FOOTBALL

SCHOTTENHEIMER TO RETURN TO CHARGERS IN 2007

Marty Schottenheimer might be down to one last chance to get the San Diego Chargers to the Super Bowl.

Three days after the talented Chargers melted down in a stunning 24–21 playoff loss to New England, team president Dean Spanos decided yesterday that bringing Schottenheimer back for the final year of his contract gives San Diego its best chance to win.

Schottenheimer, though, declined the team’s offer of a one-year extension for 2008 worth $4.5 million, with a $1 million buyout.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UNC ROUTS CLEMSON

Brandan Wright had 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting and no. 4 North Carolina recovered from the loss that knocked it from no. 1 with its sixth straight victory over no. 19 Clemson, 77–55 last night.

Wright, the Atlantic Coast Conference leader in field goal percentage, was only 1-for-8 in Saturday’s 94–88 loss to Virginia Tech. This time, the 6-foot-9 freshman hit his first seven shots to lead the Tar Heels (16–2, 3–1).

BASKETBALL

SHAQ MAY RETURN TO HEAT AS SOON AS TODAY

Shaquille O’Neal has vowed not to resume playing for the Miami Heat until his surgically repaired left knee is “1,000 percent.”

He’s almost there.

O’Neal went through an entire practice yesterday, his first time playing full-court, five-on-five since the November 19 procedure to repair torn cartilage. And he could make his comeback Thursday, when the Heat host the Indiana Pacers.