PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy, who had arthroscopic surgery on both knees a little more than three weeks ago, returned to practice Wednesday and said afterward he did not experience any pain.
“It felt good to be back out there on the floor,” Roy said.
However, coach Nate McMillan said the three-time all-star will be eased back into the rotation and his minutes will be closely watched. There is no timetable for Roy to start playing again.
“I feel good, but at the same time I understand where he’s coming from,” Roy said. “He wants me to feel great.”
Blazers center Marcus Camby, who also had knee surgery last month, returned to practice as well, and his return also is undetermined.
• Utah Jazz reserve center Mehmet Okur will miss at least three weeks because of a chronic disc problem in his lower back.
• Boston Celtics guard Delonte West participated in his first full- contact practice since he broke his right wrist Nov. 24 against the New Jersey Nets. Neither West nor center Shaquille O’Neal (Achilles tendon) is expected to play tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Forcier transfers to Miami
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Former Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier transferred to Miami, where he will not be eligible to play until 2012.
Forcier completed 219-of-365 passes for 2,647 yards, with 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 20 games for the Wolverines.
• The NCAA upheld its ruling declaring North Carolina defensive end Michael McAdoo permanently ineligible.
• Former Nebraska linebacker Lynn Finney, who gained notoriety when he was convicted of bilking a restaurant and former coach Tom Osborne, died of cancer Feb. 1 in Milford, Neb. He was 57.
Youth coach accused of abuse
NEW YORK — A Little League coach was charged with sexually abusing boys on his baseball team, and prosecutors said he videotaped some of the acts.
David Hartshorn, 52, collapsed in court as the charges were read. He was revived after the judge cleared the courtroom, and he was being held without bail. Hartshorn was charged with use of a child in a sexual performance and sexual abuse. A search of his home turned up recorded movies on DVD and VHS showing young boys engaging in sex acts, and images of small children also engaging in similar sexual activity, prosecutors said.
Footnotes.
Top-ranked Rafael Nadal can resume training after recovering from a torn leg muscle suffered during the Australian Open.
• Tony Malinosky, an infielder with the Brooklyn Dodgers for three months in 1937 and the oldest former major-leaguer, died in Oxnard, Calif. He was 101.
• Danica Patrick announced she will drive in 12 Nationwide Series events, including the first four of the season, and compete full time in the IndyCar Series.
• Australian rider Heinrich Haussler of Boulder-based Garmin- Cervelo won the third stage of the Tour of Qatar and grabbed the yellow jersey from former champion Tom Boonen.
The Associated Press
