Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Monday, March 23

March 23 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Monday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Owners expect '1-2 teams' in L.A. in 2016 PHOENIX - Owners are expected to be briefed on the latest developments in Los Angeles, including renderings of St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke's $1.8 billion complex that could be ready in three years. New York Giants owner John Mara says he expects "1-2 teams" in L.A. by 2016. (FBN-NEWS/LOSANGELES, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Frank Cooney, 520 words) - - Further review: Owners consider replay shifts PHOENIX - The expansion of instant replay and use of cameras on the field headline discussions on the opening day of the NFL owner's meetings. (FBN-NEWS/OWNERSMEETINGS, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, By Howard Balzer and Frank Cooney, 500 words) - - 2015 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys roll dice on risky CB? With their recent track record of home runs in the first round, the Dallas Cowboys might not shy away from drafting talented but risky cornerback Marcus Peters out of Washington. (FBN-DRAFT/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Dane Brugler, 1,500 words) See also: Top 250 draft rankings, overall and by position (FBN-DRAFT/, moved, The Sports Xchange) - - Goodell: Deflategate investigation nearing end A conclusion to the NFL's investigation into Deflategate is coming soon, commissioner Roger Goodell tells TheMMQB.com. Goodell also says he's OK with Jameis Winston not attending the 2015 NFL Draft. (FBN-NEWS/ROGERGOODELL, moved, The Sports Xchange, 385 words) - - Giants pass on Eli extension Eli Manning is likely to play out the final year of his current contract with the New York Giants, who are willing to put an extension on hold. (FBN-GIANTS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - 5 Pro Days to Watch: UCF's Perriman makes first round case One of the names to know in the 2015 draft's second tier of wide receiver prospects, Breshad Perriman, gets a chance to show scouts his ability this week after missing the combine due to a hamstring injury. (FBN-DRAFT/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Dane Brugler, 800 words) - - Bengals owner still a Dalton fan Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown remains confident in quarterback Andy Dalton despite his mediocre career playoff record. The Bengals are committed in 2015 to Dalton, who is 0-4 in the playoffs -- four consecutive first-round losses. (FBN-BENGALS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 345 words) - - Pro Bowl to go Rio? The ever-changing Pro Bowl could be coming to Brazil in 2017. (FBN-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 145 words) - - NFL roundup News and notes from around the league. (FBN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 7:45 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Stars Howard, George near return For the first time in weeks, the status of Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (knee) is upgraded - to doubtful - a sign of his imminent return to the lineup. Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (leg, ankle) is also close to taking the court for a game for the first time since July 2014. (BKN-ROCKETS-PACERS-NEWS/, expect by 3 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - Bulls SG Butler back Monday All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler, who injured his elbow March 1, is back in the starting lineup with the Chicago Bulls, who went 5-6 in his absence. Is point guard Derrick Rose far behind? (BKN-BULLS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 325 words) - - TSX covers all NBA games, highlighted matchup below - - Washington at Golden State OAKLAND, California - Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, 33-2 at Oracle Arena this season and holding a 7.5-game lead in the Western Conference, shoot for their sixth straight win when they host the Washington Wizards, a slumping playoff-bound club that's dropped 11 of 13 on the road. (BKN-WARRIORS-WIZARDS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after the 10:30 PM ET scheduled tip-off, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Today's NBA schedule at a glance Houston at Indiana, 7 PM ET (PIX) Boston at Brooklyn, 7:30 PM ET (PIX) Memphis at New York, 7:30 PM ET (PIX) Charlotte at Chicago, 8 PM ET (PIX) Minnesota at Utah, 9 PM ET(PIX) Washington at Golden State, 10:30 PM ET (PIX) - - NBA Roundup Roundup of all of the day's action in the NBA. (BKN-ROUNDUP/, running copy beginning with the end of the