Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Wednesday, Feb. 25

Feb. 25 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Wednesday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Ravens release RS-WR Jones A hero of the team's Super Bowl win in New Orleans, wide receiver and return specialist Jacoby Jones is released by the Baltimore Ravens. (FBN-RAVENS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) - - NFL stadium plan near L.A. gets city council OK A new NFL stadium near Los Angeles moves closer to reality as the Inglewood City Council approves plans for an 80,000-seat venue. (FBN-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 385 words) - - Oregon QB Mariota to sign with Nike A familiar logo will appear on Marcus Mariota's apparel in his first year away from the University of Oregon. (FBN-DRAFT/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 125 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 Woes follow Rose, who needs more surgery CHICAGO - For the third time in three years Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose needs knee surgery. Where does he go from here? (BKN-BULLS-NEWS/, expect by 9:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 450 words) - - TSX covers all NBA games, highlighted matchup below - - Los Angeles Clippers at Houston HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets (38-18) shoot for their third straight triumph and look to move closer to second-place Memphis in the Western Conference when they host the Los Angeles Clippers (37-20), a club looking to keep it together until injured All-Star Blake Griffin returns to the line-up. (BKN-ROCKETS-CLIPPERS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/, expect ASAP after the 8 PM ET scheduled tip-off, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Today's NBA schedule at a glance Miami at Orlando, 7 PM ET Dallas at Atlanta, 7:30 PM ET New York at Boston, 7:30 PM ET Charlotte at Chicago, 8 PM ET (PIX) Los Angeles Clippers at Houston, 8 PM ET Philadelphia at Milwaukee, 8 PM ET (PIX) Washington at Minnesota, 8 PM ET Brooklyn at New Orleans, 8 PM ET Phoenix at Denver, 9 PM ET (PIX) Los Angeles Lakers at Utah, 9 PM ET (PIX) Memphis at Sacramento, 10 PM ET (PIX) San Antonio at Portland, 10:30 PM ET (PIX) - - NBA Roundup The latest moves and news from the NBA. (BKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - COLLEGE BASKETBALL TSX covers all Top 25 games. Top matchups highlighted below. - - Kentucky at Mississippi State STARKVILLE, Miss. - Weather outside might be frightful, much like undefeated No. 1-ranked Kentucky has been this season for opponents. Coach John Calipari's team is just a week away from closing out a flawless regular season. (BKC-MISSISSIPPISTATE-KENTUCKY-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 7 PM ET tipoff, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Duke at Virginia Tech BLACKSBURG, Va. - Duke, winners in 10 of its last 11 games, could be without likely All-American center Jahlil Okafor (foot) for the second consecutive contest when it visits slumping ACC rival Virginia Tech. (BKC-VIRGINIATECH-DUKE-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 9 PM ET tipoff, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Top 25 schedule at a glance (1) Kentucky at Mississippi St., 7 PM ET (PIX) (2) Virginia at Wake Forest, 7 PM ET (PIX) (22) Virginia Commonwealth at Richmond, 7 PM ET (PIX) (11) Wichita St. at Indiana St., 7:05 PM ET Marquette at (23) Butler, 8 PM ET (PIX) (4) Duke at Virginia Tech, 9 PM ET (PIX) Evansville at (10) Northern Iowa, 9 PM ET (PIX) (19) Baylor at (12) Iowa State, 9 PM ET (PIX) - - - - GOLF McIlroy, Mickelson discuss Honda Classic PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, Germany's Martin Kaymer and Americans Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler hold news conferences ahead of Thursday's opening round of the Honda Classic at PGA National. (GOLF-PGA/, expect by 5 PM ET, by Simon Evans, 400 words) See also: Quail Hollow to host Presidents Cup in 2021 (GOLF-PRESIDENTS/VENUE) - - Eyeing 'career grand slam', McIlroy relishes being top man PALM BEACH GARDENS - World No. 1 Rory McIlroy begins the countdown to his 'career grand slam' bid at the Masters in this week's Honda Classic and says he feels entirely comfortable being the face of the sport. (GOLF-PGA/MCILROY, moved, by Simon Evans, 406 words) - - An afterglow -- or not -- over Ryder Cup pick A feel-good bonding was in full glow at Tuesday's naming of Davis Love III as captain of the 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup team, but afterwards some could be excused for feeling a bit