REGION

REGION
Smith receivedimproper benefit
COLUMBUS -- An Ohio State booster gave an improper gift to quarterback Troy Smith, an NCAA violation, The Columbus Dispatch reported Thursday.
Ohio State suspended Smith from the next week's Alamo Bowl for violating team and NCAA rules.
Smith accepted an undisclosed "extra benefit" from an officially sanctioned booster, the newspaper said citing a source it did not identify.
Steelers' Bellpractices
PITTSBURGH -- Steelers inside linebacker Kendrell Bell unexpectedly practiced Thursday despite being listed as out for Sunday's game against the Ravens.
Bell, the 2001 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, has been out since Nov. 21 with a sore groin and wasn't expected to play in the team's final two games. He didn't play until the Steelers' Nov. 7 game against Philadelphia after needing surgery, then played only part-time until getting reinjured two weeks later.
Pirates hireassistant G.M.
PITTSBURGH -- Doug Strange was hired Thursday as assistant general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Strange, 40, replaces Roy Smith, who left to take a similar job with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Strange was a scout and a special assistant to general manager Dave Littlefield since he joined the Pirates in 2002.
NATION
Oklahoma Statesuspends Williams
SAN ANTONIO -- Oklahoma State cornerback Darrent Williams will not play in the Alamo Bowl against Ohio State following a suspension by coach Les Miles.
NFL sets playoffs starting times
NEW YORK -- The AFC championship game will be played 6:30 p.m. EST next month, meaning a potentially frosty atmosphere in Pittsburgh or New England.
The NFL released starting times Thursday for the postseason games. The NFC title game will begin at 3 p.m. EST and will be televised by Fox, followed by the AFC contest on CBS.
Should the Steelers or Patriots have home-field advantage and get that far on Jan. 23, it could make for chilly conditions for the AFC championship matchup.
The playoffs begin Jan. 8 with a wild-card round doubleheader on ABC at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. EST. The round continues on Sunday, Jan. 9 with the AFC game at 1 p.m. and the NFC game at 4:30.
The divisional playoffs breakdown has an AFC game at 4:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Jan. 15, followed by the NFC game at 8 p.m. The next day, the NFC contest is at 1 p.m. and the AFC at 4:30.
The Super Bowl will be on Fox on Feb. 6 from Jacksonville, Fla.
Hawks send Barry to Rockets for Lue
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks traded shooting guard Jon Barry to the Houston Rockets on Thursday in exchange for point guard Tyronn Lue.
Lue averaged 6 points and 2.8 assists in 23 minutes a game this season for the Rockets.
Lue, 27, was on the Los Angeles Lakers championship team in 2001.
Tim Floyd interested in USC coaching job
LOS ANGELES -- Tim Floyd and Southern California want to talk about the former New Orleans Hornets coach taking over the Trojans' basketball program.
Floyd's agent, Bill Becknell, said Thursday that Floyd was contacted by USC on Monday. That was the same day Rick Majerus resigned -- less than a week after being hired as the school's men's basketball coach.
USSF: players' newoffer is inadequate
NEW YORK -- Players on the U.S. soccer team made a new proposal that the U.S. Soccer Federation called inadequate, and it remains uncertain whether untested players will be used instead of the regulars for a World Cup qualifier in February.
Players made a new proposal Monday, union head Mark Levinstein said, but it wasn't to the liking of the USSF, soccer's governing body in the United States.
D.C. asks for private stadium funding
WASHINGTON -- Private investors have until Jan. 17 to submit proposals to assist financing Washington's new ballpark under a process started Thursday by city's chief financial officer.
Legislation approved Tuesday by the District of Columbia Council contemplates that at least half of the stadium construction cost come from a private source.
Notre Dame mayhire Cutcliffe
CHICAGO -- New Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis' staff is coming together. The university isn't likely to name his assistants officially until after the New Year, but several names are being mentioned by a source with knowledge of the process.
David Cutcliffe, recently dismissed as the head coach at Mississippi, is expected to be part of the staff, though his duties have yet to be determined. Notre Dame also is expected to hire John Latina, the offensive line coach at Ole Miss under Cutcliffe.
Wire reports