first game of the day, The Sports Xchange, 500 words) - - NBA Notebook The latest moves and news from the NBA. (BKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - COLLEGE BASKETBALL 2015 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 preview: Kentucky still the team to beat Nobody knows winning like undefeated Kentucky, which heads to Cleveland for the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 owning 36 wins and expecting to see more physical play after a snug win over Cincinnati. (BKC-ANALYSIS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Jeff Reynolds, 600 words) - - Women's NCAA Tournament roundup: Setting Sweet 16 field The second round of the women's 2015 NCAA Tournament wraps up, including undefeated Princeton (31-0) looking for a ticket to the Sweet 16. (WBK-ROUNDUP/, expect throughout the day beginning by 5 PM ET and through the final games of the night, The Sports Xchange, 625 words) - - Howland hired at Mississippi State Former UCLA head coach Ben Howland agrees to a contract to become coach at Mississippi State. (BKC-MISSISSIPPISTATE-NEWS/, expect by 3 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 250 words) See also: UIC names Indiana assistant head coach (BKC-ILLINOIS-CHICAGO-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) - - - - GOLF Spieth's long-range goal: No. 1 ranking With two events in his native Texas up next, No. 6-ranked Matt Spieth, just 21, is eyeing the top spot in the World Golf Rankings. (GLF-INSIDETHEROPES/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Tom LaMarre, 750 words) - - Cyst to sideline Munoz Azahara Munoz of Spain will miss at least a month of the LPGA Tour season after undergoing surgery to have what proved to be a benign cyst removed from her left hand. (GLF-NOTEBOOK/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Tom LaMarre, 600 words) - - Golf glance Capsule previews of the week ahead in professional golf. (GLF-SCHEDULE/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Tom LaMarre, 400 words) - - Kim climbs LPGA Rolex Rankings Hyo Joo Kim, who emerged with a three-shot win in the LPGA's JTBC Founders Cup in Phoenix, moves up four spots to No. 4 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings. (GLF-NEWS/LPGAROLEXRANKINGS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 130 words) - - Captain Clarke vows to preserve true Ryder Cup spirit LONDON - Darren Clarke pledges to do all he can to avoid some of the mistakes of the past when he captains Europe in the 2016 Ryder Cup in Minnesota. (GOLF-RYDER/CLARKE, moved, by Tony Jimenez, 393 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Scherzer, not Strasburg, gets Opening Day nod The Washington Nationals name right-hander Max Scherzer as the team's Opening Day starter on April 6 against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. (BBO-NATIONALS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 150 words) - - Mariners LHP Rollins making statement for bullpen spot David Rollins, a 25-year-old Rule V draft pick from Houston's organization, has been such a pleasant surprise that he now has a legitimate shot at making the Opening Day roster. (BBO-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 388 words) - - Los Angeles Angels spring report A spring training snapshot from Los Angeles Angels' camp. (BBO-ANGELS-NEWS/, expect by 8 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Oakland Athletics spring report A spring training snapshot from Oakland Athletics' camp. (BBO-ATHLETICS-NEWS/, expect by 8 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Texas Rangers spring report A spring training snapshot from Texas Rangers' camp. (BBO-RANGERS-NEWS/, expect by 8 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Penguins F Dupuis won't return Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis, who has not played since being diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung Nov. 19, will not play again this season. (HKN-PENGUINS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 325 words) - - TSX covers all NHL games, highlighted matchup below - - Winnipeg at Edmonton EDMONTON, Alberta - The Winnipeg Jets, riding a four-game winning streak that has them holding the second wild card spot from the Western Conference, visit the Edmonton Oilers, a team that's 2-0-2 in its past four games and has scored 20 goals in its past five. (HKN-JETS-OILERS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after the 9:30 PM ET scheduled start, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Today's NHL schedule at a glance Los Angeles at New Jersey, 7 PM ET (PIX) Chicago at Carolina, 7 PM ET (PIX) Minnesota at Toronto, 7:30 PM ET (PIX) San Jose at