GOLF

WOODS AND MICKELSON PAIRED IN RYDER CUP U.S. Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton made sure this Cup gets off to a dynamic start by pairing Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson – America’s best two players – for the first time in the opening match at Oakland Hills.

So did Europe, which has captured the Ryder Cup six of the last nine times and showed that it wasn’t about to back down. Sensing a Woods-Mickelson pairing was inevitable, European captain Bernhard Langer decided to send out Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington to stop them. Harrington is Europe’s best player. Montgomerie has the best Ryder Cup record.

BASEBALL

SORIANO MAY BE OUT FOR YEAR Texas Rangers star Alfonso Soriano left yesterday’s game against Oakland in the eighth inning after injuring his left leg on a headfirst slide, putting the rest of his season in doubt. The All-Star second baseman will have an MRI exam today.

Soriano was hurt while stealing third base. He easily beat the throw, but appeared to get his left foot caught under his right leg as he reached out for the bag. Soriano felt pain behind his left knee

BASKETBALL

CARTER WANTS OUT OF TORONTO Vince Carter wants out of Toronto, but the Raptors’ new general manager says he isn’t going anywhere.

The Raptors’ All-Star guard told the Toronto Star in yesterday’s editions: “It’s time for the truth: I want to be traded.” Carter also said in a letter to fans posted on his Web site that he’s not eager to wait while the team rebuilds.

GM Rob Babcock hopes the five-time All-Star will give his new regime a chance. The Raptors haven’t made the playoffs the past two seasons and Sam Mitchell will be Carter’s third coach in three years.

HOCKEY

JAGR, NHL PLAYERS LOOK FOR WORK FOLLOWING LOCKOUT While rinks from Pittsburgh to Anaheim figure to be quiet in the coming weeks, the ice will be crowded with talent in places such as the Czech Republic.

Jaromir Jagr skated for the first time with the Czech team Rabat Kladno, the club that nurtured him before he arrived in the NHL in 1990. The Finnish league had its season-opening games last night and several NHL players were involved. Two of Sweden’s biggest stars, Peter Forsberg of the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto captain Mats Sundin, will likely skate in their home country later this season.

The 30 NHL teams had been set to start opening training camps yesterday, the day after the expiration of the current labor contract. The deal was first agreed to in 1995 and extended two years later through September 15, 2004.

– Associated Press