Finley Opts for Spurs

Prized free agent Michael Finley has decided to sign with the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs on Wednesday did not confirm Finley’s decision. Spokesman Cliff Puchalski said the team had no comment.

Finley, 32, was courted by Miami, Phoenix, San Antonio and Minnesota. Each team sent representatives to Chicago to make a pitch to the veteran shooting guard.

Miami was considered the favorite, because the Heat could offer the full $5-million midlevel exception and the opportunity to play with Shaquille O’Neal.

San Antonio, which has won three of the last seven NBA titles, could offer about $2.5 million.

The Suns had only the veteran’s minimum of $1.1 million to offer but hoped to bring Finley back to the franchise that drafted him.

*

Yao Ming has agreed to terms of a five-year contract extension with the Houston Rockets worth more than $75 million, several media outlets reported.

The deal that will keep the 7-foot-6 center with the Rockets through the 2010-11 season was first reported by Houston television station KRIV.

Rocket General Manager Carroll Dawson would not confirm the agreement when reached by Associated Press. Houston media relations officials also refused to comment.

Yao will be paid the maximum allowed under the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, according to the reports.

*

Hockey

The Kings and Mighty Ducks will make a combined seven appearances -- including two games against each other -- on the Outdoor Life Network or NBC as the NHL announced its national television schedule for the regular season.

The Ducks and Kings, who play each other eight times, will play Jan. 23 in an OLN national telecast and April 8 for a NBC regional game. The Ducks will have one other OLN game March 28 at Colorado.

The Kings will make three other appearances on the OLN schedule -- home games Jan. 2 and March 14 against Dallas and Phoenix and a game at San Jose on April 17. NBC will televise their Jan. 21 home game against San Jose.

The Atlanta Thrashers gave Coach Bob Hartley a one-year contract extension through the 2006-07 season. Since he was hired midway through the 2002-03 season, Hartley has a 52-56-13 record, including a franchise-best 33-37-8-4 record in 2003-04.

The U.S. defeated Finland, 5-2, behind two goals by Jenny Potter, and Canada beat Sweden, 3-1, in the first round of the women’s Four Nations Cup at Hameenlinna, Finland.

*

Jurisprudence

Chris Webber was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine nearly two years after he pleaded guilty to a federal criminal contempt charge in the University of Michigan booster scandal.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds fined Webber, the former Michigan star now with the Philadelphia 76ers, the maximum allowed after she ruled that his conviction should be treated as a misdemeanor rather than a felony, the U.S. Attorney’s office said in Detroit.

The judge also noted Webber’s community service and out-of-pocket expenses of more than $78,000.

*

Soccer

Chivas USA has lost one of its reinforcements from Mexico before he even had a chance to play in an MLS match for the expansion franchise.

Defender Hector Castro, 29, underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee, an injury suffered during warmups before Chivas’ 3-3 draw at the MetroStars on Aug. 21, and is expected to be out for six months.

Freddy Adu scored his third goal of the season, and Jaime Moreno had two goals and an assist to lead defending MLS Cup champion D.C. United to a 5-1 rout of visiting Real Salt Lake.

*

Miscellany

Argentina withstood a second-half charge and pulled away to an 84-67 victory over the U.S. in the second round of the World Basketball Championship qualifying tournament at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

USC basketball recruit Shaun Davis, a junior point guard from College of Southern Idaho, has failed to qualify academically and has enrolled at New Mexico State. Davis played his freshman season at Pepperdine.