Internationally
Palmer invited to play another British Open
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - Arnold Palmer will be invited to make a farewell appearance at the home of golf.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club announced Thursday a change in the rules that will allow Palmer one more appearance at the British Open, which returns to the Old Course at St. Andrews in 1995.
Instead of offering all past Open champions under 65 a place in the event, the club has altered the rule to read "65 or under." Palmer, who won the Open in 1961 and 1962, celebrated his 65th birthday Sept. 10.
"We had read that Palmer wanted to come back and play at St. Andrews," club secretary Michael Bonallack said. "And if Palmer wants to come and play for his final Open, we thought we would accommodate him."
U.S.'s Konishiki still heaviest sumo wrestler
TOKYO - Konishiki got on the scale Friday and upheld his distinction as the heaviest wrestler in the centuries-old history of sumo wrestling.
Konishiki, a Hawaiian whose real name is Salevaa Fuauli Atisanoe, weighed in at 612 pounds. Last September, he weighed 601.
Japan Sumo Association officials said 31 of 40 wrestlers in the top division gained weight since the last weigh-in.
Average weight for the division is 308 pounds.
The 31-year-old Konishiki was ranked as a champion for eight years. But bad knees and too much weight put him in a slump and he has dropped in class to senior wrestler.
"It's OK," Konishiki said. "I'm still living and able to move."
Friday's weigh-in was for the New Year Tournament opening Jan. 8.
Daly, Watson will play Down Under
SYDNEY, Australia - John Daly and Tom Watson will play in two events in Australia in February, the Australian Skins and the Australian Masters.
Daly was disqualified from the Australian Masters in 1992 for failing to sign his card after the second round. That was the last time he played in Australia.
Daly has been taking a break from golf following two incidents at the World Series of Golf in August, when players twice complained that he had hit balls into their group and he was involved in a scuffle with the father of a player.
Daly returns to the PGA Tour next month.
Nationally
Bullets put Webber on injured list
LANDOVER, Md. - Chris Webber was placed on the Washington Bullets' injured list Friday after dislocating his left shoulder the previous night in a game against Golden State.
Bullets general manager John Nash said the forward was expected to miss six weeks, but Webber thinks he could return within four weeks.
"I'm young. I should be able to bounce back quickly," he said before the Bullets' game with the Clippers at the Sports Arena. "I've never missed more than three games in a row in my life. I just have to be positive. I'm thankful. it could have taken me out of basketball a long time, but the X-rays were negative."
Even if Webber can return sooner than expected, Washington will miss him in the meantime.
"Obviously, this is a tremendous loss for us," Nash said. "Webber's injury, coupled with injuries to several of our other key players, including Rex Chapman and Don MacLean, will make it tough."
Sikahema cutting his teeth on television
PHILADELPHIA - Until this season, Vai Sikahema was one of the Philadelphia Eagles: the troubled football team, not the rock band.
But after joining WCAU-TV's sports staff full time, Sikahema became a member of the meddlesome media.
In a short time, the former BYU Cougar has managed to do something many ex-jocks find difficult: separate himself from his old team.
"When I was in the locker room, I was acknowledged as a prankster," Sikahema said. "Now, I have to be the straight professional. I get teased a lot about that.
"Before Bubby Brister's first start, he chided me for saying the team will go as far as Randall (Cunningham) takes them. He wanted me to recant that.
"I'm still friendly with the players, but it's strictly a professional relationship now."
A piece of the track
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Stock car racing fans who scramble to cart away fenders, tires and hoods from their favorite drivers' cars soon will be able to own a piece of the racetrack.
They can buy into Charlotte Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway by purchasing stock in Speedway Motorsports Inc., a holding company that filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week to sell stock to the public.
Rams busy preparing for Holiday Bowl
Colorado State began preparations for its Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl game with Michigan Friday, holding a two-hour workout at San Diego State's practice facility, the Rams' headquarters for the week.
"One of the things I was worried about during our practices in Fort Collins was th enthusiasm of the players," Lubick said. " But today, when we got going out here, we seemed to have a lot more enthusiasm.
"I thought that overall, we had a good practice. It was good to get here and get the work in. We have plenty of practices, and it's a question now of our players concentrating."