BASKETBALL

BROWN FINED $20,000 Knicks coach Larry Brown was fined $20,000 yesterday by the NBA for failing to leave the court in a timely manner after he was ejected from New York’s 130-97 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown was thrown out for arguing with referee Steve Javie in the third quarter Tuesday night after New York was called for a flagrant foul and a technical within a 2-minute span. Brown was ejected during a timeout, picking up two quick technicals. He then walked onto the floor right up to Javie to continue the argument before being pulled away.

NBA ANNOUNCES ALL-STAR STARTERS Yao Ming edged Kobe Bryant as the top vote getter in fan balloting for the 55th NBA All-Star game, and Shaquille O’Neal became the fifth player in league history to earn 13 consecutive selections for the midseason showcase. Yao and Tracy McGrady give the host Houston Rockets two starters in the February 20 game. They were joined on the Western Conference squad by Bryant, San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, and reigning MVP Steve Nash of Phoenix.

Cleveland’s LeBron James was the top Eastern Conference votegetter, edging O’Neal by 15,155 votes. Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson, Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal and first-time All-Star starter Dwyane Wade of Miami rounded out the East’s starting five.

GOLF

GOOSEN LEADS WOODS BY THREE STROKES IN DUBAI Retief Goosen shot an 8-under 64 yesterday to move into a three-way tie for the lead after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic, with Tiger Woods three strokes behind. Woods was 4-under after four holes, but slowed after that and was among a half dozen players at 5-under 67. He is tied with Paul Casey, Nick Dougherty, Henrik Stenson, Niclas Fasth, and Nick O’Hern.

Goosen was tied for the lead with Richard Green and Jamie Donaldson, while Jamie Lynn and Ross Bain were next at 6 under. Defending champion and threetime winner Ernie Els shot a 68.

Woods is being paid a reported $3 million to play in Dubai. Total prize money for the tournament is $2.4 million.

FOOTBALL

MARTZ BACKS OUT OF JOB WITH LIONS Mike Martz backed out of the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator position yesterday, and the ex-St. Louis Rams coach appears content to sit out next season.Martz has been unemployed since the Rams fired him on January 2, the day after St. Louis finished a 6-10 season. He sat out the last 11 games recovering from endocarditis, a bacterial infection of a heart valve, but was cleared to return to duty the day before his six seasons as Rams head coach ended.

– Associated Press