■ Basketball
Barcelona outplay 76ers
FC Barcelona outplayed Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76ers in the second half to win 109-104 on Thursday, only the third time an international club has beaten an NBA team since 1988. The Atlanta Hawks lost to the Soviet Union 132-123 in 1988 in Moscow, and the Toronto Raptors lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv 105-103 last year at Toronto. The Sixers have been in Barcelona since Sept. 29 for training camp and are one of four NBA teams taking part in the league's preseason in Europe. The exhibition game was the 76ers' opener in the NBA Europe Live tour.
■ Soccer
Hammers pair urged to quit
Argentina coach Alfio Basile said on Thursday that international stars Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano should quit struggling English side West Ham to save their careers. The Argentinean pair have struggled in London and the Hammers have failed to win since their arrival. "I hope both of them leave that club as soon as possible," Basile told Argentinean sports Web site TyC Sports. "I think they are half-hearted and I'm really worried about that. I hope for God's sake that Mascherano can go to Juventus as it has been said, even if he has to play in the second division [in Italy]. And Tevez can play in any position in the attacking line, but not as a left-winger like he is currently playing."
■ NFL
Gurode not pressing charges
Albert Haynesworth won't face criminal charges for scraping his boot across the unprotected face of Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode, and said on Thursday he would seek counseling for his behavior. But the Tennessee Titans tackle could not answer the one question everyone wants answered: Why? "It was a blur. It was a big, big mistake and something I wish I could do anything to take that back," said Haynesworth, who received a five-game suspension, the longest for on-field misbehavior in NFL history. Gurode's agent announced he won't seek criminal charges against Haynesworth for stomping on his head during Sunday's 45-14 win for the Cowboys. Gurode needed 30 stitches to close seven cuts and may require plastic surgery to repair the damage to his face.
■ Basketball
Lakers coach recovering
Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson is recovering well following right hip replacement surgery and is walking with a cane, assistant Kurt Rambis said on Thursday. Jackson, who has won 10 NBA championships, nine as a coach, underwent the operation on Tuesday in El Segundo, California, and was discharged from the hospital a day later. Rambis said that Jeanie Buss, Jackson's longtime girlfriend, told him the 61-year-old coach was walking with a cane. Buss is the Lakers' executive vice president of business operations and the daughter of team owner Jerry Buss.
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