion.

Democrats want to ask her under oath about the White House's role in drawing up the firing list. But Bush invoked executive privilege, saying he needed to protect the flow of advice he receives from close advisers. Additionally, he declared Miers immune from subpoenas and ordered her to skip Thursday's hearing.

Democrats were furious, declaring the White House had reached "novel legal conclusions" to justify withholding a former aide's testimony, based only on legal opinions regarding currently serving White House officials and no court rulings.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., said the committee must take action on Miers' non-compliance to preserve the panel's authority.

"Are congressional subpoenas to be honored or are they optional?" Conyers asked rhetorically. "Apparently we have to run this out" to set a precedent, he added.

Utah Rep. Chris Cannon, the senior Republican on the administrative law subcommittee, challenged Democrats to submit any evidence they have to justify their "incessant investigation" that has stretched all year. He warned that without evidence of wrongdoing, any court showdown with the White House would fail.

"It's time for the majority to stop swaggering its power in this Congress," Cannon said.

Legal scholars said the issue of Miers' immunity is far from clear-cut.

An argument that Miers has to testify "is certainly as tenable as that she doesn't," University of Texas law professor Sanford Levinson says.

"If I were advising the congressional committees, what I would want to argue is that they have evidence that she was involved in what might have been criminal acts; that is, subordination of civil service hiring to unlawful considerations," Levinson said.

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said the White House "could not have picked worse ground" on which to fight executive privilege.

Many of the communications involve political operatives outside the White House; the White House already has offered to disclose the information but refused to do so under oath or with a transcript of the interviews. The issue is not in the sensitive areas of national security or diplomacy.

Legal scholars say it's unlikely the White House and Congress are bound for a head-on collision.

"We've been here many, many times before. This is not out of the ordinary," said Viet Dinh, the former assistant attorney general for legal policy during Bush's first term.

No president has gone as far as mounting a court fight to keep his aides from testifying on Capitol Hill, but court is just where the battle could end up absent the usual negotiated agreements of the past.

---

Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this report.

Stocks Trade Mostly Flat While Dow Rises

NEW YORK - Blue chips stocks jumped Monday as news of a potential big telecom deal involving Verizon gave a boost to the Dow and put the index closer to 14,000. Broadly, stocks traded largely flat as investors digested the market's huge gains of last week.

While broader market indexes showed more modest gains than the Dow, the notion of a Verizon deal appeared to inject Wall Street with fresh optimism and helped stocks hold onto last week's sizable gains because buyout activity has been a big driver for the stock market in the past year.

While Vodafone Group PLC denied a report by the Financial Times that it is weighing whether to make a huge $160 billion bid for Verizon Communications Inc., investors appeared undeterred. The newspaper's report cautioned that Vodafone has yet to approach Verizon; a deal could give Vodafone full ownership of Verizon Wireless, which Vodafone and Verizon now own jointly.

"I think just the idea of the number floated - $160 billion - gets the juices running in the market again even after this big move," said Greg Church, chief investment officer of Church Capital Management in Yardley, Pa., referring to last week's gains. "It would be the biggest deal ever. People want to be at the party and they don't miss it."

In midday trading, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 67.55, or 0.49 percent, to 13,974.80. The Dow again set a trading high Monday, hitting 13,982.12. The previous high of 13,932.29 came in Friday's session, which also saw the Dow's 51st record close since the start of October. The gains Monday put the blue chip index closer to the psychological barrier of 14,000.

Also helping the Dow, construction equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. hit a new high of $86.49.

Broader stock indicators showed more modest gains. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 1.98, or 0.13 percent, to 1,554.48. The S&P set a fresh trading high of 1,555.63, topping a high of 1,555.10 set Friday when the index surged past a trading high set in March 2000. The Nasdaq composite index rose 2.88, or 0.11 percent, to 2,709.88.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by about 8 to 7 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 377.1 million shares.

Bonds rose Monday, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note slipping to 5.09 percent from 5.10 percent late Friday.

On Monday, light, sweet crude futures rose 46 cents to $74.40 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil topped $74 briefly last week but hasn't closed above that level since mid-September.

The dollar was mixed against other major currencies and continued to hover near its record lows against the euro. Gold prices fell.

Buyout news was responsible for moving a number of stocks Monday. Verizon rose $1, or 2.4 percent, to $42.76. Vodafone fell 20 cents to $33.32.

