Nets Decide to Hold Off on Deal for Abdur-Rahim

The New Jersey Nets’ trade with the Portland Trail Blazers for Shareef Abdur-Rahim has been put on hold because the veteran forward failed to pass a physical.

The Nets did not say what the problem was, only that Abdur-Rahim had not been aware of it.

“It was a shock,” Net President Rod Thorn said Thursday. “We had scheduled a press conference. We did not think there was going to be anything wrong whatsoever.”

The 29-year-old Abdur-Rahim sat out 22 games with the Trail Blazers last season after undergoing surgery in mid-January to address loose particles in his right elbow.

New Jersey agreed to a six-year deal with the veteran forward, who has averaged 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds during his nine-year career with Vancouver, Atlanta and Portland.

Thorn said the team was looking at other options in case the deal didn’t go through. To make a deal with another team using their trade exception, the Nets would have until Tuesday, when the exception expires.

Under NBA rules, the Nets have 10 days to complete the trade for Abdur-Rahim from the day it was announced, which would give them until Aug. 12.

Golf

For the 20th year in a row, weather delayed the PGA Tour’s only stop in Colorado. Heavy, persistent rain wiped out the first round of the International at Castle Rock, meaning the tournament will start today. PGA Tour officials said they would try to get the first round in today, then determine the rest of the schedule.

Annika Sorenstam shot a two-under-par 70 to trail Liselotte Neumann by two shots after the first round of the Scandinavian TPC at Loddekopinge, Sweden. Neumann had five birdies in her four-under 68. Sorenstam shared second place with Carin Koch and Marta Prieto.

Morgan Pressel needed a playoff hole to win her second-round match, then had an easy win in the third round to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Roswell, Ga.

The 17-year-old Pressel, the runner-up in last month’s U.S. Open, had to go 19 holes to beat Mina Harigae of Monterey.

They each had six birdies and one bogey in matching five-under 67s, but Harigae bogeyed the first playoff hole. In the third round, Pressel beat 14-year-old Jane Rah of Torrance, 4 and 2.

Colin Montgomerie pulled out of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, Scotland, because of a hand injury and may skip next week’s PGA Championship.

Montgomerie, playing for the first time since finishing second in the British Open last month, hurt the fingers of his right hand on a shot off the 18th fairway in the first round.

Tennis

Ivo Karlovic upset a second consecutive seeded opponent to advance to the quarterfinals of the Legg Mason Classic at Washington.

The 6-foot-10 Karlovic advanced with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 third-round victory over 11th-seeded Greg Rusedski. Karlovic had 14 aces, bringing his tournament total to 60.

Karlovic will next play top-seeded Andy Roddick, who defeated 14th-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4.

Pro Football

Terrell Owens left the Philadelphia Eagles’ morning practice and did not return for the team’s afternoon session after injuring his left groin. Coach Andy Reid said Owens was listed as day to day.

Eddie Drummond, the Detroit Lions’ 2004 Pro Bowl kick returner, ended his one-week holdout and signed a one-year, $1.4-million contract.

Arizona Cardinal wide receiver Anquan Boldin suffered a broken nose during practice. Coach Dennis Green said Boldin’s nose was realigned, but he wasn’t sure what the timetable was for his return.

“Broken noses do occur in the game, unfortunately,” Green said. “He kind of got a blow right in between the facemask and his helmet.”

Soccer

Portugal’s Luis Figo has agreed to join Inter Milan, ending a five-year stint with Real Madrid, the ANSA news agency reported. The signing will be officially announced today.

Figo, 32, a former European and world player of the year, wanted a two-year contract comparable to the $7.4-million deal he reportedly had with Real Madrid. Reports indicated that Inter Milan signed him to an $8.62-million deal over two seasons and that the move did not include a transfer fee.

FIFA upheld Mike Hanke’s suspension for two World Cup matches after the German forward received a red card during the Confederations Cup in June. The 21-year-old Wolfsburg forward was ejected in the 53rd minute against Mexico.

Pro Basketball

The Sacramento Monarchs defeated the Charlotte Sting, 76-58, in a WNBA game at Charlotte, N.C., extending their winning streak to six and spoiling the debut of Sting Coach Muggsy Bogues.... Tamika Catchings scored 24 points to lead the Indiana Fever to a 78-68 victory over the Seattle Storm at Indianapolis.

College Basketball

Jim Saia, who led USC to a 10-15 record as interim coach last season after Henry Bibby was fired, will not return to the Trojans this year despite being promised a position on new Coach Tim Floyd’s staff. Floyd is expected to hire former San Jose State coach Phil Johnson as an assistant by next week.

“When a new coach comes in here, he’s going to bring his own people ... and I have to bow out gracefully,” said Saia, who went after the Fresno State job this summer.

Passings

Sue Gunter, a Hall of Fame coach and pioneer in women’s college basketball, died Thursday at her home in Baton Rouge, La. She was 66. She had suffered from emphysema. Story in Section B.

Frank Mangiapane, a long-time college basketball referee who played briefly with the original New York Knicks in 1946, died Sunday in Long Beach, N.Y. He was 79.