■ Basketball
Snowstorm halts games
A snowstorm on the US' northeast coast resulted in basketball games being postponed and thoroughbred and harness racing canceled. Also, Friday's NCAA tournament quarterfinal soccer match between St. John's and Creighton was rescheduled for Sunday. Friday night's Manhattan at Fairfield basketball game was called off, along with Saturday's East Carolina-Seton Hall game at East Rutherford, New Jersey. Makeup dates were not immediately announced. Racing in five states was affected by the storm. Racing was canceled after the first race at Aqueduct, New York.
■ Soccer
Rangers to release Mathis
US striker Clint Mathis won't be offered a contract with Scottish Premier League club Rangers, the club said Friday. Mathis has just finished a week-long trial with the Glasgow club. The 27-year-old is out of contract with his Major League Soccer club, New York/New Jersey Metrostars. "Rangers have decided not to offer a contract to Clint Mathis," the club said in a statement. "The American striker was on trial at Murray Park this week and played in a bounce match at the training ground yesterday. Boss Alex McLeish this afternoon told Mathis, however, that he will not be extending his stay at Ibrox."
■ Triathlon
New Zealand cleans up
New Zealand won eight gold medals of 25 age-group races held Saturday ahead of Sunday's elite men's and women's finals at the world triathlon championships. Australia, which has the highest number of competitors with 336, was next with seven golds, followed by the US with five, Britain with four and Germany with one. The men's elite race Sunday will include reigning Olympic and Commonwealth champion Simon Whitfield of Canada, defending champion Ivan Rana of Spain and Australian world No. 1 Greg Bennett. Americans are the favorites in the women's race -- Barb Lindquist, Sheila Taormina and Laura Rabeck. Australian Michellie Jones is also among the entrants while other challenges could come from Canadians Jill Savege and Carol Montgomery.
■ Soccer
Ferguson gets trumped
Manchester United "regrets" allegations made by manager Alex Ferguson that Arsenal had struck a deal with the Football Association over disciplinary punishments. Ferguson made the comments after Arsenal was punished for their part in a fracas at the end of a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in September. Four Arsenal players were banned for a total of nine games and individually fined. The club was also fined ?175,000. Ferguson said on Oct. 31 there was "suspicion right throughout the country that a deal was being done" over the penalties. A Manchester United statement on Friday said the club was assuranced by the FA that there was "no truth whatsoever" in rumors a deal had been made. "Both Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson accept such assurances unreservedly and express their regrets to the FA for any comments made by Sir Alex at his press conference on Oct. 31 which may have appeared to have called into question the integrity of the FA's disciplinary process ..." the statement said.
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