queasy over the choice. (GOLF-RYDER/U.S. (ANALYSIS), expect by 6 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 600 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL The Bronx Zoo comes to Tampa TAMPA, Fla. - A throng of reporters awaits the appearance of Alex Rodriguez at the New York Yankees' spring training complex in western Florida. Will he show? When? Where? It's a scene likely to play out this entire spring, while the world waits to see if the 14-time All-Star has anything left in the tank. (BASEBALL-YANKEES/RODRIGUEZ (PIX), expect by 6:30 PM ET, by Letitia Stein, 400 words) - - MLB rookies to watch From Yasmany Tomas of the Boston Red Sox to Joc Peterson of the Los Angeles Dodgers, The Sports Xchange unveils the 30 rookies to watch - one for every team - in spring training. (BBO-NEWS-ROOKIESTOWATCH/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 1,805 words) - - Cards' Wainwright: Abdominal exam a precaution Before leaving spring training for St. Louis, where he is scheduled to see a specialist for an abdominal strain, Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright says he thinks the injury is a minor issue. (BBO-CARDINALS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 305 words) - - Yankees' Headley, A-Rod getting acquainted Early arrivals to spring training, Chase Headley and Alex Rodriguez are getting to know each other at Yankees workouts this week. (BBO-YANKEES-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Larry Fleisher, 450 words) - - Braves' lone Upton looks for game change after name switch The 30-year-old claims that going to his birth name - Melvin Upton -- had nothing to do with starting a new chapter, but the Atlanta Braves certainly want to see something other than the hitter B.J. Upton was the past two seasons. (BBO-BRAVES-NEWS/, The Sports Xchange, 433 words) - - See also: Spring training reports from: Slug convention: BBO-DIAMONDBACKS-NEWS/ Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Kane disabled by Hawks NHL MVP candidate Patrick Kane is placed on long-term injured reserve. The Chicago Blackhawks' top scorer, tied for the league lead in points, could be out four months. (HKN-BLACKHAWS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) - - TSX covers all NHL games, highlighted matchup below - - Pittsburgh at Washington WASHINGTON - One of the NHL's fiercest rivalries continues at the Verizon Center when Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins head to Chinatown to face the Washington Capitals. The Caps have won all three games this season, and have outscored the Pens by a combined 10-1 while holding Crosby and Evgeni Malkin without a point. (HKN-CAPITALS-PENGUINS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 8 PM ET scheduled start, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Today's NHL schedule at a glance Calgary at New Jersey, 7:30 PM ET Pittsburgh at Washington, 8 PM ET (PIX) Ottawa at Anaheim, 10 PM ET (PIX) - - NHL Roundup The latest moves and news from the NHL. (HKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - SOCCER Solo admits to 'horrible choice' that led to suspension Two-time Olympic gold medalist Hope Solo admitted on Wednesday she made a "horrible choice" by being in a U.S. soccer team van when her husband, former NFL player Jerramy Stevens, was arrested for drunken driving. (SOCCER-SOLO/, moved, by Steve Ginsburg, 396 words) - - FIFA: No club compensation for a 2022 winter World Cup DOHA - Soccer's world governing body FIFA flexes its muscles again as it announces that clubs will not get compensation for losing players and suffering domestic disruption due to a 2022 winter World Cup in Qatar. (SOCCER-WORLD/QATAR-COMPENSATION (TV), moved, by Amena Bakr, 600 words) See also: Attention European leagues - it's the World Cup (SOCCER-WORLD/QATAR-WINTER (ANALYSIS) - - - - MIXED MARTIAL ARTS UFC 184: Rousey draws Cat Zingano LOS ANGELES - Stop us if you've heard this one before: Ultimate Fighting Championship superstar Ronda Rousey is facing the biggest challenge of her mixed martial arts career. This time, does Rousey (10-) believe it? (FIGHTING-MMA-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Dave Doyle, 495 words) - - - - JURISPRUDENCE Witness: Shells near Hernandez's alleged victim, in car, from same gun FALL RIVER, Mass. - Empty shell casings found near the body of a man Aaron Hernandez is accused of fatally shooting and one removed from a rental car the former NFL star returned were fired from the same weapon, a police officer testifies. (USA-PATRIOTS/HERNANDEZ (PIX), moved; will be led, by Daniel Lovering, 360 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)