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■ BASKETBALL
Detroit edge Phoenix
Plenette Pierson and Kara Braxton combined for 45 points and 22 rebounds to lead the defending champion Detroit Shock to a 108-100 win on Wednesday over the Phoenix Mercury in Game 1 of the WNBA finals in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Detroit took the lead in the best-of-five series despite the absence of All-Star Cheryl Ford, who sat out with a knee injury. It was the highest-scoring game in the history of the finals. "Obviously, a good win for us a man down. That was a magnificent contribution from our bench," said Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer, who found out Wednesday morning that Ford wouldn't be able to go. He said he hopes to have Ford available for Game 2.

■ BASKETBALL
Referees to use TV replay
National Baketball Association (NBA) referees will be able to use television replay to review altercations and some flagrant fouls starting this season. The NBA Board of Governors voted last week to approve the changes recommended by the league's Competition Committee. Officials will be allowed to use replay on the more severe type of flagrant foul, known as the penalty 2. Because a flagrant-2 results in an ejection, the committee ruled that reviewing such infractions was appropriate. Referees also will be able to use replay after an altercation to ensure that no punches or other unsportsmanlike actions are missed in determining penalties.

■ FOOTBALL
Browns cornerback arrested
Cleveland Browns cornerback Leigh Bodden drove a sport utility vehicle in reverse down a one-way street outside an airport, became verbally abusive with police and was arrested on Wednesday. Bodden, 25, refused to stop the vehicle when initially approached by an officer at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, police Lieutenant Thomas Stacho said. Bodden eventually pulled the vehicle to a curb, got out and walked toward an airport entrance, Stacho said. "He indicated he was there to pick up his people, whoever his people are," Stacho said. Bodden became verbally abusive with the officer, who called for police backup, Stacho said.

■ BASKETBALL
Yao Ming defends coach
Yao Ming (姚明) says China coach Jonas Kazlauskas should remain in charge through the Beijing Olympics, telling Chinese media to cut the Lithuanian some slack. The Houston Rockets star called Kazlauskas a unifying force on the team and said Chinese sports reporters blow hot and cold over the team's success. "He is a good coach," Yao was quoted as saying in the China Daily newspaper yesterday. Kazlauskas has come under fire in the Chinese media over a string of recent losses to lower-ranked teams.

■ BASKETBALL
Reed charged over reefer
Houston Rockets swingman Justin Reed was released on Wednesday after being arrested for misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Reed was arrested on Tuesday night in Jackson, Mississippi. He was released from the Hinds County jail early on Wednesday, Ken Magee of the Hinds County Sheriff's Department said. Reed was charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, which carries a fine from US$100 to US$250. No date has been set for his appearance in Hinds County court.

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