NATION

NATION
Rose goingto casino
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. -- A few weeks after admitting he bet on baseball, Pete Rose is going to an eastern Connecticut casino to sign his new book and dine with high-rollers.
The career hits leader, who agreed in 1989 to a lifetime ban from baseball following an investigation of his gambling, is to appear at Foxwoods Resort Casino Saturday for an invitation-only signing of his book, "My Prison Without Bars."
Donovan McNabbwon't play in Pro Bowl
NEW YORK -- Donovan McNabb dropped out of the Pro Bowl because of a rib injury, and was replaced by St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger.
Bulger and Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck will back up starter Daunte Culpepper of Minnesota.
Denver Broncos linebacker Al Wilson was chosen the AFC's "need player" by AFC coach Tony Dungy of Indianapolis.
Stojakovic in3-point contest
NEW YORK -- Two-time defending champion Peja Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings will head a field of six in the 3-point-shooting contest during the NBA All-Star weekend.
Brent Barry and Rashard Lewis of Seattle, Chauncey Billups of Detroit, Voshon Lenard of Denver and Cuttino Mobley of Houston will try to stop Stojakovic in the competition Feb. 14 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The contest is part of the NBA All-Star Saturday Night program that will include the rising stars slam dunk, skills challenge and shooting stars competitions. The All-Star game is Feb. 15.
Messier addedto All-Star team
NEW YORK -- New York Rangers captain Mark Messier was added to the NHL's Eastern Conference All-Star team, four days after his 43rd birthday.
Columbus' Rich Nash will make his All-Star debut at 19.
For the Eastern Conference, Florida goalie Roberto Luongo; defensemen Adrian Aucoin of the New York Islanders, Nick Boynton of Boston, and Montreal's Sheldon Souray, and Washington forward Robert Lang, were chosen to their first All-Star game.
For the West, goalie Dwayne Roloson and defenseman Filip Kuba will be making their debuts while representing the host Minnesota Wild.
NASCAR hires EMT
CONCORD, N.C. -- NASCAR hired an emergency medical technician to oversee and monitor the care given drivers and crewman during the Nextel Cup Series events.
The EMT will ride in the quick-response safety car used since midway through the 2003 season, but will not be a "hands-on" medical person, NASCAR president Mike Helton said. The name of the EMT wasn't released.
U.S. soccer team named for qualifier
NEW YORK -- National team starters Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Bobby Convey were among 22 players picked for the U.S. team that will try to qualify for the Olympics.
All but one of the players on the under-23 team are with a Major League Soccer club.
The Americans play Panama (Feb. 3), Canada (Feb. 5) and Honduras (Feb. 7) in Guadalajara, Mexico in the group stage of qualifying.
Scurry, Lillyand Foudy chosen
CARSON, Calif. -- Longtime standouts Briana Scurry, Kristine Lilly and Julie Foudy were among 22 players chosen to the U.S. national team that will play in China's Four Nations tournament beginning next week.
Coach April Heinrichs selected 15 players from the World Cup team that finished third last year. That includes World Cup standouts Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx, Cat Reddick and Joy Fawcett.
The other World Cup players who will take on China, Sweden and Canada are Shannon MacMillan, Siri Mullinix, Kylie Bivens, Angela Hucles, Tiffany Roberts and Aly Wagner.
Moses completes short-course sweep
MOSCOW -- American Ed Moses won the 100-meter breaststroke, completing a sweep of nine events in three World Cup short-course meets. The 23-year-old Moses won in 59.33 seconds, 0.17 ahead of longtime rival Roman Sludnov of Russia.
Moses leads the overall standings after six of eight World Cup meets.
Toney fight off
LAS VEGAS -- Heavyweight contender James Toney's Feb. 7 fight with Jameel McCline was called off after Toney ruptured an Achilles' tendon in training.
Toney's promoter, Dan Goossen, said Toney was hurt Wednesday night while training in Los Angeles. He said the fighter will be sidelined at least three months.
WORLD
Winter sports roundup
* KITZBUEHEL, Austria -- Lasse Kjus of Norway won his first World Cup downhill race in more than four years and regained the overall standings lead. American Daron Rahlves, last year's winner, was third.
* ANTERSELVA, Italy -- Sven Fischer of Germany claimed his first win of the biathlon World Cup season in a 20-kilometer individual race.
* LILLEHAMMER, Norway -- Canada's Lindsay Alcock won a World Cup skeleton race with a narrow victory over American Lea Ann Parsley.
Vindicator staff/wire reports