WNBA’s Sting folds

The WNBA’s Charlotte Sting folded Wednesday, three weeks after the Bobcats gave up control of one of the original eight franchises. The Sting was owned and operated by the Charlotte Hornets when the WNBA formed and Bob Johnson took control of the team when he was awarded the Bobcats’ expansion franchise in 2004.

The Sting, 17-51 in the last two seasons, averaged 5,783 fans in 17 home games in 2006, which ranked 13th out of 14 teams.

Coach Van Chancellor, 63, who led the Houston Comets to the first four WNBA championships and was 211-111, resigned as the team is about to be sold.

BOXING

Prosecutor wants

prison for Tyson

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, 40, was charged with two felonies for drug possession and two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of drugs for his cocaine arrest Friday in Phoenix, and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas wants to send him to prison, saying, “He has run out of second chances, at least in my book.”

If convicted of all four charges, Tyson could be sentenced to between 2 1/4 and 7 1/2 years.

TENNIS

Australian Open

loses Henin-Hardenne

Top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne will skip the Australian Open and a preliminary tournament because of undisclosed personal reasons.

Australian Open spokesman John Lindsay confirmed the withdrawal. Henin-Hardenne was the runner-up last year.

Kim Clijsters began her final season with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Zheng Jie in the quarterfinals of the Champions Challenge in Hong Kong.... Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko defeated Jonas Bjorkman, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open in Doha.... Fifth-seeded Carlos Moya reached the quarterfinals at the Chennai Open with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kevin Kim in Madras, India.

BASEBALL

Foulke, Indians

close in on a deal

Former Boston reliever Keith Foulke, 34, is expected to complete a one-year contract today with the Cleveland Indians.

Joel Pineiro, 28, agreed to a $4-million, one-year deal with Boston, which is turning to the former Seattle starter as a closer to replace Foulke and Jonathan Papelbon, who will become a starter.... Trying to revive a career stalled by weight and alcohol problems, Sidney Ponson, 40, and Minnesota agreed to a minor league contract.... Infielder Jamey Carroll, 32, and Colorado agreed to a $4-million, two-year contract.

MISCELLANY

Fingers said to owe

$1.4 million in taxes

Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers owes Wisconsin more than $1.4 million in income taxes and is the seventh biggest tax delinquent in the state, according to the Department of Revenue.

Fingers’ agent, John Boggs, said tax attorneys were working on the case.

Jailed Olympic biathlon champion Myriam Bedard will be transferred from Baltimore to Canadian custody within 36 hours after allegedly violating a child custody order, a U.S. prosecutor said.... Jonathan Toews scored three times in a shootout to lift Canada over the U.S., 2-1, in the World Junior Hockey Championship semifinals in Mora, Sweden.... Dario Franchitti will remain with Andretti Green Racing in the IRL’s IndyCar Series.... Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Invasor were among the Eclipse Award finalists. Winners will be announced Jan. 22 in Beverly Hills.

PASSING

Massengale, two-time

winner on PGA Tour

Don Massengale, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, died of a heart attack in Conroe, Texas, the tour said. He was 69.