BASEBALL

BASEBALL
Orioles pitcher Ponsonis detained in Aruba
ORANJESTAD, Aruba -- Baltimore Orioles pitcher Sidney Ponson has been detained on suspicion of assaulting a local judge at a beach on Christmas, police said Sunday.
Ponson, who was born in Aruba, has not been formally charged but is expected to be arraigned Monday on assault and battery charges, police spokesman Edwin Comenencia said.
Ponson's attorney, Chris Lejuez, did not immediately return several telephone calls seeking comment.
On Saturday at a beach in Boca Catalina several people confronted Ponson, accusing him of harassing them with his personal watercraft and operating it recklessly, police said.
The 28-year-old right-hander allegedly struck one of the men in the group several times, police said. The man was later identified as a local judge, Comenencia said.
The judge was hospitalized but his condition was not known, authorities said. Ponson fled the scene but police detained him late Saturday, police said. He is being held at a jail in the community of San Nicolas.
Ponson went 11-15 with a 5.30 ERA in 33 starts last season. He has a 69-80 career record in seven seasons with a 4.67 ERA and 802 strikeouts.
NBA
Cavs activate Traylor,place Williams on IL
CLEVELAND -- The Cavaliers activated forward-center Robert Traylor from the injured list on Sunday, and placed forward-center Scott Williams on the injured list.
Traylor missed eight games after breaking his left pinkie against New Jersey on Dec. 7. Cleveland went 3-5 without Traylor, who averaged 5.1 points and four rebounds in 18 games.
"Getting him back is a Christmas gift for the team," coach Paul Silas said before the Cavaliers played the New Orleans Hornets at Gund Arena. "Robert was really playing well and a big part of our rotation."
Traylor, 27, signed with Cleveland as a free agent in August after playing three seasons with the Hornets.
Williams, 36, has left knee patella tendinitis. The 14-year veteran has averaged 1.9 points and 1.6 rebounds in 17 games.
Shaq's return to LAdraws big TV rating
NEW YORK -- Shaq vs. Kobe drew the highest rating in six years for a regular-season NBA game.
The overnight rating for the Miami Heat's 104-102 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on ABC on Christmas Day was 8.0. That was the highest since February 1998, when Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls against the Lakers on NBC.
Saturday's game featured Shaquille O'Neal's much-ballyhooed first game against the Lakers since being traded to the Heat last summer. O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were teammates for eight chaotic seasons with the Lakers. Despite their tense relationship, the Lakers won three championships and reached the NBA Finals a fourth time during their last five years together.
O'Neal demanded a trade three days after the Lakers were beaten by the Detroit Pistons in the Finals last June. Phil Jackson was told the same day his services as coach were no longer desired. Bryant, meanwhile, signed a seven-year, $136.4 million contract to stay.
O'Neal had 24 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out with 2:15 left in regulation. Bryant had a season-high 42 points.
Overnight ratings measure the 55 largest TV markets, covering about 70 percent of the United States. The rating is the percentage of all homes with TVs, whether or not they are in use.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Vanderbilt playeris shot to death
TAMPA, Fla. -- Vanderbilt running back Kwane Doster was shot to death early Sunday when someone fired at the parked car he was in, police said.
Doster, 21, of Tampa, died at Tampa General Hospital after being shot near the Ybor City nightlife district, police spokesman Joe Durkin said. Detectives were trying to find the killer and determine a motive.
Doster and two friends had stopped their car while "cruising around" when another car pulled up beside them, Durkin said. Several shots were fired at Doster's car, and one hit him in the chest while he was sitting behind the driver. No one else was hurt.
The junior running back ran for 427 yards and one touchdown this season for the Commodores (2-9). He became the first Vanderbilt player named the Southeastern Conference's freshman of the year after a school record 798 yards rushing in 2002. For his career, Doster had 1,621 yards rushing, 256 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Tulsa coach resigns
TULSA, Okla. -- John Phillips resigned Saturday as Tulsa's basketball coach after a 2-5 start.
Phillips led Tulsa to the NCAA tournament in his first two seasons, but the Golden Hurricane slipped to 9-20 last year and have lost four of their past five games this season.
Assistant coach Alvin Williamson will take over on an interim basis. The school offered Phillips a chance to stay on as assistant athletic director.
"Obviously, this is not the way that I envisioned becoming a head coach," said Williamson, who also played at Tulsa.
Associated Press
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