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May 31 -- Dallas goalie struggles against Red Wings: DETROIT (AP) -- Ed Belfour doesn't have many good memories about playing in the state of Michigan.

May 31 -- Unheralded players carrying Red Wings and Stars: DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Red Wings pride themselves in being able to use all four of their forward lines.

May 31 -- Stars must find offense: DETROIT -- For much of the season, they formed the best line on the Dallas Stars' roster. If Dallas is going to extend its season beyond the middle of next week, they might have to be the best line in the Western Conference finals.

May 30 -- Bat makers aim for each other in Texas courtroom: TEXARKANA, Texas (AP) -- Two leading makers of baseball bats are swinging at each other in federal court.

May 30 -- Big West Conference hopes to expand with WAC survivors: DENTON, Texas (AP) -- The Big West Conference hopes to expand by luring some of the schools left behind in the breakup of the Western Athletic Conference.

May 30 -- Stars' GM watches his team flourish in playoffs: DALLAS -- Bob Gainey practically sits up in the rafters during Stars games at Reunion Arena -- always in the first row of the press box, always in the second seat from the right.

May 29 -- Emotions spill over at induction ceremony: DALLAS (AP) -- Doak Walker was listening by telephone hookup from his Denver hospital room.

May 29 -- Return of the native: Modano's back in Detroit: DETROIT (AP) -- The surroundings are familiar, and maybe that's a good thing for Mike Modano.

May 29 -- High schools are giving softball teams better facilities: DALLAS -- DeSoto third baseman Heather Hill used to get tired of chasing balls that would keep going and going, no telling how far. All she knew was they were stopping well beyond 200 feet, an appropriate distance for an outfield fence for fast-pitch softball.

May 29 -- Track's facelift nearly complete: FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Texas Motor Speedway is "smooth, smooth, smooth," after being improved to resolve drivers' complaints, general manager Eddie Gossage said Thursday.

May 28 -- Audit finds numerous problems with city's youth sports program: HOUSTON (AP) -- City officials are increasing oversight and management of a $3 million youth sports program after an audit found the program operated in an "environment ripe with the potential for abuse."

May 28 -- Greer says team's success lessens blow of his slump: ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rusty Greer is hitting 48 points below his career average. The Rangers are six games in front in the American League West.

May 28 -- Snider says he's out; sale requirements could deter Headrick, McCombs: MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota Vikings president Roger Headrick and San Antonio businessman Red McCombs say they may deterred from making a bid for the team because of the terms set by the current owners.

May 28 -- Dallas defense gets nasty with Red Wings: DETROIT (AP) -- Sergei Fedorov got sandwiched by Pat Verbeek and Jamie Langenbrunner. Steve Yzerman was blindsided by Derian Hatcher. Kirk Maltby had to pry Craig Ludwig's fingers off his throat.

May 28 -- Leonard emerges as world-class player: DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) -- A year ago, Justin Leonard was one of many good young golfers in an impressively deep talent pool on the PGA Tour. This year, Leonard comes into the Memorial Tournament regarded as one of the best players in the world.

May 27 -- Galveston to Veracruz Regatta changes sailors' lives: GALVESTON, Texas -- Listen to Frank Tuma talk about the Galveston to Veracruz Regatta, and you can tell he's aching to get out of his office in Florida. The sea and Mexico are calling.

May 27 -- Eight schools want to leave WAC; Texas schools not among them: SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Eight universities announced their intention Tuesday to leave the Western Athletic Conference, leaving the nation's largest Division I league in tatters.

May 26 -- Stars must take their game back from Red Wings: DALLAS - Beaten at their own game, by their own game, the Dallas Stars will have to play it again in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. This time, with feeling.

May 25 -- Stars lose to hot defense by Detroit: DALLAS - Defense carried the day for the Detroit Red Wings. Holding the Dallas Stars to only 14 shots, the Red Wings beat the Stars 2-0 Sunday in the opening game of their Western Conference finals.

May 25 -- Mississippi St. 10, Texas A&M 9: COLLEGE STATION - Relievers Kevin Donovan and Scott Polk each got out late jams and Mississippi State advanced to the regional final.

