Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Friday, Jan. 30

Jan. 30 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Friday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Goodell outlines State of the NFL PHOENIX - Commissioner Roger Goodell says it was a tough year personally but one of progress and change in the NFL. (FBN-NEWS/GOODELL, expect by 3 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Jeff Reynolds, 900 words) See also: Cross-examining Goodell (FBN-COLUMN/GOODELL, expect by 4 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Ira Miller, 750 words) - - Carroll, Belichick face off PHOENIX - Super Bowl coaches Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick shared a stage divided only by the Lombardi Trophy the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots play for Sunday. (FBN-SEAHAWKS-PATRIOTS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Jeff Reynolds, 675 words) - - Carroll will let Sherman decide on playing if baby arrives PHOENIX - Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is hopeful that his son will be born after Super Bowl Sunday but should an early arrival occur, coach Pete Carroll says he will leave it to the player to decide how he responds. (NFL-SUPER/SHERMAN-BABY, moved, by Simon Evans, 347 words) - - Patriots owner Kraft stands front-and-center in NFL spotlight New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is one of the most visible faces of the NFL, guiding his once-moribund team to unparalleled success while assuming an influential role navigating the league's complex inner workings. (NFL-SUPER/KRAFT, moved, by Steve Ginsburg, 500 words) - - Paul Allen flying high as Seahawks land back in Super Bowl SEATTLE - Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has the knack of being in the right place at the right time and the Seattle Seahawks owner hopes that will be back in the Super Bowl winner's circle on Sunday when his team takes on the New England Patriots. (NFL-SUPER/ALLEN, moved, by Bill Rigby, 500 words) - - Vegas casinos latest to join Seattle's '12th Man' PHOENIX - Las Vegas casinos will be among the Seattle Seahawks' faithful "12th Man" during the Super Bowl as most of the money wagered on the NFL's championship game is banking on a New England Patriots victory. (NFL-SUPER/GAMBLING (PIX), expect by 2:30 PM ET, by Frank Pingue, 400 words) - - Boston officials aim to avert repeat of '04 Super Bowl riots BOSTON - Boston officials unveil plans for a heavy police presence and travel restrictions around areas with large numbers of college students during Sunday's Super Bowl in a bid to avert the violence seen following championships a decade ago. (NFL-SUPER/BOSTON, expect by 5 PM ET, 400 words) - - Super Bowl billboard campaign seeks acceptance for gay players PHOENIX - As fans gather for Sunday's Super Bowl in Arizona, a billboard campaign is seeking to win acceptance for gay players whom the organizers say have been part of the National Football League since it started, but are scared to come out in public. (NFL SUPER/GAY (PIX), moved, by Daniel Wallis, 390 words) - - Cancer organization partners with NFL on prostate treatment PHOENIX - A U.S. cancer organization has partnered with the NFL alumni association ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl XLIX to raise awareness about screening, diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer, a disease that kills tens of thousands of U.S. men a year. (NFL SUPER/CANCER, moved, 240 words) - - Pro Football Hall of Fame must break up traffic jam PHOENIX - When selectors weigh the finalists for the 2015 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, repeat candidates hoping this is their year might remain in a logjam. (FBN-NEWS/HALLOFFAME, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 800 words) - - Manning undecided on NFL future Peyton Manning is uncertain if he will be back in the NFL for the 2015 season. (FBN-BRONCOS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) - - Blount's marijuana charge dropped New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount will not face a marijuana possession charge while he was in Pittsburgh. Prosecutors dropped the charge that stemmed from an Aug. 20 arrest when he was playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. (FBN-PATRIOTS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 225 words) - - Devon and Leah Still author book Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still and his 4-year-old daughter Leah, who has been battling Stage 4 pediatric cancer, are releasing an animated book called "I Am Leah Strong" that will be available online next month. (FBN-BENGALS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 325 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION TSX covers all NBA games, highlighted matchup below - - Portland at Atlanta ATLANTA - The Atlanta Hawks can stretch their winning streak to 18 when they host the Portland Trail Blazers, who have dropped six of their eight games, including a season-high four in a row on the road. (BKN-HAWKS-TRAILBLAZERS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after the 7:30 PM ET game ends, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Today's NBA schedule at a glance Minnesota at Philadelphia, 7 PM ET Portland at Atlanta, 7:30 PM ET Houston at Boston, 7:30 PM ET Toronto at Brooklyn, 7:30 PM ET Sacramento at Cleveland, 7:30 PM ET Los Angeles Clippers at New Orleans, 8 PM ET Dallas at Miami, 8 PM ET Golden State at Utah, 9 PM ET Chicago at Phoenix, 10:30 PM ET - - NBA Roundup The latest moves and news from the NBA. (BKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Waste Management Phoenix Open, Scottsdale, Arizona Palmer on top at weather-hit TPC Scottsdale, Woods struggles American Ryan Palmer sets the early pace with a seven-under-par 64 at the TPC Scottsdale where former world No. 1 Tiger Woods