March 19 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Tuesday:
- - - -
The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427
- - - -
College Basketball
First Four: Four teams fight for two NCAA Tournament spots
No. 11 seeds Middle Tennessee and St. Mary's (Calif.) tangle after No. 16 seeds North Carolina A&T and Liberty take the court to get the 2013 NCAA Tournament underway. (BKC-NCA&T-LIBERTY-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect by 0045 GMT/8:45 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Jeff Wallner, 700 words)
(BKC-STMARYS-MIDDLETENNESSEE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Jeff Wallner, 700 words)
- -
CBK Notebook
The latest news and notes from around the league. (BKC-NEWS/NOTES, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 500 words)
- - - -
National Basketball Association
The Sports Xchange covers all NBA games; key matchup highlighted below
Upstart Nuggets building streak of their own
OKLAHOMA CITY - Denver has won 12 games in a row but the Oklahoma City Thunder, 30-4 at home, control Chesapeake Energy Arena. (BKN-NUGGETS-THUNDER-WRITERTHRU/ (PIX), expect by 0230 GMT/10:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 700 words)
- -
NBA Notebook
The latest news and notes from around the league. (BKN-NEWS/NOTES, expect by 2300 GMT/7 p.m. ET, The Sports Xchange, 500 words)
- - - -
National Football League
Owners meetings: Head games
Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the Super Bowl the league would take further action to "remove the head from the game." NFL owners heard rules proposals Tuesday that included penalties for a running back that lowers his head to initiate contact on runs "outside the tackle box." (FBN-NEWS/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
- -
Jets' Ryan claims Revis isn't being shopped
Syntax or something more? New York head coach Rex Ryan says the Jets aren't "actively shopping" cornerback Darrelle Revis. He did allow that GM John Idzik might be "actively listening." (FBN-JETS-NEWS/, expect by 1900 GMT/3 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
- -
Welker's agent calls out Kraft
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft gave his two cents on the Wes Welker drama on Monday, but Welker's agent says it wasn't close to reality. (FBN-PATRIOTS-NEWS/, expect by 1900 GMT/3 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
- -
Fox not a faxer, but would welcome Dumervil transaction
Head coach John Fox said the unfortunate fax gaffe that forced Denver to release Elvis Dumervil doesn't change the Broncos' position - they'd welcome him back at the right price. (FBN-BRONCOS-NEWS/, expect by 1930 GMT/3:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
- -
Harbaugh: Ravens expected 'inevitable' roster turnover
The Baltimore Ravens continue fighting to keep safety Ed Reed, but even if the Pro Bowl defender returns, the identity of the team has changed dramatically thanks to a roster purge in free agency. (FBN-RAVENS-NEWS/, expect by 1945 GMT/3:45 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
- -
NFL Notebook
The latest news and notes from around the league. (FBN-NOTES/, expect by 2330 GMT/7:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
- - - -
Major League Baseball
The price of pain evident in New York
If David Wright's injury lingers, the New York Mets face the real possibility of having their three highest-paid players begin the season on the disabled list. (BBO-METS-NEWS/FEATURE, expect by 0100 GMT/9 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 450 words)
- -
Zimmermann has had 'A' game this spring
It's debatable - an unproven - whether the Washington Nationals have more than two front-line starters in their rotation given Jordan Zimmermann's uneven performance last season and Dan Haren's injury concern. Based on spring results, like Zimmermann's 67-pitch, six-inning start against Detroit, Washington's pitching well runs deep. (BBO-NATIONALS-NEWS/FEATURE, expect by 0100 GMT/9 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 450 words)
- -
Pitchers taking early hacks in preparation for interleague
The Los Angeles Angels broke from their norm in preparation for becoming the first American League team to send its pitchers to the plate on Opening Day. (BBO-ANGELS-NEWS/FEATURE, moved, The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
- -
MLB notebook
The latest news and notes from around the league. (BBO-NOTES/, expect by 2330 GMT/7:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
- - - -
Baseball
World Baseball Classic (to March 19)
Caribbean clash for World Baseball Classic crown
SAN FRANCISCO - The undefeated Dominican Republic team, led by Robinson Cano, plays Puerto Rico and standout catcher Yadier Molina in an all-Caribbean clash to decide the World Baseball Classic title. (BASEBALL-WORLD/ (PIX), expect by about 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET)
- -
Critics aside, MLB exec rates WBC a hit
SAN FRANCISCO - Some critics say it is played at the wrong time of year and others carp that too many stars are missing, but as far as one top baseball executive is concerned the World Baseball Classic is an "unqualified" hit. (BASEBALL-WORLD/BROSNAN (INTERVIEW), expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 650 words)
- - - -
National Hockey League
The Sports Xchange covers all NHL games; key matchup highlighted below
- -
Bruins at Jets
WINNIPEG - Boston is a point off of Montreal's division lead, but the Bruins have slipped on the road. Winnipeg is 5-1-1 in its past seven games. (HKN-BRUINS-JETS-WRITERTHRU/ (PIX), expect by 0300 GMT/11 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 700 words)
- -
Kings rediscovering Stanley Cup form amid hectic schedule
LOS ANGELES - As the NHL's lockout-shortened regular season nears its final month, the Los Angeles Kings are finding a familiar rhythm that resembles their stunning playoff run of last year. (NHL-KINGS/, moved, by Jahmal Corner, 550 words)
- - - -
Tennis
Murray can be No. 1 this year, says Del Potro
LONDON - Indian Wells runner-up Juan Martin del Potro believes Britain's Andy Murray can become world tennis No. 1 this year. (TENNIS-DELPOTRO/QUEENS, moved, 300 words)
- - - -
Olympics
Judo funding cut after physical abuse probe
Japan cuts funding to its judo federation after an investigation into the alleged physical abuse of female athletes finds evidence of serious misconduct by coaches. (OLYMPICS/JUDO-JAPAN, moved, 300 words)
