A.M. Briefing.(Sports)

Players, owners meet in NYC

     Owners and players returned to the bargaining table Wednesday, meeting for about six hours in New York City in just their second bargaining session since the league's lockout began July 1. 
     Neither side offered any specifics or would say if progress was made, but said they plan many more meetings in hopes of having basketball begin without interruption.
     Commissioner David Stern and San Antonio owner Peter Holt, head of the labor relations committee, represented the owners at a Manhattan hotel. Executive director Billy Hunter and attorney Ron Klempner attended from the union.


    Crittenton waives extradition 
     Former NBA player Javaris Crittenton waived California extradition proceedings and will be returned to Georgia in connection with his arrest in a murder case in Atlanta. Defense attorney Brian Steel said he wants to get his client back to Atlanta to clear up the matter. Steel said his client is being falsely accused and the facts will come out at the preliminary hearing.


     Yao puts Hall on hold
     Yao Ming's agent has asked the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to set aside the former All-Star center's nomination for a later year. Yao, who retired in July, was nominated by a member of the Chinese media as a contributor to the game, and would've been eligible for induction as early as 2012
    NHL 

     Belak found dead
     Former Nashville Predator Wade Belak, an enforcer who played with five NHL teams before retiring in March, was found dead in a Toronto hotel. Belak, 35, is the third NHL enforcer found dead since May.
     A Toronto police spokesman said foul play is not suspected.


     Savard to miss season
     Boston Bruins center Marc Savard will miss the 2011-12 season because he is still feeling the effects of post-concussion syndrome. Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli told the Boston Globe "it's very unlikely Marc will play again."
     College basketball


     Calhoun returns to UConn
     Nearly five months after winning his third national championship, Jim Calhoun finally has made it official. He is returning for his 26th season as coach of the Connecticut men. Although almost all indications pointed toward his return, Calhoun, 69, had delayed making his decision public for months.
     Auto racing


     Gordon clinches spot
     Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon has clinched at least a wild-card berth in the 12-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. NASCAR determined that even if Gordon is knocked out of the top 10 in standings over the next two races, he still would get into the Chase via the wild card.
     Golf

     Woods in charity event
     Tiger Woods, paired with LPGA Tour star Suzann Pettersen in a best-ball format in the Notah Begay Challenge, watched his partner carry much of the load on a warm, late-summer day in Verona, N.Y. The duo finished third at 9-under 63, two shots behind Hunter Mahan and Cristie Kerr, who won the charity event. Annika Sorenstam and Rickie Fowler finished second, one shot behind the winners, and Begay and Natalie Gulbis were last at 7 under.
     Horse racing


     Havre de Grace favored
     With an eye toward a late-season run at a Horse of the Year title, the owner and trainer of Havre de Grace have chosen to face males in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Havre de Grace is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in a field of eight.


     Track and field


     Semenya, Pistorius advance


     Defending champion Caster Semenya easily qualified for the semifinals in the women's 800 meters at the world championships in Daegu, South Korea.
     Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius and his South African 1,600-meter relay teammates qualified for the final.


     Elsewhere


     * U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley has moved from Borussia Moenchengladbach to Chievo Verona, becoming the only American player in Italy's Serie A.
     * Women's Professional Soccer CEO Anne-Marie Eileraas announced she is stepping down after less than a year on the job.
     * Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol scored 29 points to help defending champion Spain beat Poland 83-78 in its opening match at the European Championship in Siauliai, Lithuania.
     * David Moncoutie won a mountain finish to take the 11th stage of the Spanish Vuelta in A Pobra de Trives, Spain, while Bradley Wiggins marked his full return from injury by claiming the overall lead.
     * Brad Keselowski will return to the Nationwide Series this week at Atlanta after missing the past four races with a broken ankle.
     * The Columbus Blue Jackets signed defenseman Fedor Tyutin to a six-year contract extension.


     Seattle Times news services