Sports in Brief: Knicks' Houston trying comeback

Compiled By The Inquirer Staff

Allan Houston signed with the New York Knicks yesterday for another comeback attempt with the team.

Houston, 37, is fourth on the Knicks' career scoring list, trailing only Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier and Willis Reed. He will be in training camp next week with the team he led to the 1999 NBA Finals.

Forced to retire in October 2005 because of knee pain, Houston briefly tried a comeback last year with the Knicks, playing in only one exhibition game.

The Houston Rockets matched the Charlotte Bobcats' three-year, $9 million offer sheet for restricted free agent Carl Landry, keeping the 6-foot-9 forward in Houston.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert thinks rampant speculation that superstar LeBron James will leave Cleveland in two years is "an insult to the city."

Gilbert said James has not indicated to him that he plans to leave for New York after his contract expires in 2010.

The ankle injury suffered by Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis, 22, occurred in a moped accident and did not result from playing pickup basketball, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Ellis, who is expected to be sidelined for two months, signed a six-year, $66 million contract extension in the off-season.

A provision of the uniform player contract bans moped riding.

Colleges

Pittsburgh extended the contract of men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon for three seasons through 2015-16. Dixon has a 132-40 record in five seasons at Pitt.

Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt had shoulder surgery - not for a sports injury.

The winningest basketball coach in NCAA history said she dislocated her right shoulder in March while chasing a raccoon that was poised to attack her Labrador near her home.

Willie Jeffries, a 71-year-old retiree and former Wichita State football coach, will be honored today with a lifetime achievement award by the National Black College Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Trevor Theriot, UCLA's starting fullback, will have surgery on a torn ligament in his right knee and will miss the rest of the season.

Villanova's Patrick Chambers was promoted from assistant to associate men's basketball coach.

Cycling

A day after Lance Armstrong, 37, confirmed he would ride with Astana, Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said the team should be allowed to race in 2009 if it avoids doping problems.

Armstrong, who won the Tour a record seven times, was in retirement when Astana was barred this year for doping.