NBA fines LeBron James $25,000 for kicking water bottle

Cleveland’s LeBron James has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for kicking a water bottle during the Cavaliers’ victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The NBA says James kicked a water bottle with 12.4 seconds left in the first quarter of the Cavaliers’ 109-95 win Wednesday night. Last year’s league most valuable player, James was rested for the entire fourth quarter as Cleveland protected a big lead. He finished with 12 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in 31 minutes.

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker is expected to sit out several games because of a mild left ankle sprain.

The Spurs said that the swelling in Parker’s ankle was minimal after he was carried off the court Wednesday night in a win over Atlanta. No structural damage was found.

Parker won’t play tonight against Memphis and probably will also sit Sunday’s game against Denver. No timetable for his return has been set.

FOOTBALL

Kiffin confirms Barry’s hiring

USC Coach Lane Kiffin confirmed that Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers coach Joe Barry will join the Trojans’ staff.

Barry, a former USC linebacker and graduate assistant, on Tuesday told Tampa-area reporters that he was leaving the NFL team to return to the Trojans. Neither Kiffin nor USC officials would confirm Barry’s hiring until Thursday.

Former USC defensive back Kris Richard, who worked as a graduate assistant for the Trojans the last two seasons, has been hired by Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll as an assistant defensive backs coach.

Richard played for the Seahawks in 2002-04.

Other former USC coaches and staff now with the Seahawks include Jeremy Bates (offensive coordinator), Ken Norton (linebackers), Brian Schneider (special teams), Chris Carlisle (strength and conditioning), Jamie Yanchar (assistant strength and conditioning) and Matt Capurro (director of football operations).

Former defensive coordinator Rocky Seto also has talked to Carroll about joining the Seahawks.

-- Gary Klein SOCCER

Mexico to play six games in U.S.

Mexico’s World Cup team will play a series of six friendlies in the United States, including a March 3 date at the Rose Bowl with New Zealand. And according to news reports from Europe, El Tri will finish its preparations for this summer’s tournament in South Africa with exhibitions against England, the Netherlands and Italy.

The U.S. tour, which had been rumored for months, will begin Feb. 24 at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park with a match against Bolivia and conclude May 13 in Houston against an opponent still to be determined. In between, Mexico will play Iceland on March 24 in Charlotte, N.C., Ecuador on May 7 at the new $1.6-million Meadowlands stadium in New Jersey, and Senegal on May 10 in Chicago.

Mexico will then play a farewell match in Mexico City against Chile on May 16 before leaving for Europe, where it will meet England on May 24 in London, the Netherlands two days later in Germany and Italy on June 3 in Brussels.

-- Kevin Baxter ETC.

Force reduces team to three cars

Citing the weak economy and lack of sponsorship, drag-racing legend John Force said he is reducing his team of NHRA funny-car dragsters to three cars from four.

The Ford Mustangs driven by Force, his daughter Ashley Force Hood and son-in-law Robert Hight will continue to compete, but the fourth car, driven by Mike Neff, will be parked, Force said.

Force also said his John Force Racing team, which is based in Yorba Linda, consolidated its racing operations at its facility in Brownsburg, Ind.

-- Jim Peltz UCLA’s athletic program is sponsoring a shoe drive to aid in Haiti’s recovery process. New or “gently worn” shoes can be dropped off at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday between 1 and 2 p.m.

Mike Fagan of Patchogue, N.Y., maintained his lead in the PBA One A Day Dick Weber Open after the first eight-game match-play round at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley.

Despite a 3-5 record, Fagan had a 5,297 overall 23-game pinfall to hold a 23-pin lead over Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams Jr. in second. Williams is the PBA Tour’s all-time win leader with 46 titles.