Dwight Howard won’t be ready at the start

The Lakers confirmed Thursday that Dwight Howard would be sidelined when the team opens its preseason slate of games Oct. 7 in Fresno against the Golden State Warriors.

Howard is not expected to be ready to participate when the Lakers start training camp Oct. 2.

The newly acquired center, who had surgery in April to repair a herniated disk in his back, said last month that he might not be ready by the Lakers’ season opener Oct. 30.

The Lakers probably will shift Pau Gasol to center in Howard’s absence and use Jordan Hill as their starting power forward.

Howard began workouts this week with the Lakers’ training staff. His workouts include core stabilization, upper- and lower-body strengthening, light running and shooting.

—Ben Bolch

GOLF

Ryu, Kang lead Women’s British

South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu took a share of the lead in her Women’s British Open debut, birdieing the final hole for a two-under-par 70 at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England.

South Korea’s Haeji Kang also opened with a 70, the highest leading score in the first round since the tournament became a major in 2002, in relatively calm conditions

The 22-year-old Ryu, the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open champion who won the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic last month, had five birdies and two bogeys. She won the Korean LPGA’s Hanwha Finance Classic last week.

The 21-year-old Kang had six birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.

Australia’s Karrie Webb, the tournament winner in 1995, 1997 and 2002, was a stroke back along with eight others.

Two-time defending champion Yani Tseng opened with a 72. New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, the 15-year-old amateur coming off a victory three weeks ago in the Canadian Women’s Open, also shot a 72.

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Sweden’s Joel Sjoholm birdied three of his last four holes for an eight-under 64 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Italian Open.

England’s Lee Slattery was a stroke back at Fiano.

COLLEGES

Lawyers: Penn State slow on settlements

Nearly three months after Penn State said it wanted to settle “privately, expeditiously and fairly” with the boys Jerry Sandusky sexually abused, lawyers for the victims from his criminal case and other potential claimants say the school has not followed up with concrete action.

The attorneys told the Associated Press in recent days that they had very limited contact with the university and, if that continues, more lawsuits may follow the four now underway.

“I believe there has been a window of opportunity, which is closing, despite enormous patience by the lawyers who represent the victims,” said Philadelphia attorney Tom Kline, who represents a young man who testified during Sandusky’s trial he was fondled in a school shower in 2001.

Kline and the other lawyers told the AP that they will not wait indefinitely for the university to propose a settlement process stemming from Sandusky’s conviction in June on 45 counts of sexual abuse of 10 boys. The former assistant football coach awaits sentencing and probably will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Penn State spokesman Dave La Torre said the school has had “multiple conversations” with victims’ lawyers but offered no specifics, either about the process, how much money might be made available or eligibility standards. He calls it the beginning of a complex process.

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As expected, Jim Calhoun retired as Connecticut’s basketball coach, closing a 26-year career at the school with three national titles and an upcoming NCAA tournament ban.

The retirement of the 70-year-old Hall of Famer was announced on the court in Storrs where Calhoun racked up many of his 873 total wins. He thanked everyone associated with the Huskies program — administrators, players, fans and his family — for his team’s success, and played down his health problems and troubles with the NCAA.

Calhoun will take a transition appointment through next spring as a special assistant to Athletic Director Warde Manuel. When fully retired, he will become head coach emeritus.

Assistant coach Kevin Ollie will be the Huskies’ new coach.