DETROIT — Chauncey Billups pulled himself out of consideration for a spot on the USA Basketball team in the Beijing Games, a person in the NBA told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he did not want to speak publicly for Bill- ups.
Billups, an all-star point guard for the Detroit Pistons, might’ve had a hard time making the team anyway with guards such as Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Deron Williams available.
Last year, Billups played for the U.S. team that was led by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony during an unbeaten run in an Olympic qualifying tournament.
U.S. Olympic team coach Mike Krzyzewski said the roster will be announced Monday during a news conference in Chicago.
SuperSonics owner testifies.
SuperSonics owner Clayton Bennett testified that he remained committed to finding a new arena in the Seattle area before last season — even as e-mails circulated among team co-owners portraying how eager they were to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City.
City of Seattle lawyer Paul Lawrence repeatedly questioned Bennett about an e-mail Sonics co-owner and fellow Oklahoma City business leader Tom Ward sent to Bennett on April 17, 2007. That was just after the Washington Legislature rejected Bennett’s plan for a publicly financed, $500 million arena in the Seattle suburbs.
Bennett is trying to move the Soncis before the KeyArena lease expires. The city is trying to force the Sonics to honor their lease.
Italy defeats France
ZURICH, Switzerland — Italy advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship with a 2-0 win over short-handed France in a rematch of the 2006 World Cup final the Italians also won.
Andrea Pirlo put Italy in front with a penalty kick in the 25th minute after Eric Abidal was red-carded for a foul on Luca Toni, and Daniele De Rossi made it 2-0 with a goal in the 62nd.
• Klaas-Jan Huntelaar helped the Netherlands defeat Romania 2-0 in Bern, Switzerland.
Larionov, Anderson elected to Hall
TORONTO — Former Detroit Red Wings center Igor Larionov and former Edmonton Oilers star Glenn Anderson have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Former linesman Ray Scapinello and builder Ed Chynoweth also made the Hall. The induction ceremony will be Nov. 10. Larionov won two Olympic gold medals with the Soviet Union and three Stanley Cups with Detroit.
Footnotes.
Ten-year-old Allisen Corpuz of Kapolei, Hawaii, shot a 15-over-par 88 in the second round of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in Erin, Wis.
Katie Kempter of Albuquerque, and Lizette Salas of Azusa, Calif., tied for the lead at 2-under 144.
• Weightlifter Paul Doherty has been suspended for two years after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said.
The Associated Press