May 24 -- Watson grabs share of third-round lead: FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Somewhere, Ben Hogan surely is smiling.

May 24 -- Teaching golf pros cover everything from swings to mental approach: DALLAS -- Back when he ruled golf, Tom Watson didn't need much help. Then he started missing three-foot putts, and he got rabbit ears.

May 24 -- Mississippi State 15, Rice 14: COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) -- Travis Chapman hit a three-run homer during a 10-run sixth inning that rallied Mississippi State to a 15-14 victory Saturday and eliminated top-seeded Rice from the NCAA Central Region playoffs.

May 24 -- Detroit's offense meets Dallas' defense for best-in-west honors: DALLAS (AP) -- The stranglehold defense of the Dallas Stars meets the storm-trooping offense of the Detroit Red Wings in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Sunday.

May 23 -- Gonzalez belts winner in final inning: ARLINGTON - Juan Gonzalez hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night to give the Texas Rangers a 13-10 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

May 23 -- Dallas finally going ga-ga over Stars: DALLAS (AP) - For their first four seasons in Dallas, the Stars were a novelty - new, exciting and different. Games were social events where fans cheered as loud for hard hits and fights as they did for goals.

May 23 -- Dallas hoping to chip out win: Bad hops on chipped ice might be an advantage for the Dallas Stars when they begin their Western Conference final at home against the Detroit Red Wings.

May 23 -- Plan would allow private foundation to lease Cotton Bowl and dome it: DALLAS (AP) - The city of Dallas and a private foundation interested in turning the Cotton Bowl into a domed facility are getting down to specifics.

May 22 -- Texas heat, humidity gives Stars unique advantage: DALLAS (AP) - Sure, the Detroit Red Wings are faster than the Dallas Stars. But their blazing skates may be wasted during the Western Conference finals games played on the soft, sometimes slushy ice at Reunion Arena.

May 22 -- Promoter sees Houston, Vegas as site of proposed fight: LAS VEGAS (AP) - The promoter of a proposed fight between former heavyweight champions George Foreman and Larry Holmes wants the bout to take place either in the Houston Astrodome or at a Las Vegas casino.

May 22 -- Astros' Howell has surgery for ligament damage: HOUSTON (AP) - Astros first baseman Jack Howell has had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist and is expected to be out at least two months.

May 21 -- Helling finally realizes expectations: ARLINGTON, Texas -- The image remains fresh in the memory of Rangers manager Johnny Oates.

May 21 -- San Antonio auto magnate McCombs back in bidding for NFL team: SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Businessman Red McCombs will try again to buy the Minnesota Vikings now that best-selling author Tom Clancy has withdrawn his $200 million offer to purchase the team.

May 21 -- Dallas faces Detroit in Western Conference Finals: DALLAS (AP) -- The top-seeded Dallas Stars say they're looking forward to facing the defending champion Detroit Red Wings for a chance to play for the Stanley Cup.

May 21 -- Texas reaches College World Series as 2-year-old program: AUSTIN (AP) -- The Texas Longhorns softball team, which takes the field in the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City on Thursday night, has come a long way from a 1-23 season as a club team three years ago.

May 21 -- History makes Colonial player favorite: FORT WORTH -- The way Justin Leonard remembers it, he was 14 or 15 years old the first time he played Colonial Country Club.

May 20 -- Fans, players say tournament isn't the same without Hogan: FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- A statue of golf great Ben Hogan overlooks the 18th green at the Colonial Country Club. His name is listed as the defending champion on the leader board. The course even bears the nickname "Hogan's Alley."

May 20 -- Four Texas teams advance to NCAA baseball playoffs: DALLAS (AP) -- Four Texas schools are among the 48 college baseball teams that have advanced to post-season play. The winners of each of eight regions with six teams playing will advance to the College World Series in Omaha.

May 20 -- Former UT golfer earns best payday: IRVING, Texas - The way Harrison Frazar started his Sunday, you wouldn't know he was about to play the biggest round of his young career.