struggles to a 73 but nine players were yet to finish the opening round when play was suspended on Thursday. (GOLF-PGA/ (PIX), expect end-of-day lead by 8 PM ET, 400 words) - - Tiger slumps to 82, his worst round as a pro Tiger Woods slumps to his worst round as a pro as he cards an 11-over-par 82 in the second round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The 14-time major winner had six bogeys, two double bogeys, a triple bogey and two birdies in the round. (GOLF-PGA/WOODS, moved; will be led, 400 words) - - Technical focus bad for Snedeker's putting touch SCOTTSDALE, Arizona - If proof was ever needed for the average club hacker that even the very best players can struggle in golf, then look no further than at putting maestro Brandt Snedeker. (GOLF-PGA/SNEDEKER (INTERVIEW, PIX), moved, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 501 words) - - McIlroy surges ahead in Dubai with flawless 64 DUBAI - World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, firing birdies his closing three holes, storms into a one-shot lead in the Dubai Desert Classic with a sparkling second-round 64. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, moved, by Bernie McGuire, 387 words) - - Coates Golf Championship American Stacy Lewis is again near the top of the heap at the Coates Golf Championship in Ocala, Fla. (GLF-RECAP/, expect by 6:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE TSX covers all NHL games, highlighted matchup below - - Pittsburgh at New Jersey NEWARK, New Jersey - The New Jersey Devils gun for their third straight win when they host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, a club jockeying for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. (HKN-DEVILS-PENGUINS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/, expect ASAP after the 7 PM ET game ends, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Today's NHL schedule at a glance Pittsburgh at New Jersey, 7 PM ET St. Louis at Carolina, 7 PM ET Nashville at Colorado, 9 PM ET Buffalo at Vancouver, 10 PM ET Chicago at Anaheim, 10 PM ET - - NHL Roundup The latest moves and news from the NHL. (HKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - SOCCER Australia deserves to host World Cup, says Blatter LONDON - FIFA President Sepp Blatter begins his re-election campaign by saying Australia deserves to host the World Cup for the first time. (SOCCER-WORLD/FIFA-BLATTER, moved, 258 words) - - - - TRACK & FIELD Rupp to aim for fastest indoor two mile NEW YORK - American Olympic 10,000 meters silver medalist Galen Rupp headlines the Armory Track Invitational on Saturday, aiming for the world's fastest indoor two mile. The world silver medalist over 1,500 meters, Matt Centrowitz, participates for the U.S. team in a distance medley against squads including Kenya and Ireland. (ATHLETICS-ARMORY/ (PREVIEW), expect by 5 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 325 words) - - - - TENNIS Djokovic beats Wawrinka, into fifth Australian Open final MELBOURNE - Novak Djokovic once again stands tall at the Australian Open as he reaches his fourth final in the past five years with another five-set victory over Stan Wawrinka, the man who dumped him out of Melbourne Park last year. (TENNIS-OPEN/ (WRAPUP 1, PIX), moved, by Greg Stutchbury, 594 words) - - Down but not out, Djokovic just glad to make final MELBOURNE - A solemn Novak Djokovic will look for positives from his previous clashes at Melbourne Park after playing arguably his worst match of the tournament in edging a mentally "dead" Stan Wawrinka in five sets. (TENNIS-OPEN/DJOKOVIC-QUOTES (PIX), moved, by Ian Ransom, 445 words) - - Dead battery led to Wawrinka losing Australian Open title MELBOURNE - A 2014 season which began for Stan Wawrinka with an Australian Open triumph and ended with Davis Cup glory finally catches up with the Swiss at Melbourne Park as he is left "mentally completely dead." (TENNIS-OPEN/WAWRINKA (PIX), moved, by Greg Stutchbury, 362 words) - - - - DOPING Kenya's marathon queen Jeptoo handed two-year doping ban NAIROBI - Kenya's Rita Jeptoo, a three-time winner of the Boston Marathon and a two-time champion of the Chicago Marathon, is banned for two years after failing a drug test. (ATHLETICS-KENYA/DOPING (UPDATE 2, PIX), moved, by Drazen Jorgic, 367 words) - - - - JURISPRUDENCE Witnesses recall seeing body of ex-NFL player Hernandez's alleged victim FALL RIVER, Mass. - Witnesses testify that they saw the apparently lifeless body of a man in an industrial area near Aaron Hernandez's home in June 2013, hours after the former New England Patriots player is accused of committing murder. (USA-PATRIOTS/HERNANDEZ (PIX), moved; will be led, by Daniel Lovering, 397 words) - - - - HEALTH Ex-Giants DT Leonard Marshall teaches ways to avoid concussions Two-time Super Bowl champion Leonard Marshall teams up with the son of Pittsburgh Pirates great Roberto Clemente and Jason Luckasevic, the lawyer who started the concussion lawsuit against the NFL, to form a traveling road show to teach schools, coaches and organizations of the dangers of concussions and how to both avoid and treat them. (HEALTH-CONCUSSIONS/NFL, expect by 5 PM ET, by Steve Ginsburg, 400 words) - - Should 'High T' determine eligibility for women's sports? According to controversial new regulations, female athletes with as much testosterone in their blood as some men are not allowed to compete in women's sporting events. (HEALTH-SPORT/TESTOSTERONE-WOMEN, moved, 300 words) - - - - COMPETITIVE EATING Winging it: Chicago man smashes Philadelphia eating record PHILADELPHIA - A professional competitive eater from Chicago downs 444 chicken wings in 30 minutes at the 23rd annual Wing Bowl in Philadelphia, narrowly edging out his nearest rival and shattering the record of 363 wings set a year earlier. (USA-PENNSYLVANIA/WINGS (PIX), moved, 265 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)