In a much more modest but confirmed deal, restaurant chain operator IHOP Corp. said it would acquire Applebee's International Inc. for about $1.9 billion. Applebee's rose 47 cents to $24.85, while IHOP jumped $4.65, or 8.3 percent, to $60.90.

Stocks showed little reaction to the New York Federal Reserve's Empire State Manufacturing Survey that found regional manufacturing activity continued to improve in July.

Last week's run-up came ahead of a flurry of quarterly results - 11 of the 30 companies that make up the Dow Jones industrials are due to report this week - and in advance of key readings on inflation.

Forecasts from companies should help indicate whether they can continue to put up solid profit growth as pricing pressures fluctuate, in part because of forces such as rising oil prices.

In other corporate news, McDonald's Corp. rose 1 cent to $51.92 after predicting its second-quarter earnings before charges will top Wall Street's forecasts.

Mattel Inc. rose 83 cents, or 3.1 percent, to $27.35 after reporting its second-quarter earnings rose 15 percent as increased sales global of its Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels toy cars made up for soft U.S. sales.

Ford Motor Co. rose 5 cents to $9.02 after denying various reports that it is in talks to sell its Volvo division.

Royal Philips Electronics NV, the maker of medical and lighting equipment, fell 46 cents to $44.09 after reporting its second-quarter net profit rose following the sale of its stake in a Taiwanese semiconductor company. The company also said, however, that currency exchange rates hurt sales.

In afternoon trading, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.26 percent, Germany's DAX index rose 0.14 percent, and France's CAC-40 gained 0.12 percent.

In Asia, Japan's Nikkei stock average finished flat. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.63 percent, while the often-volatile Shanghai Composite Index fell 2.36 percent.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 0.68, or 0.08 percent, to 855.09.

---

On the Net:

New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com

Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com

This guy was born ready; Spokane Indians' Mayberry has; been around baseball all his life

At 18 years old, John Mayberry Jr. apparently had it made.

Drafted by the Seattle Mariners 28th overall in 2002, all he hadto do was sign a contract to begin his career playing professionalbaseball.

He decided it could wait three years.

Mayberry Jr. instead accepted a scholarship to Stanford, playingthree years for the Cardinal and improving his draft stock enough tobe selected 19th overall by the Texas Rangers this June, and beginhis professional baseball career in Spokane.

The Indians open the season tonight at Eugene and open the homeseason Sunday at Avista Stadium against Everett.

The career delay was a calculated risk for Mayberry Jr., but he'sgot a shrewd adviser.

His father, John Sr., played 15 season in the major leagues, mostnotably with the Kansas City Royals in the mid-70s after the HoustonAstros selected him sixth out of high school in the 1967 amateurdraft. He compiled 255 home runs, 879 RBIs, two all-star appearancesand finished second to Fred Lynn for American League MVP in 1975.

John Jr. had the chance to immediately follow in his father'sfootsteps, but an education at Palo Alto was too much to pass up.

"It was obviously a very difficult decision to put off probaseball three more years," Mayberry Jr. said. "I wanted to be awell-rounded individual and get my education."

He's one quarter shy of a political science degree, which heplans to finish this winter after his first professional season.

First, Mayberry Jr., will get to start a dream he's beencultivating since he toddled around the Royals clubhouse while hisdad was a coach.

"The biggest thing I remember was the spreads the Royals hadafter their games," said the 6-5 3/4, 230-pound Mayberry, whoapparently didn't miss many. "I'd get to go down after the game, andthey had some amazing meals down there. I was definitely one of thekids they thought would never leave."

Despite dabbling in basketball, if you can call 14 points and 10rebounds as a senior forward at Rockurst High School in Kansas Citydabbling, he was always cut out for baseball.

"I've played since I was about two or three years old," MayberryJr. said. "It's just one of those things that, because my dad is whohe is, I had no choice but to grow up around the game, and I justnaturally took a liking to it."

Before he completes the second leg of the father-son major leaguecombo (They've already become the first to be drafted three times inthe amateur draft's first round), he has some adjustments to make.

He'll be playing right field for the Indians, not first base,where his father played, and where Mayberry Jr. made all of nineerrors during his career at Stanford.