May 19 -- State track meet next year moving to much smaller venue: AUSTIN - Tickets may be a little harder to come by for the annual state track meet, which is moving out of Royal-Memorial Stadium after nearly 75 years, University Interscholastic League officials say.

May 19 -- Stars have to have defense on their minds: DALLAS - The Dallas Stars will soon find out if the best offense is indeed a good defense. The Stars have used nominal offense in combination with stingy defense in advancing to the Western Conference finals.

May 19 -- Montford says NCAA matters have cost Tech more than $3 million: AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas Tech Chancellor John Montford said Monday an internal investigation and self-imposed penalties stemming from NCAA violations committed by the athletic department have cost the school more than $3 million.

May 19 -- New A&M coach says Texas has room for another basketball program: AUSTIN (AP) - Football may be king, but Texas is a big state with plenty of room for another major college basketball power, says Texas A&M's new coach.

May 19 -- Lone Star's Chuck Badone educates fans on selecting a winner: GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - This is Chuck Badone's time of year. The horses are running at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. The Stars are pushing deep into the NHL playoffs. Life can't possibly get any better than this. "I don't know," said Badone, Lone Star Park's official handicapper and fan education manager. "Those hockey playoffs take a lot out of me."

May 19 -- A Couples of tough losses: IRVING, Texas (AP) - Two swings in one month. That's all that stood between Fred Couples and two victories - including the Masters.

May 18 -- George Foreman picks up new title -- doctor: HOUSTON (AP) -- He's a boxer and a minister. Now George Foreman has a new title: doctor.

May 18 -- Trout action heats up along Aransas Bay shorelines: ROCKPORT, Texas -- Nothing's quite as pretty as a bay meadow in the morning, when through the smoky haze you find the big trout hiding there.

May 18 -- Modano the defensive star? Hatcher the offensive star? What gives?: DALLAS (AP) -- Mike Modano is expected to be the offensive hero and Derian Hatcher the defensive star.

May 18 -- Cook wins Byron Nelson Classic: IRVING, Texas (AP) -- John Cook came from four strokes behind on the back nine, helped by a water ball by Fred Couples on No. 17, and won the GTE Byron Nelson Classic on Sunday with a closing-round 65.

May 18 -- Texas Tech 4, Oklahoma 3: OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Josh Bard's two-run homer keyed a three-run first inning that sent Texas Tech on its way to a 4-3 victory over Oklahoma in the Big 12 tournament Sunday.

May 17 -- Coach acquitted of sexual assault of 15-year-old boy: DeSOTO, Texas (AP) -- A jury has acquitted a former DeSoto High School teacher and coach of charges that he kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old boy who was one of his students.

May 17 -- Fortune wins fourth straight state singles title: AUSTIN (AP) -- Ben Fortune of Class 3A San Antonio Cole won his fourth straight state singles championship on Saturday, while Sharla Whitaker of Texarkana Pleasant Grove also repeated as 3A singles champ.

May 17 -- Mitchell, Taylor sweep 100 and 200 in 4A at state track meet: AUSTIN (AP) -- Tory Mitchell equaled the fastest time in the nation by a high school runner in the 100 this year and posted the nation's best time in the 200 this year, sweeping both events in Class 4A at the state track meet.

May 16 -- Stars looking to advance to conference finals on strong veteran play: DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Stars face a choice between choke and chokehold.

May 16 -- San Antonio Churchill boys and girls sweep 5A golf: AUSTIN (AP) -- San Antonio Churchill has pulled off a rare repeat as boys' and girls' state golf champions in Class 5A.

May 15 -- NBA owner to aid Clancy on Vikings purchase: HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander wants to help novelist Tom Clancy buy the NFL Minnesota Vikings.

May 15 -- Nelson an inspiration for young players in his tournament: IRVING, Texas -- On the eve of the 31st GTE Byron Nelson Classic, the tournament's namesake uttered the unthinkable.

May 15 -- Former San Angelo football star dead at 64: SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) -- Rommie Lee Loudd was a warrior on the football field. But he lost his final battle off the field when he died of complications from diabetes at age 64.

