MIAMI -- Shaquille O'Neal, recovering from knee surgery, could return to the lineup Jan. 15 against the Los Angeles Lakers when the Miami Heat complete a six-game road trip.
The 34-year-old center will accompany the Heat on their Western swing beginning Friday, coach Pat Riley said. O'Neal hasn't practiced since tearing cartilage in his left knee Nov. 12. He had surgery a week later and was then projected to be sidelined until at least late December.
O'Neal is expected to resume running and practicing soon. He estimated he'll need a "couple of practices" to feel comfortable enough to play.
"There ain't no way to get in great basketball shape than play basketball," he said Monday.
Basketball
The Pittsburgh Xplosion's Kevin Pittsnogle was named the Continental Basketball Association player of the week. The West Virginia alum started the week with 12 points and six rebounds in a loss to Yakama, and followed it with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Utah. He scored 33 points, including the game-winner, in the Xplosion's first victory of the season at Butte and had 42 in the loss to conference-leader Albany. Pittsnogle shot 89.3 percent (25 of 28) from the free throw line and 40 percent (13 of 33) from 3-point range. He averaged 26.5 points and 8.3 rebounds in four games.
Baseball
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays obtained infielder Brendan Harris from the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later or cash. He batted .238 in 25 games last season while splitting time between the Washington and Cincinnati organizations.
College football
Running back Marshawn Lynch said yesterday he will skip his senior season at California to enter the NFL draft. Lynch was the Pac-10's offensive player of the year after rushing for a conference-best 1,356 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Hockey
In Mora, Sweden, the United States beat Finland, 6-3, yesterday, setting up a semifinal against two-time defending champion Canada at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship. Sweden defeated the Czech Republic, 5-1, in another quarterfinal and will play Russia in the semis today.
Soccer
Major League Soccer has agreed to send Clint Dempsey to Fulham of the English Premier League for what would be the largest transfer fee in MLS history -- if the New England Revolution midfielder can obtain a British work permit. Revolution spokesman Brad Feldman confirmed yesterday that the league agreed to the terms of a transfer. It could be worth up to $4 million, a person familiar with the agreement said.
Tennis
• In Madras, India, top-seeded Rafael Nadal opened the year with a win over Rainer Schuettler of Germany, and second-seeded David Nalbandian was upset by Kristian Pless in the opening round of the Chennai Open.
• In Doha, Qatar, Nikolay Davydenko and Ivan Ljubicic advanced to the second round of the Qatar Open, while former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson lost to wild card Younes El Aynaoui.
• Russia beat the United States, 2-1, when Nadia Petrova and Dmitry Tursunov beat Ashley Harkleroad and Mardy Fish, 6-3, 7-5, at the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia. The United States (0-2) plays Australia today.
Off the field
• George Sisler Jr., a former president of the International League and executive of three minor-league baseball teams, has died. He was 89. Sisler, the son of Hall of Famer George Sisler, had Alzheimer's disease and died Sunday at Sunrise, an assisted-living facility in suburban Worthington, daughter Nancy Sisler Schools said.
• Jim Karvellas, a longtime broadcaster of NBA games and the New York Cosmos soccer team, died at 71. He died at his home on New Year's Day of complications from prostate cancer, son Chris Karvellas said.
• Johnny Gibson, who in 1927 set the world record for 400-meter hurdles, has died. He was 101. Gibson set the world record of 52.6 seconds for the 400-meter hurdles on July 2, 1927, at the national championships in Lincoln, Neb.