It's an organizational decision, as the Rangers have MarkTeixiera, their fifth-overall pick in 2001, at first base, leadingthe majors in homers with 20. Texas also drafted Adrian Gonzalez, afirst baseman, first overall in 2000 - and he's currently in Triple-A Oklahoma.

"I think about it in terms of lottery tickets," Spokane managerGreg Riddoch said. "If you've got more to offer and you can playmore positions and you are more adept at those positions, you have amuch better chance than a guy who's locked into one slot."

Riddoch isn't worried about the switch to right field, asMayberry Jr. has played there in the Cape Cod League and with theWorld University national team, and is athletic enough to play thereprofessionally.

He'll be tutored while in Spokane by hitting coach Mark Whiten,who spent most of his major-league career in right field.

He's also got to rediscover the swing he had in 2004 as asophomore at Stanford, when he batted .333 with 16 home runs. In hisfinal season, he slipped a little to .303 and eight homers.

"I didn't have the year I had last year," Mayberry, Jr. said. "Itwas kind of hard to stay consistent for whichever reasons, but mydad's played 15 years and with that experience you realize thatsometimes the best swings are line-drive doubles and some yearsthey're home runs. This year, they were doubles."

In his first batting practice session with the Indians, thesecond pitch he saw from Whiten came in high and tight, seeminglytoo far inside for his long arms to handle. Mayberry Jr. whipped hisbat through the zone, got inside the ball, and crushed it out toleft-center field.

Another issue for Mayberry Jr. to deal with will be living up tothe legacy created by his father, which some handle well (KenGriffey Jr.) and some don't (Pete Rose Jr.).

Mayberry Jr. knows one thing, though. He will be faster than hisdad, who stole all of 20 bases in 15 seasons.

"I was kind of cracking jokes about being faster than him,"Mayberry Jr. said. "I didn't get to see my dad play, but I havememories of him at a old-timers game off Ferguson Jenkins, and hehit one to the wall. For everybody else, it's a stand-up double. Hegot thrown out by 15 feet."

Indians outfielder Steve Murphy, who grew up playing baseballwith Mayberry Jr. in Kansas City, where they attended the same highschool, doesn't worry too much about him handling any perceivedpressure.

"Being in Kansas City and having his dad be a Kansas City Royalshall-of-famer, he's used to the Kansas City media kind of being onhim," Murphy said. "He's had it basically since his junior year ofhigh school, you know, 'Hey, you're Big John's son, John Jr.,' andwhen he was getting into the draft, there were cameras at ourpractice and at our summer team, so he's used to the attention."

The positive aspects of having a big-league father easilyoutweigh the negatives, when Mayberry Jr. has to just make a phonecall to talk with someone who's been through everything baseball hasto offer.

"The biggest thing he said I would have to adjust to was justplaying every day," Mayberry Jr. said. "In college you play threegames a week, but here you're playing seven days a week. That's thebiggest adjustment he said he had to make when he was drafted by theAstros, just staying focused through the entire year."

John Mayberry Jr. would like to create a legacy for himselfoutside of being just "Big John's son," but he admits there is oneaspect of his father's career he would love to recreate.

"My dreams are just like everyone else's, to make my career inthe big leagues and play 15 years."

"I mean, what more can you ask for?"

This guy was born ready; Spokane Indians' Mayberry has; been around baseball all his life

At 18 years old, John Mayberry Jr. apparently had it made.

Drafted by the Seattle Mariners 28th overall in 2002, all he hadto do was sign a contract to begin his career playing professionalbaseball.

He decided it could wait three years.

Mayberry Jr. instead accepted a scholarship to Stanford, playingthree years for the Cardinal and improving his draft stock enough tobe selected 19th overall by the Texas Rangers this June, and beginhis professional baseball career in Spokane.

The Indians open the season tonight at Eugene and open the homeseason Sunday at Avista Stadium against Everett.

The career delay was a calculated risk for Mayberry Jr., but he'sgot a shrewd adviser.

His father, John Sr., played 15 season in the major leagues, mostnotably with the Kansas City Royals in the mid-70s after the HoustonAstros selected him sixth out of high school in the 1967 amateurdraft. He compiled 255 home runs, 879 RBIs, two all-star appearancesand finished second to Fred Lynn for American League MVP in 1975.

John Jr. had the chance to immediately follow in his father'sfootsteps, but an education at Palo Alto was too much to pass up.