May 15 -- Survey: Girls in sports less likely to get pregnant: DALLAS (AP) -- A new study concludes girls who play high school sports delay becoming sexually active and are less likely to get pregnant than those who don't.

May 15 -- Dallas offense powers past Edmonton: EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- The Edmonton Oilers desperately want to return for another playoff game in their hometown. The Dallas Stars will do everything possible to avoid another trip to western Canada, even though they profited in Alberta.

May 15 -- Carl Lewis' coach announces retirement: HOUSTON (AP) -- Tom Tellez, who has coached 12 Olympians including nine-time gold medalist Carl Lewis, is quitting as track coach at Houston after 22 years.

May 15 -- UIL track state championship kicks off Friday: AUSTIN (AP) -- University Interscholastic League officials were monitoring smoke and air pollution reaching Austin from fires in Mexico as state golf, tennis and track competition was scheduled for Friday.

May 14 -- Cyclists welcome opening of Superdrome this week: FRISCO, Texas -- The most prominent venues for track cycling can be found in international glamour cities like Vienna, Zurich and Berlin.

May 14 -- Belfour sparkling as Stars continue Cup chase in Edmonton: EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Quick, who's got the best goals-against average among goaltenders in the Stanley Cup playoffs?

May 14 -- San Antonio season highlighted by Duncan's debut: SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs ended their season in a familiar way -- with a playoff loss to the Utah Jazz.

May 13 -- Astros put reliever Magnante on disabled list; recall pitcher Grzanich from minors: HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston Astros put lefthanded relief pitcher Mike Magnante on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of a strained right calf muscle.

May 13 -- Oilers hope to solve Belfour: EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- Ed Belfour says he was cheering hard for Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway in this year's Super Bowl.

May 13 -- Modesty is the most memorable thing about the great Doak Walker: DALLAS -- The nearest the fellow ever came to boasting was, at closer examination, not boasting at all. To my knowledge, no one ever caught Doak Walker in an immodest utterance. This, despite headlines of national scope and Southwest recognition that bordered on canonization.

May 12 -- Stars win in overtime, 1-0: EDMONTON, Alberta - Benoit Hogue scored at 13:07 of overtime to give the Dallas Stars a 1-0 playoff victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night.

May 12 -- Spurs hoping the mailman taking a holiday again: SALT LAKE CITY - The San Antonio Spurs can only hope Karl Malone cooled off during the plane ride home.

May 11 -- San Antonio on the brink of elimination: SAN ANTONIO - Karl Malone is back. In a big way. The Mailman recovered from a sub-par performance in Game 3 to score 34 points and lead the Utah Jazz to an 82-73 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the fourth game of their Western Conference semifinal series Sunday night.

May 11 -- Class 3A basketball star still looking for a college future: TRINITY, Texas - Down at Post Office Drug, some of the regular coffee drinkers occasionally mention him by his first name.

May 11 -- Same group of six readies for Big 12 tournament: When it comes to baseball, the Big 12 might as well be the Big Six. The same collection of teams that christened last year's postseason tournament will head to the spanking new Southwestern Bell Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City on Thursday for the league's second championship.

May 11 -- New UIL building $1.25 million over budget: AUSTIN (AP) - The University Interscholastic League, which governs extracurricular activities at Texas' public high schools, is finally moving into a home of its own.

May 10 -- Robinson steps up for Spurs: SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- David Robinson wasn't San Antonio's first option when the Spurs had shots to win each of the first two games against Utah.

May 10 -- Stars center out six months after knee surgery: DALLAS (AP) -- Dallas Stars center Joe Nieuwendyk will miss the start of next season following major surgery on both knees.

May 9 -- Malone gets his kicks while Robinson gets mad: SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- David Robinson is tired of being kicked around by Karl Malone.

May 9 -- Series shifts to Texas: SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- After losing two close games at Utah, it could be expected that the San Antonio Spurs arrived home feeling discouraged.

May 9 -- Nolan Ryan agrees to pay nearly half of minor-league stadium: ROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) -- Nolan Ryan will pay almost half the $13 million needed for a stadium to house his minor-league baseball team, city officials say.

