Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. ó The shootout is on in the desert.
Doug LaBelle II and Jeff Mallinger shot 7-under 63s on Thursday to share the first-round lead in what promises to be a flurry of birdies at the Frys.com Open.
iItís fun to make a lot of birdies,î said LaBelle, who lives in north Phoenix. iWe know weíre going to have to make some to have a chance to win.î
Richard Johnson, the 2007 Nationwide Tour earnings leader who has struggled in his first PGA Tour season, was one shot back at 64.
ARMY-NAVY
NEW YORK ó The annual Army-Navy football game will be played a week later starting in 2009. The rivalry will take place each year on the second Saturday in December.
The academies and CBS announced Thursday they had extended their TV rights agreement through 2018.
TICKETS
COLUMBIA, S.C. ó South Carolina says it has about 600 tickets on sale for the Gamecocksí next home game against Tennessee on Nov. 1.
Ticket director Lance Grantham said Thursday the seats made available in the upper and lower sections were part of Tennesseeís allotment, but were returned this week.
The Gamecocks (5-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) have this week off as they get ready for the Vols.
COLLEGE HOOPS
TWIN FALLS, Idaho ó Nate Miles, a freshman expelled earlier this month from the University of Connecticut, has enrolled at the College of Southern Idaho.
Miles, a 6-foot-7 forward, from Toledo, Ohio, arrived in Twin Falls on Tuesday. He started classes at the junior college Wednesday and took part in his first practice with the team.
Miles, 20, was expelled from UConn after being arrested for violating a restraining order in September. The complaint has since been dismissed.
BASEBALL
NEW YORK ó Randy Niemann is becoming the New York Metsí bullpen coach for the third time, and Razor Shines was hired as third-base coach under manager Jerry Manuel.
Howard Johnson (hitting coach), Dan Warthen (pitching coach), Sandy Alomar Sr. (bench coach) and Sandy Alomar Jr. (catching instructor) will return. The first-base slot remains open.
SOCCER
MILAN, Italy ó David Beckhamís deal with AC Milan is iat an advanced stageî but not yet done, club vice president Adriano Galliani said.
Milan wants to sign Beckham to a loan deal that would allow the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder and former England captain to play in Italyís Serie A for a few months starting in January.