"It was obviously a very difficult decision to put off probaseball three more years," Mayberry Jr. said. "I wanted to be awell-rounded individual and get my education."

He's one quarter shy of a political science degree, which heplans to finish this winter after his first professional season.

First, Mayberry Jr., will get to start a dream he's beencultivating since he toddled around the Royals clubhouse while hisdad was a coach.

"The biggest thing I remember was the spreads the Royals hadafter their games," said the 6-5 3/4, 230-pound Mayberry, whoapparently didn't miss many. "I'd get to go down after the game, andthey had some amazing meals down there. I was definitely one of thekids they thought would never leave."

Despite dabbling in basketball, if you can call 14 points and 10rebounds as a senior forward at Rockurst High School in Kansas Citydabbling, he was always cut out for baseball.

"I've played since I was about two or three years old," MayberryJr. said. "It's just one of those things that, because my dad is whohe is, I had no choice but to grow up around the game, and I justnaturally took a liking to it."

Before he completes the second leg of the father-son major leaguecombo (They've already become the first to be drafted three times inthe amateur draft's first round), he has some adjustments to make.

He'll be playing right field for the Indians, not first base,where his father played, and where Mayberry Jr. made all of nineerrors during his career at Stanford.

It's an organizational decision, as the Rangers have MarkTeixiera, their fifth-overall pick in 2001, at first base, leadingthe majors in homers with 20. Texas also drafted Adrian Gonzalez, afirst baseman, first overall in 2000 - and he's currently in Triple-A Oklahoma.

"I think about it in terms of lottery tickets," Spokane managerGreg Riddoch said. "If you've got more to offer and you can playmore positions and you are more adept at those positions, you have amuch better chance than a guy who's locked into one slot."

Riddoch isn't worried about the switch to right field, asMayberry Jr. has played there in the Cape Cod League and with theWorld University national team, and is athletic enough to play thereprofessionally.

He'll be tutored while in Spokane by hitting coach Mark Whiten,who spent most of his major-league career in right field.

He's also got to rediscover the swing he had in 2004 as asophomore at Stanford, when he batted .333 with 16 home runs. In hisfinal season, he slipped a little to .303 and eight homers.

"I didn't have the year I had last year," Mayberry, Jr. said. "Itwas kind of hard to stay consistent for whichever reasons, but mydad's played 15 years and with that experience you realize thatsometimes the best swings are line-drive doubles and some yearsthey're home runs. This year, they were doubles."

In his first batting practice session with the Indians, thesecond pitch he saw from Whiten came in high and tight, seeminglytoo far inside for his long arms to handle. Mayberry Jr. whipped hisbat through the zone, got inside the ball, and crushed it out toleft-center field.

Another issue for Mayberry Jr. to deal with will be living up tothe legacy created by his father, which some handle well (KenGriffey Jr.) and some don't (Pete Rose Jr.).

Mayberry Jr. knows one thing, though. He will be faster than hisdad, who stole all of 20 bases in 15 seasons.

"I was kind of cracking jokes about being faster than him,"Mayberry Jr. said. "I didn't get to see my dad play, but I havememories of him at a old-timers game off Ferguson Jenkins, and hehit one to the wall. For everybody else, it's a stand-up double. Hegot thrown out by 15 feet."

Indians outfielder Steve Murphy, who grew up playing baseballwith Mayberry Jr. in Kansas City, where they attended the same highschool, doesn't worry too much about him handling any perceivedpressure.

"Being in Kansas City and having his dad be a Kansas City Royalshall-of-famer, he's used to the Kansas City media kind of being onhim," Murphy said. "He's had it basically since his junior year ofhigh school, you know, 'Hey, you're Big John's son, John Jr.,' andwhen he was getting into the draft, there were cameras at ourpractice and at our summer team, so he's used to the attention."

The positive aspects of having a big-league father easilyoutweigh the negatives, when Mayberry Jr. has to just make a phonecall to talk with someone who's been through everything baseball hasto offer.

"The biggest thing he said I would have to adjust to was justplaying every day," Mayberry Jr. said. "In college you play threegames a week, but here you're playing seven days a week. That's thebiggest adjustment he said he had to make when he was drafted by theAstros, just staying focused through the entire year."

John Mayberry Jr. would like to create a legacy for himselfoutside of being just "Big John's son," but he admits there is oneaspect of his father's career he would love to recreate.