Ottawa, 7:30 PM ET (PIX) Buffalo at Dallas, 8:30 PM ET Colorado at Calgary, 9 PM ET (PIX) Winnipeg at Edmonton, 9:30 PM ET (PIX) - - NHL roundup Running capsule recaps of all the games on the NHL schedule Monday. (HKN-ROUNDUP/, expect first version ASAP after 7 PM ET games end, The Sports Xchange, 500 words) - - NHL Notebook The latest moves and news from the NHL. (HKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - SOCCER Europe deserves extra World Cup place VIENNA - Europe deserves at least one more place at the World Cup and is optimistic that will be granted for the 2018 tournament in Russia, European soccer's governing body UEFA says. (SOCCER-UEFA/WORLD (PIX), moved, by Brian Homewood, 400 words) - - Van Praag unhappy TV debate with Blatter is off VIENNA - FIFA presidential candidate Michael van Praag says he's "very disappointed" a television debate with the other challengers has been abandoned because incumbent Sepp Blatter is refusing to take part. (SOCCER-FIFA/VANPRAAG (PIX), moved, by Mike Collett, 403 words) - - - - TENNIS My Russian heritage is non-negotiable, says Florida resident Sharapova LONDON - Maria Sharapova's life-changing move from Siberia to Florida as a seven-year-old propelled her on a path to fame and fortune but she says she would never turn her back on her mother country. (TENNIS-SHARAPOVA/, moved, 412 words) - - - - OLYMPICS Boston Olympic backers say won't make bid without public support BOSTON - The organizers for Boston's campaign to host the 2024 Olympic Games say they will not make a final bid to the International Olympic Committee unless a majority of Massachusetts residents support the idea. (OLYMPICS-USA/BOSTON, moved, 287 words) - - South Korea's Park handed 18-month ban by FINA Park Tae-hwan's hopes of competing in the 2016 Rio Games is in jeopardy as the South Korean Olympic swimming champion is handed an 18-month ban after failing a drug test. (SWIMMING-PARK/DOPING (UPDATE 2), moved, 306 words) - - - - JURISPRUDENCE Ex-NFL star Darren Sharper pleads guilty to sexual assault LOS ANGELES - Former NFL Pro Bowl free safety Darren Sharper pleads guilty to sexual assault charges filed in Arizona and is sentenced to nine years in prison shortly before facing more sex crime charges in a Los Angeles courtroom. (USA-NFL/SHARPER (UPDATE 1), moved will be led, by Steve Gorman, 390 words) - - Trial of Boston bomb suspect focuses on texts, laptop files BOSTON - Jurors in the trial of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are shown text messages that prosecutors say he sent to a friend shortly after the attack, saying "U saw the news?... Better not text me my friend." (BOSTON BOMBINGS-TRIAL/ (UPDATE 2), moved; will be led, by Richard Valdmanis, 485 words) - - Hernandez sent money to man who sold guns, witness testifies FALL RIVER, Mass. - Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez deposited $15,000 into the bank account of a Florida man who prosecutors say sold him guns two months before he allegedly fatally shot an associate, a former bank teller testifies. (USA-PATRIOTS/HERNANDEZ (PIX), moved; may be led, by Daniel Lovering, 415 words) - - Chicago Cubs, local rooftop owners argue over new signage in historic Wrigley Field CHICAGO - Chicago Cubs management and owners of local businesses square off in federal court over new signs planned at Wrigley Field as part of $375 million of upgrades that will block views of baseball games from rooftops near the more than a century old ballpark. (USA-CUBS/ROOFTOPS, expect by 4 PM ET, 350 words) - - - - AUTO RACING Penske arrives as racing's juggernaut The IndyCar season has yet to begin, but Roger Penske, "The Captain," is already taking command. His two NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers already are eligible for the championship Chase. (CAR-SPRINT-COLUMN/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Jonathan Ingram, 975 words) - - - BUSINESS Bat meets glove takeover of Louisville Slugger LOUISVILLE - Major League Baseball's official glove company Wilson Sporting Goods pays $70 million to buy MLB's official bat brand, Louisville Slugger. The company will continue to manufacture wooden bats in Kentucky's largest city. (USA-SPORTS/LOUSVILLE SLUGGER, moved, 350 words) - - - - FITNESS Big box gyms may be fitter, when it comes to muscling out competition NEW YORK - Cut-rate clubs and small studios catering to niche tastes from barre classes to yoga have crowded the U.S. fitness landscape, but big box gyms that can keep up with rapidly changing trends may be in a better position to flex their muscles in the future. (FITNESS-GYMS/, moved, by Dorene Internicola, 357 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)