May 9 -- Bad blood early between Oilers and Stars: DALLAS (AP) -- It didn't take long for this to become a bad blood series.

May 8 -- Houston could get on fast track for NFL expansion team, businessman says: HOUSTON (AP) -- The Houston businessman hoping to get the city a National Football League expansion team says Houston could get on a fast track returning to pro football if a stadium financing plan is in place within two weeks.

May 8 -- Crew works to keep slush off Reunion Arena ice: DALLAS -- Imagine trying to keep a one-inch-thick sheet of ice from turning into slush in Dallas this week.

May 8 -- Doak Walker: Modesty is the measure of the man: DALLAS -- The nearest the fellow ever came to boasting was, at closer examination, not boasting at all. To my knowledge, no one ever caught Doak Walker in an immodest utterance. This, despite headlines of national scope and Southwest recognition that bordered on canonization.

May 8 -- Rangers seek to get hitting, pitching together: ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- With 21 wins in 23 games, the Yankees are on their hottest streak in 45 years. And despite losing three straight and five of six, Texas still remains in first place in the AL West.

May 7 -- Rockets guard slightly injured in theft: HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston Rockets guard Mario Elie was pistol-whipped and had his Mercedes-Benz stolen at gunpoint while stopped at a Houston intersection early Wednesday.

May 7 -- Winter ball heats Rodriguez's game: ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Ivan Rodriguez wore a big smile as he walked by general manager Doug Melvin.

May 7 -- Stars' Keane makes best of few opportunities: DALLAS -- No one is going to accuse Mike Keane of being wasteful in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs.

May 7 -- TCU center Lee Nailon to enter NBA draft: FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- Texas Christian center Lee Nailon, the nation's third-leading scorer, said Wednesday he's giving up his final year of eligibility to enter the NBA draft.

May 7 -- Spurs pleased, Jazz peeved after Utah steals Game 1: SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs were laughing and joking during their shootaround Wednesday. Tim Duncan, fresh off a 33-point performance the night before, worked on his 3-point hook shot while his teammates hooted.

May 7 -- Stars face challenge in Oilers: DALLAS (AP) -- Behind the facade of revenge for a first-round upset last season, the Dallas Stars-Edmonton Oilers semifinals series that starts Thursday is a fight between resilient veteran depth in the face of injuries and a speedy, brash offense.

May 7 -- Strikeouts were second nature for Wood, coach says: DALLAS (AP) -- Chicaco Cubs rookie Kerry Wood might have shocked the sports world by striking out 20 Houston Astros on Wednesday, but he didn't surprise his former coaches back in Texas.

May 6 -- Wherever Wells pitches his dad is sure to follow: WACO, Texas -- Wherever Baylor's Kip Wells pitches, his father follows. It can be Lawrence, Lincoln or Columbia. It can be a weekend or weekday. Robert Wells is always there.

May 6 -- Spurs officials like quarry plan for new arena: SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- San Antonio Spurs executives like the idea of a basketball arena built in an abandoned quarry, and they're asking for a firm plan and city support for an arena by year's end.

May 6 -- Stars may be out of forwards for second round of NHL playoffs: DALLAS (AP) -- The Dallas Stars are running out of forwards who will be available for the second round of the NHL playoffs.

May 6 -- Stars face challenge in Oilers: DALLAS (AP) -- With the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs over, the Dallas Stars have lopped one head off the playoff monster that has dogged them since a grisly Game 7 overtime loss in last year's opening round.

May 6 -- Texas Tech men's golf coach resigns: LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Texas Tech men's golf coach Tommy Wilson has resigned effective immediately, athletic director Gerald Myers announced Tuesday.

May 5 -- Texas suffers worst year in sports in nearly 45 years: AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - University of Texas athletics have been making the wrong kind of history lately. The Longhorns' baseball team ensured its first losing season since 1956 by dropping one of three games to Nebraska over the weekend.

May 5 -- An era ends for aging Rockets: HOUSTON (AP) - This is not a routine goodbye until next season. This one's for good. Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkley, three of the game's greatest players, will not be together as a unit next season, and the Houston Rockets probably will get a whole new look.

