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NBA

Star leads Hornets past Wizards

BERLIN - Chris Paul showed no signs of fatigue as he set the tone for the New Orleans Hornets in a 96-80 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday in a pre-season exhibition game in Berlin. "I feel like I need to hold up my end of the deal, and that's to continue to get better and take as good care of my body as possible," the all-star point guard said. Paul had eight assists and scored four points to help the Hornets jump out to an 18-0 lead. He played the entire first and third quarters and sat out the other two, finishing with 11 assists and nine points. Hornets coach Byron Scott said he was trying to keep Paul fresh after a long summer in which Paul helped the U.S. Olympic team win gold in Beijing. It was the first of two games between the Hornets and Wizards in the NBA's annual pre-season tour of Europe. They will meet again on Friday in Barcelona.

NHL

Bush hosts Wings at the White House

WASHINGTON - U.S. President George W. Bush welcomed the Detroit Red Wings to the White House Tuesday, celebrating a Stanley Cup championship team that overcame odds and age and even had one player who scored a goal with his teeth. With the Stanley Cup on display near the podium, Bush paid tribute to forward Darren McCarty, a popular player who came back from alcohol problems and injuries to help the Red Wings' playoff run. Bush said McCarty "had a problem - he drank too much. And it brought his career to an early end. But Darren McCarty did not give up. Darren McCarty decided to do something about it." Bush recounted McCarty's decision to clean up his life, return to the minors and work his way back to the NHL. "This guy got his life back together, seized the moment, and scored the opening goal in Game 2 of the series against Nashville. That is a stout story."

NFL

Ban devastates Cowboys defender

FORT WORTH, Texas - Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones was suspended for at least four games by the NFL on Tuesday for violating the league's personal conduct policy. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will then determine the full length of the suspension following the Cowboys' game in Washington on Nov. 16. Jones was in repeated legal trouble while with the Tennessee Titans and was involved in an alcohol-related scuffle Oct. 7 with one of his bodyguards at a private party in Dallas. The disturbance at an upscale Dallas hotel came only six weeks after Goodell reinstated Jones from a 17-month suspension. At an NFL meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla., Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he had spoken to the player, whom he described as "devastated" by the news.

Football

Lions put QB on shelf for year

DETROIT - The winless Detroit Lions placed quarterback Jon Kitna on injured reserve Tuesday, ending his season. The move could raise questions about Kitna's future in Detroit. There had been speculation the Lions (0-5) might trade Kitna and rely instead on backups Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton. But a trade didn't materialize. Instead, the Lions sent wide receiver Roy Williams to Dallas for draft picks. Kitna suffered a back injury in a loss to Chicago two weeks ago. He did not play last week against Minnesota. Orlovsky played in Kitna's place against the Vikings. He likely will make his second career start at Houston on Sunday. Kitna declined comment Tuesday, but had told The Associated Press on Monday he expected to play again this season and that his injury wasn't that serious.

Horse racing

Curlin to defend Breeders' Cup title

LOS ANGELES - Curlin is going to defend his title in the US$5-million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Oct. 25. Majority owner Jess Jackson announced the decision Tuesday, when an initial entry payment was due. A second and final entry payment for the Classic is due Oct. 21. "Everything is go," Jackson said on a conference call. "When a top athlete is ready, they want to play. Curlin tells us he's fit." Curlin, the reigning Horse of the Year, is expected to take on undefeated Casino Drive of Japan and some of Europe's top horses in the first Breeders' Cup to be run on a synthetic track. He won't be facing Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, who was retired Monday after injuring his foot during a workout in New York.