Riley says he’ll coach for three more years

Pat Riley said Monday that he plans to coach the Miami Heat for the three remaining years on his contract, an announcement that ends months of speculation about his plans. He’ll remain in the role of team president as well.

“I will coach those out,” Riley said. “I will try to coach those out, unless somebody else makes a decision on me. That’s a commitment that I want to make to the organization.”

Riley, 62, gave up coaching in 2003, then returned two years later -- when Stan Van Gundy stepped down in December 2005 -- and led Miami to the 2006 NBA title. But the Heat was swept out of this past season’s playoffs by the Chicago Bulls, and Riley was noncommittal for months about whether he’d remain on the sideline.

The announcement means Riley will coach through the 2009-10 season -- matching the length of Shaquille O’Neal’s contract. Dwyane Wade can also opt out of his contract after that season.

Kirk Hinrich joined Greg Oden and Shane Battier in pulling out of the U.S. training camp, removing what may have been one of the toughest roster decisions the team would have faced.

Seattle forward Nick Collison also was added, leaving the U.S. with 16 players when the team returns to Las Vegas for practice starting Wednesday. The roster must be trimmed to 12 the day before the FIBA Americas tournament begins Aug. 22.

Hinrich played in all nine games for the Americans last year in the world championships, starting three of them. But with Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups joining the team this summer, Hinrich was probably going to have a tough battle with Utah’s Deron Williams for the third point guard spot.

The Clippers officially signed point guard Brevin Knight, 31, to a two-year, $4-million contract. . . . The Golden State Warriors reached agreement on a buyout with center Adonal Foyle, 32.

BOXING

Trinidad set to return

for fight against Jones

Former boxing champion Felix Trinidad will end his two-year retirement with a January fight against Roy Jones Jr. at an undetermined site.

Both have agreed to fight at 170 pounds -- 10 pounds more than Trinidad has carried into the ring, and five less than what Jones weighed when he beat previously undefeated Anthony Hanshaw last month.

Trinidad, 42-2, hasn’t fought since losing to Winky Wright in May 2005. Jones is 51-4.

TENNIS

Henman loses to Chela

in first round at Ohio

Juan Ignacio Chela beat Tim Henman, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in the first round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters at Mason, Ohio.

In other matches, 13th-seeded Mikhail Youzhny beat Dominik Hrbaty, 6-3, 6-1, and Carlos Moya beat David Nalbandian, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2).

Patty Schnyder defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round of the Rogers Cup at Montreal. Shahar Peer beat Michaella Krajicek, 7-5, 7-6 (7).

JURISPRUDENCE

Jury selection begins

in Francis’ murder trial

Jury selection began in the trial of DeAnthony Norman Ford, the man accused of fatally shooting USC point guard Ryan Francis in May 2006 in Baton Rouge, La.

Ford faces charges of second-degree murder for the Francis shooting and attempted second-degree murder for a separate incident two nights earlier in which he allegedly fired shots at Marcus Washington, a friend of Francis’.

Washington, believed to be the killer’s target, was a passenger in the vehicle in which Francis was riding when he was shot. Washington was not injured in either incident.

USC Coach Tim Floyd is expected to attend at least part of the trial and could be called as a witness to establish the identity of Francis, said Kurt Wall, an assistant district attorney for the East Baton Rouge Parish. The trial is expected to last about a week, and Ford, 20, faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole if convicted on the murder charge.

-- Ben Bolch

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart and his former girlfriend Brynn Cameron reached a custody agreement for their 10-month-old son, attorneys for both said.

Details were disclosed to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rudolph A. Diaz during a closed session, the attorneys said.

Cameron was in the courtroom, but Leinart was not.

Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid’s son, Britt, 22, pleaded guilty at Norristown, Pa., to gun and drug charges stemming from a Jan. 30 road-rage dispute.

Prosecutors will seek six to 14 months of jail time, while the defense will seek probation. A sentencing date has not been set.

HOCKEY

Fired Blues coach

joins the Panthers

The Florida Panthers hired former St. Louis Blues head coach Mike Kitchen as an assistant coach. Kitchen was fired in December.

The San Jose Sharks re-signed goalie Dimitri Patzold to a one-year contract. He will compete to back up starter Evgeni Nabokov. . . . The Phoenix Coyotes signed goalie Alex Auld to a one-year contract. Auld was 7-13-5 last season with Florida.

MISCELLANY

NASCAR wins ruling

to deny AT&T; logo

A ruling by a federal appeals court at Atlanta cleared the way for NASCAR to prevent AT&T; Inc. from featuring its logo on Jeff Burton’s No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that AT&T; lacks standing to challenge NASCAR’s decision.

The court, therefore, threw out a lower court’s ruling that prevented NASCAR from stopping AT&T;’s plans. The appeals court remanded the case to the U.S. District Court in Atlanta for dismissal. At issue is AT&T;’s desire to change the Cingular logo on Burton’s car to the AT&T; logo after buying Cingular.

Argentine-bred Visa Parade, piloted by Del Mar’s leading rider, Michael Baze, rallied from last place to win a $75,000 allowance event for older thoroughbreds at one mile over Polytrack.

Visa Parade, the 7-5 favorite, caught Railroad in mid-stretch and won by a neck in 1:41.49. Worchester was third.

Ten reigning world champions, including sprinters Jeremy Wariner and Allyson Felix, will defend their titles for the U.S. at the track and field world championships in Osaka, Japan, from Aug. 25-Sept. 2.

In all, the U.S. has 14 Olympic medalists and 22 world championship medalists on the roster.

Former pro wrestling champion Brian “Crush” Adams died after he was found unconscious Monday in his Tampa, Fla., home. He was 44.

He showed no visible signs of injury and foul play was not suspected, a police spokesman said.