BASKETBALL

BOBCATS’ WALLACE PREPARES FOR FREE AGENCY

Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace will become an unrestricted free agent Sunday after deciding not to extend his contract for another season.

Wallace, who led Charlotte in scoring last season with 18.1 points a game, will explore all options, his agent, Rob Pelinka, said yesterday.

Wallace made just over $5.5 million last season. He will likely command at least $10 million a season under a new contract that could run as long as six years.

Bobcats vice president of basketball operations Bernie Bickerstaff is expected to fly to Los Angeles to meet with Pelinka shortly after the negotiation period begins Sunday. New general manager Rod Higgins will also be involved in trying to lock up Wallace.

LEBRON TO HONOR COMMITMENT TO U.S. NATIONAL TEAM

LeBron James will wear the red, white and blue this summer after all.

Cleveland’s All-Star forward ended uncertainty about his status with the U.S. national team last night by saying he will play in next month’s FIBA America’s Tournament, where the Americans will try to qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

“I’m going to play,” James told the Associated Press. “I’ve had enough time off, and knowing my body more than anybody, I’m ready to play. I don’t know how much I’m going to play or how extensively, but I’ll be ready.”

For several months, James had said he was “50-50” about playing for Team USA this summer. He and his girlfriend recently had their second son, and with the Cavaliers making it to the NBA Finals, James may have wanted some extra time off after playing more than 100 games since last October.

BASEBALL

PERCIVAL RETURNS TO MAJORS, TWO YEARS AFTER RETIRING

Almost two years after he retired, Troy Percival returned to the big leagues.

The St. Louis Cardinals called up the former All-Star closer yesterday, hoping he can help a bullpen that has struggled this season.

The 37-year-old Percival, 12th on the career saves list with 324, left the majors because of persistent soreness in his right shoulder. His final outing was with Detroit on July 9, 2005, when he gave up a game-ending home run to Tampa Bay’s Jonny Gomes.

HOCKEY

THRASHERS SEND TKACHUK BACK TO ST. LOUIS

The Thrashers sent the rights to free agent center Keith Tkachuk back to St. Louis yesterday, reacquiring the conditional firstround pick they traded to the Blues in a deadline deal that helped Atlanta reach the playoffs for the first time.

SOCCER

41% MORE TUNED INTO GOLD CUP THAN STANLEY CUP

The CONCACAF Gold Cup final attracted 41% more television households in the United States than the Stanley Cup finals clincher — and that was just for the soccer game’s Spanish-language telecast.

The United States’ 2–1 comefrom-behind victory over Mexico yesterday received a 2.5 fast national rating on Univision, the network said yesterday. That translates to 2.83 million households, nearly double the 1.48 million homes that watched the 2005 Gold Cup final between the United States and Panama.

This year’s English-language telecast was on the Fox Soccer Channel, which is available in about 30 million homes and is not rated.