May 5 -- Ken Hitchcock disagrees, but Stars' Cup chances are practically shelved: DALLAS -- In the beginning, which was just 10 days ago, winning the Stanley Cup was the Stars' objective. And anything less than playing in the conference finals would be considered a serious failure.

May 5 -- Rodriguez honored by AL: NEW YORK (AP) - Ivan Rodriguez of the Texas Rangers won his first AL Player of the Week award Monday.

May 4 -- Stars continue to lose players to injuries: DALLAS - One day after winning a big Game 5 against San Jose, the Dallas Stars found out they would be without Jere Lehtinen for at least a week. The day after winning an even bigger Game 6 to advance to the second round, the medical news got even worse for Dallas.

May 4 -- Stars vanquish playoff demons with elimination of Sharks: DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Stars say a hard-fought playoff victory over San Jose might have been the catharsis they needed to vanquish memories of last year's playoff disaster.

May 4 -- Drexler glides into coaching after Jazz eliminate Rockets: SALT LAKE CITY - Clyde Drexler isn't looking back on his 15-year career. He's too busy looking forward. "I try not to be a sentimental guy," Drexler said. "It's my last NBA game, but it's not the end of the world."

May 4 -- Rockets eliminated by Jazz, 84-70: SALT LAKE CITY - Greg Ostertag and Bryon Russell reprised their critical roles from last year's playoffs, lifting the Utah Jazz past the Houston Rockets.

May 4 -- Rangers nipped by Red Sox, 2-1: BOSTON - Pedro Martinez overcame baseball's best hitting team, poor fielding by his own team and excellent pitching by Darren Oliver of the Texas Rangers.

May 3 -- Stars finally advance to second round: SAN JOSE, Calif. - Mike Keane scored the winning goal as the Dallas Stars finally conquered the underdog San Jose Sharks with a 3-2 overtime victory Saturday night to move on to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.

May 3 -- Elbow injury ends Barkley's season: HOUSTON (AP) -- Charles Barkley, who played with a hernia this season, will miss the rest of the playoffs after an MRI revealed Saturday that he tore his right tricep muscle during Friday night's playoff loss to the Utah Jazz.

May 3 -- David Robinson appears to have better shot at title: CHICAGO -- Suddenly, surprisingly, the San Antonio Spurs have a chance to pay back the Houston Rockets and finally erase the bitter memories of their failed experiment with Dennis Rodman.

May 3 -- Maggert, Forsman share three-shot lead in Houston Open: THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) -- Jeff Maggert has been here before. Now he's looking to deliver.

May 2 -- Fort Worth golfer tees off in his quest for Senior PGA Tour berth: FORT WORTH, Texas -- It was 1958, and though merely 10 years old, John Grace was already making an impression on his mother with his dedication to the game of golf.

May 2 -- Janzen, Forsman share lead after two rounds of Shell Houston Open: THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) -- Lee Janzen solved some of his putting woes and put himself in contention at the Shell Houston Open.

May 1 -- These entrepreneurs showing plenty of horse sense: FORT WORTH, Texas -- They could have been the model for the old TV series "Dallas." Three entrepreneurial Texas brothers run the family oil business learned at their father's knee. They have a ranch. They love horses. Together they have made a fortune drilling wells and buying real estate.

May 1 -- Confidence gives Hampton early boost: HOUSTON (AP) -- Mike Hampton's last start this season was a good example of how far the Houston Astros starting lefty has come since a horrible start last season.

May 1 -- Spurs' Johnson stepping up in playoffs: SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Avery Johnson gets rapped regularly.

May 1 -- Olajuwon has Rockets poised for history: HOUSTON (AP) -- Good things always seem to happen to the Houston Rockets when Hakeem Olajuwon is at the top of his game.

May 1 -- Nolan Ryan, son purchasing Texas League team: ROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) -- Former pitching great Nolan Ryan, his son and a former part-owner of the Houston Astros are purchasing a minor league team and plan to move it to Central Texas.

May 1 -- Texas Tech star goes in first round of Women's NBA draft: LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Former Texas Tech star Alicia Thompson will play with the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association.