Basketball
MAGIC: Leave it to Shaquille O'Neal to liven up the Orlando Magic's first day of training camp at Jacksonville, Fla.
O'Neal hinted Friday, after the defending Eastern Conference champions held their first workout at the University of North Florida, that he may give up his No. 32 to newcomer Jon Koncak, who has worn that number throughout his 10-year career. Koncak has been wearing No. 45 since signing with the Magic.
"Jon Koncak has asked if he can he have his number," said O'Neal, who has spoke in the past of his desire to switch to the number 33 he wore at LSU. "Since he's a veteran, I might have to give up my number."
SONICS: Bill Cartwright, who had planned to retire after 16 NBA seasons, has unretired because of a salary dispute with the Seattle SueprSonics.
Cartwright, who wound up with Seattle after stints with the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls, withdrew his retirement Thursday, the day the Sonics filed a grievance with the NBA over his claim to this year's salary under his two-year player's contract.
Cartwright announced his retirement in July after accepting a regional scouting job with the team. The team contends that move cost him the balance of his pay as a player, which would be $976,000.
CAVALIERS: Back spasms kept forward-center John Williams from joining his teammates at Friday's opening day of training camp in Dayton, the team said. He is expected to rejoin the team in a few days.
The 6-foot-11, 245-pound Williams is a power forward who was made the team's starting center last season when All-Star center Brad Daugherty missed the whole season with a back injury. Williams, 33, may be in the same situation this season because Daugherty is still unable to play.
LAKERS: Kurt Rambis signed on for his third playing stint in as many years Friday with the Los Angeles Lakers. Rambis, 37, began each of the last two seasons as a special assistant coach with the club, but eventually ended both campaigns on the roster after signing playing deals.
BLAZERS: Let bygones be bygones. That was the message from Rod Strickland and coach P.J. Carlesimo as the Portland Trail Blazers opened training camp Friday.
The two said they've put their differences behind them and are ready to work together in the coming season.
That's a far cry from Strickland's attitude at one point last season, when he told reporters that he didn't like Carlesimo and wanted out of Portland.
WARRIORS: All-Star guards Tim Hardaway and Latrell Sprewell, who were sniping at each other publicly by the end of last season, are back together with the Golden State Warriors and are friends again.
Well, sort of.
The backcourt partners were running the offense again as the Warriors opened training camp Friday, and Sprewell said their personal bickering - which escalated into verbal warfare last year - has been forgotten.
When asked whether he and Hardaway are friends now, Sprewell gave a half-hearted "Yeah" while staring at the ground.
Hockey
KINGS SOLD: The sale of the Los Angeles Kings to Denver billionaire Philip F. Anschutz and Southern California developer Edward P. Roski Jr. for $113.25 million has been approved by a federal bankruptcy judge.
On shaky financial footing because of former Kings owner Bruce McNall's problems, Joseph Cohen and Jeffrey Sudikoff sold the team to Majestic Anschutz Venture, a partnership of Anschutz and Roski. Cohen and Sudikoff had purchased 72 percent of the team from McNall in May 1994.
FLYERS: Defenseman Kevin Haller signed a multi-year contract Friday with the Philadelphia Flyers, the team announced. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
DEVILS: Petr Sykora, the New Jersey Devils' first-round draft pick, signed a three-year contract worth a reported $1.7 million Friday.
TRADES: The Hartford Whalers bolstered their special teams Friday by acquiring center Nelson Emerson from the Winnipeg Jets for center Darren Turcotte.
And the New York Rangers acquired center Steve Larouche from the Ottawa Senators on Friday for right wing Jean-Yves Roy.