Bulls’ Derrick Rose says he’s ‘far away’ from returning

Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose still has no target date for his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and he even indicated he might sit out the season.

In an interview with USA Today posted Tuesday, the three-time All-Star point guard said he’s “far away” from being ready to play. Rose has been practicing and traveling with the team, but he has no specific timetable for a return from an injury he suffered in the playoffs last season.

::

Boston Celtics guard Leandro Barbosa has a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season.

Barbosa is the third Celtics player in two weeks to have a season-ending injury. All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo is out because of a torn ACL, and first-round draft choice Jared Sullinger had surgery on his back.

::

Felix Hernandez and Seattle reached agreement on a contract that is expected to make the Mariners’ ace the highest-paid pitcher in baseball.

Hernandez’s deal is expected to be for $175 million over seven years. Terms of the contract were not released by the Mariners.

::

The Columbus Blue Jackets fired General Manager Scott Howson.

Howson was hired as executive vice president and general manager in June 2007.

The Blue Jackets (4-7-2) will begin a six-game trip Friday at the Kings.

During Howson’s tenure, the Blue Jackets were 173-190-59 and made their lone Stanley Cup playoff appearance after a franchise-best 41-31-10 mark in 2008-09.

::

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova eased into the third round of the Qatar Open at Doha, dominating their opponents with straight-set victories.

Williams, who will regain the No. 1 ranking if she reaches the semifinals, showed no signs of the back or ankle injuries that troubled her at the Australian Open during her 6-2, 6-1 win over Russian qualifier Daria Gavrilova.

The third-ranked Sharapova, who won the tournament in her two previous appearances, downed French qualifier Caroline Garcia, 6-3, 6-2.

American Sloane Stephens, who defeated Williams in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, beat Anna Tatishvili, 6-2, 6-2.

::

Juan Martin del Potro beat Gael Monfils, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the second round of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament at Rotterdam, Netherlands.

::

Asics, a company known for its running shoes, has become the title sponsor of the Los Angeles marathon. The race, scheduled for March 17, will be known as the Asics LA Marathon. Asics’ American headquarters are in Irvine.

—Diane Pucin

::

The former financial advisor to ex-NFL quarterback Vince Young said under oath he arranged a high-interest, seven-figure loan for Young during the 2011 lockout because the player wanted to throw himself a $300,000 birthday party even though he was running low on funds.

Ronnie Peoples, president and chief executive of Peoples Financial Service Inc. in Raleigh, N.C., said during a videotaped deposition last month he contacted New York-based Pro Player Funding LLC about the loan after being informed Young had already paid for the party.