"My dreams are just like everyone else's, to make my career inthe big leagues and play 15 years."

"I mean, what more can you ask for?"

This guy was born ready; Spokane Indians' Mayberry has; been around baseball all his life

At 18 years old, John Mayberry Jr. apparently had it made.

Drafted by the Seattle Mariners 28th overall in 2002, all he hadto do was sign a contract to begin his career playing professionalbaseball.

He decided it could wait three years.

Mayberry Jr. instead accepted a scholarship to Stanford, playingthree years for the Cardinal and improving his draft stock enough tobe selected 19th overall by the Texas Rangers this June, and beginhis professional baseball career in Spokane.

The Indians open the season tonight at Eugene and open the homeseason Sunday at Avista Stadium against Everett.

The career delay was a calculated risk for Mayberry Jr., but he'sgot a shrewd adviser.

His father, John Sr., played 15 season in the major leagues, mostnotably with the Kansas City Royals in the mid-70s after the HoustonAstros selected him sixth out of high school in the 1967 amateurdraft. He compiled 255 home runs, 879 RBIs, two all-star appearancesand finished second to Fred Lynn for American League MVP in 1975.

John Jr. had the chance to immediately follow in his father'sfootsteps, but an education at Palo Alto was too much to pass up.

"It was obviously a very difficult decision to put off probaseball three more years," Mayberry Jr. said. "I wanted to be awell-rounded individual and get my education."

He's one quarter shy of a political science degree, which heplans to finish this winter after his first professional season.

First, Mayberry Jr., will get to start a dream he's beencultivating since he toddled around the Royals clubhouse while hisdad was a coach.

"The biggest thing I remember was the spreads the Royals hadafter their games," said the 6-5 3/4, 230-pound Mayberry, whoapparently didn't miss many. "I'd get to go down after the game, andthey had some amazing meals down there. I was definitely one of thekids they thought would never leave."

Despite dabbling in basketball, if you can call 14 points and 10rebounds as a senior forward at Rockurst High School in Kansas Citydabbling, he was always cut out for baseball.

"I've played since I was about two or three years old," MayberryJr. said. "It's just one of those things that, because my dad is whohe is, I had no choice but to grow up around the game, and I justnaturally took a liking to it."

Before he completes the second leg of the father-son major leaguecombo (They've already become the first to be drafted three times inthe amateur draft's first round), he has some adjustments to make.

He'll be playing right field for the Indians, not first base,where his father played, and where Mayberry Jr. made all of nineerrors during his career at Stanford.

It's an organizational decision, as the Rangers have MarkTeixiera, their fifth-overall pick in 2001, at first base, leadingthe majors in homers with 20. Texas also drafted Adrian Gonzalez, afirst baseman, first overall in 2000 - and he's currently in Triple-A Oklahoma.

"I think about it in terms of lottery tickets," Spokane managerGreg Riddoch said. "If you've got more to offer and you can playmore positions and you are more adept at those positions, you have amuch better chance than a guy who's locked into one slot."

Riddoch isn't worried about the switch to right field, asMayberry Jr. has played there in the Cape Cod League and with theWorld University national team, and is athletic enough to play thereprofessionally.

He'll be tutored while in Spokane by hitting coach Mark Whiten,who spent most of his major-league career in right field.

He's also got to rediscover the swing he had in 2004 as asophomore at Stanford, when he batted .333 with 16 home runs. In hisfinal season, he slipped a little to .303 and eight homers.

"I didn't have the year I had last year," Mayberry, Jr. said. "Itwas kind of hard to stay consistent for whichever reasons, but mydad's played 15 years and with that experience you realize thatsometimes the best swings are line-drive doubles and some yearsthey're home runs. This year, they were doubles."

In his first batting practice session with the Indians, thesecond pitch he saw from Whiten came in high and tight, seeminglytoo far inside for his long arms to handle. Mayberry Jr. whipped hisbat through the zone, got inside the ball, and crushed it out toleft-center field.

Another issue for Mayberry Jr. to deal with will be living up tothe legacy created by his father, which some handle well (KenGriffey Jr.) and some don't (Pete Rose Jr.).

Mayberry Jr. knows one thing, though. He will be faster than hisdad, who stole all of 20 bases in 15 seasons.

