Maybe Kevin Love's distinct talents won't translate into NBA stardom, but the UCLA center is a terrific college player and a favorite to become only the second freshman to be named Pacific 10 Conference player of the year. . . .

The first was California's Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who in 1996 headed an all-conference team that included Washington State's Mark Hendrickson, later a struggling Dodgers left-hander, and Stanford's Brevin Knight, later an NBA journeyman and Clippers reserve. . . .

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Warriors forward Jackson makes big impression on third-graders

When Oakland third-grader Allysia Jones got a hug from Golden State Warriors forward Stephen Jackson at Tuesday's game, her gleeful reaction best sums up the atmosphere at an event organized to give some kids a one-of-a-kind experience.

"I'm never going to wash my shirt again!" she said in her little high- pitched voice.

Jackson and Southwest Airlines sponsored an essay contest in which 10 third-graders from Jackson's hometown of Port Arthur, Texas, won a trip to see the Warriors play the Sonics (winning 105-99, no less). The kids also got to mingle with schoolchildren from Oakland, such as Jones, who attends Ruby Bridges.

"I am very excited to welcome these kids from my beloved hometown of Port Arthur to my new home .

Rain doesn't wash out Prostate Cancer Foundation tourney at Mar-a-Lago

A mid-afternoon torrent flooded the courts at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday and interrupted round-robin play during the 11th Annual Donald J. Trump Pro/Am Tennis Invitational.

"That is the incentive for some," Haber said, referring to the strings of zeroes beside the teams' names — up to $272,000 at one point.

Bits, Bites, Barbs - Woods, Cink and Scott

Having your company's logo on the ever-popular Mickelson's hat is like fishing in a barrel … with dynamite -- Is there a more underachieving, yet consistent player on the PGA Tour than Stewart Cink? Cink has 35 top 10s in the last five-plus seasons but just two wins. This guy is the ham sandwich of golf pools — always available, never anyone's first choice -- The last two European Ryder Cup captains — Bernard Langer and Ian Woosnam — have been quiet, unassuming and far from the spotlight leading up to the matches. The same can't be said for this year's captain, Nick Faldo, who has become the most ubiquitous man in golf. Barbs I'm all for faster play, but it'll take a lot for me to get on side with allowing rangefinders in professional tournament play as the British PGA has done.

Boothe, Gray unanimous selections to All-State teams

Sarah Boothe of Warren was the only unanimous choice to the Class 4A All-State girls basketball team released Wednesday, and Hope senior guard Zhaque Gray was the 3A team's only unanimous selection.

Boothe, who has signed with Stanford and is considered the No. 1 recruit in Illinois, received first-team votes on all 10 ballots cast by a statewide panel of sports writers and broadcasters. The 6-foot-5-inch center averaged 20.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game this season and eclipsed 2,000 career points during the postseason.

Gray, who has signed to play at Penn State, received first-team votes on all 11 ballots cast for the 3A team. She averaged 17.1 points, 4.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game and led Hope to the Chicago Public League championship over Marshall.

US elections 2004

For supporters of John Kerry, who have seen allegations about the Democratic candidate's military record sap his campaign, it must have seemed like a case of just deserts.

The president, George Bush, was last week looking vulnerable on the same grounds after CBS's flagship current affairs show, 60 Minutes, broadcast a report claiming he had been suspended from pilot duties for failing to meet the required standards. It was also claimed that a commanding officer had been put under pressure to "sugar coat" Mr Bush's performance reviews.

But while CBS stands by its story, allegations have now surfaced that 60 Minutes based a large part of the report on forged documents.

Although what one man - even a presidential candidate - did more than 30 years ago can seem rather trivial, the US election is being fought between a self-declared "war president" and a man who, in stump speeches, claims he would defend his country as president in the way he had defended it as a young man.

Heath Ledger's ex-fiancee arrives for funeral

The New York Chief Medical Examiner's Office, responsible for Ledger's autopsy and deciphering tests undertaken on his blood and tissue, will announce the cause of death.

Investors say lax oversight cost them millions

Could you explain to me how in God's name something like this happens? I thought there are government agencies that watchdog over people and don't allow this to happen over and over again,'' she said.

SHeDAISY's Hits CD Due Feb. 5

SHeDAISY will release The Best of SHeDAISY on Feb. 5 on Lyric Street Records. The 12-song compilation includes all previously-released material, spanning from their 1999 debut single, "Little Good-Byes," to a song inspired by Desperate Housewives, "God Bless the American Housewife." The trio of sisters has released six albums for the label so far, including a remixed version of their debut album and a holiday album. Four of their singles reached the Top 10 on Billboard's country chart. .

Kenyan government expects deal by Friday to end crisis

Kilonzo said there were several other elements of a power-sharing deal to be resolved, but he could not give details.

Entertainment briefs

What was on Fred Armisen's mind when he debuted his Barack Obama impression on "Saturday Night Live"? Volume, volume, volume. "It seems to be combination of loud and not so loud at the same time," Armisen told TV Guide about the senator's voice. "Even when he is being emotional, there's a calmness about him." Saturday's episode -- the first since writers went back to work -- got the show's highest ratings in more than two years.