Michael Beasley calls rehabilitation stay ‘lowest hour’

Michael Beasley said that an off-season stay in a rehabilitation facility was his “lowest hour,” denied that he has a substance-abuse problem and apologized Friday to the Miami Heat organization.

Beasley would not reveal any details of the treatment he received in Houston, other than acknowledging that he became “pretty upset” upon learning his stay would be considerably longer than first planned. That anger, he said, sparked a wave of troubling messages posted on his now-closed Twitter feed.

“Being locked down for as long as I was gave me a chance to really get my life organized and get back in touch with myself,” Beasley said. “I think over this past year, I’ve got caught up in the NBA life, as most of us do. I think this gave me the perfect opportunity to just sit down and evaluate my life and get the good separated from the bad.”

On the eve of the Chicago Bulls’ training camp, star point guard Derrick Rose reiterated that he took the SAT to get into Memphis and dismissed the idea that someone did so in his place.

“I took it, I took it,” Rose said Friday.

The NBA’s rookie of the year last season, Rose found himself at the center of a scandal over the summer when the NCAA ruled that Memphis must vacate its 38 wins and national championship game appearance during the 2007-08 season for using an ineligible player. The school is appealing the ruling.

The NCAA said an unknown person took the SAT for a player -- with his knowledge -- and that the player used it to get admitted. The governing body said the athlete played for the Tigers only during the 2007-08 season and the 2008 NCAA tournament. Rose is the only person who fits that description, but he insisted no one took the test for him.

Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh is expected to miss the start of training camp Tuesday because of a strained left hamstring. . . . The Indiana Pacers have signed Coach Jim O’Brien through the 2010-11 season.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Binghamton cuts five more players

Binghamton released five more players, a day after star player Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben was arraigned on cocaine distribution charges and kicked off the team.

Coach Kevin Broadus announced that D.J. Rivera, Malik Alvin, Corey Chandler, Paul Crosby and David Fine were released.

Spokesman John Hartrick told the Press & Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton, N.Y., that the five were released because “they are not toeing the line. Their attitude and behavior . . . is not what we expect from our student-athletes.”

MOTOR RACING

Johnson wins pole at Dover

Jimmie Johnson turned a lap of 157.356 mph to win the pole at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.

The top four spots in qualifying all went to Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers.

Juan Pablo Montoya was second, Ryan Newman third and Greg Biffle fourth.

Points leader Mark Martin qualified 14th for Sunday’s race.

Carl Edwards was the lowest Chase qualifier and will start 30th.

Danica Patrick has agreed to a three-year contract to remain at Andretti Green Racing and stay in the IndyCar Series, according to a report in the Indianapolis Star.

NASCAR fans will get to decide when gentlemen can start their engines for next winter’s Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.

For the first time at the track, fans will decide what time the green flag will drop for the Feb. 21 race. The choices are noon or 4:30 p.m PST.

Fans can vote through the track’s website, Facebook or MySpace pages, its Twitter account and e-mail.

HOCKEY

Rob Niedermayer signs with Devils

Veteran center Rob Niedermayer, the brother of Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer, signed a one-year contract with the New Jersey Devils, adding depth to a squad that lost John Madden to free agency over the summer.

Madden was the center on the Devils’ checking line, and Rob Niedermayer is an excellent two-way player.

The 34-year-old Niedermayer is entering his 16th NHL season.

Defenseman Doug Murray scored three goals, Evgeni Nabokov made 15 saves and newcomers Manny Malhotra and Dany Heatley helped the San Jose Sharks beat the Ducks, 6-0, in exhibition play at San Jose.