"I was kind of cracking jokes about being faster than him,"Mayberry Jr. said. "I didn't get to see my dad play, but I havememories of him at a old-timers game off Ferguson Jenkins, and hehit one to the wall. For everybody else, it's a stand-up double. Hegot thrown out by 15 feet."

Indians outfielder Steve Murphy, who grew up playing baseballwith Mayberry Jr. in Kansas City, where they attended the same highschool, doesn't worry too much about him handling any perceivedpressure.

"Being in Kansas City and having his dad be a Kansas City Royalshall-of-famer, he's used to the Kansas City media kind of being onhim," Murphy said. "He's had it basically since his junior year ofhigh school, you know, 'Hey, you're Big John's son, John Jr.,' andwhen he was getting into the draft, there were cameras at ourpractice and at our summer team, so he's used to the attention."

The positive aspects of having a big-league father easilyoutweigh the negatives, when Mayberry Jr. has to just make a phonecall to talk with someone who's been through everything baseball hasto offer.

"The biggest thing he said I would have to adjust to was justplaying every day," Mayberry Jr. said. "In college you play threegames a week, but here you're playing seven days a week. That's thebiggest adjustment he said he had to make when he was drafted by theAstros, just staying focused through the entire year."

John Mayberry Jr. would like to create a legacy for himselfoutside of being just "Big John's son," but he admits there is oneaspect of his father's career he would love to recreate.

"My dreams are just like everyone else's, to make my career inthe big leagues and play 15 years."

"I mean, what more can you ask for?"

Polish leaders honor killed political activist

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's president and other top political leaders paid tribute Thursday to an opposition party member shot and killed in a politically motivated attack last week.

The main tribute came from Jaroslaw Kaczynski, head of the conservative opposition Law and Justice party and the twin brother of the president who was killed in a plane crash earlier this year.

The politically motivated attack was carried out on Oct. 19 by a man who burst into an office of the Law and Justice party in the central Polish city of Lodz. The attacker shot a low-ranking party member, Marek Rosiak, and wounded another man — but said during the attack that he wanted to kill …

Fire union boss says he can work with Trotter

Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 President, James E. McNally, Monday said he can work with Chicago's first Black Fire Commissioner, Cortez Trotter.

McNally made his remarks during a Fire Department graduation held at Navy Pier where he was joined by Mayor Daley and Fire Commissioner James Joyce. There, Joyce and Daley told reporters they knew nothing about the Illinois Labor Board's investigation of the 69 W. Washington fire that cost six people their lives.

But the spotlight was on McNally, who angered Blacks and whites years ago, when he wore blackface in the African American community to protest affirmative action. He told reporters he can work with Trotter when he takes over the helms at the end of this month.

The union president did say, "If there is a move to reduce the number of Advance Life Support ambulances and changing them to Basic Life Support because you have a higher skill level, higher medical training level for the paramedics as opposed to Emergency Medical Training...," then he would oppose that.

McNally said the current contract calls for 59 ambulances. "If they want to bring something up in negotiations, they're welcome to do that, but as it stands now, we would be supporting anything that would reduce the number of companies."

Asked about legislation introduced in the City Council to create a civilian review board, McNally said: "It's up to them...but we have a contract that deals with issues like that...disciplinary infractions...."

"This old issue has been such an aberration and it is just an isolated thing...," McNally said. "You seem focused on negative things, possibly because they're such an oddity because most things that are done by this department, every day...are positive things.

"I don't know if you need to start forming completely new boards as a knee jerk reaction to a situation," McNally said.

Asked what is the delay for Fire Department mandatory drug and alcohol testing, McNally said: "We had all along a process in place for testing to see if anyone is impaired...called the Just Cause Rationale....

"If anybody appears to be impaired there are mechanisms in place right now and it's been that way for years."

He said the random drug and alcohol testing is new, and that "it isn't done in many fire departments" to his knowledge.

McNally believes he will work well with newly appointed Fire Department Comm. Cortez Trotter. He said his experience with Trotter in the past "has been positive" and while they won't agree on everything, he said "we can reasonably agree on things as well.

"Cortez Trotter is a sharp guy, and I think he'll do well in this job," the union president said. "We have the same objectives, the best trained, the best staffed, best equipped Fire Department in the country....

"We may have different ideas on how to get there sometimes, but, it's the same objective. I think that he has that focus and so do we. I think we'll do all right there," McNally said.

Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.