Sports briefs
Nets get Williams
The New Jersey Nets finally landed a big-name All-Star in a blockbuster trade that gives them point guard Deron Williams and sends rookie Derrick Favors and point guard Devin Harris to the Utah Jazz.
The Jazz also will receive the Nets' first-round pick in 2011, which could be a lottery pick, cash, and Golden State's 2012 first-round draft pick.
The Nets now hope Williams will sign a contract extension with them, which they can offer this summer. If so, he would become the face of their franchise when they move into their new arena in Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season.
Tennessee hit with
charges by NCAA
The NCAA has charged Tennessee with at least a dozen rules violations committed by the university's basketball and football programs.
Included in the allegations after the NCAA's 22-month investigation are charges that coach Bruce Pearl acted unethically and failed to monitor compliance activities by his basketball staff. Former Volunteers football coach Lane Kiffin is also charged with failing to monitor his staff. Kiffin is now at Southern California.
The notice, which was received by Tennessee on Tuesday and released Wednesday, did not include potential sanctions. USC also received notice outlining the charges against Kiffin.
Tennessee has until May 21 to respond to the NCAA's allegations and is expected to appear at a June 10-11 meeting of the Committee on Infractions.
Woods drops
Match Play opener
The slow road back for Tiger Woods took another detour when he followed a clutch birdie with a shocking shot into the desert and lost to Thomas Bjorn in the first round of the Match Play Championship.
It was only the second time that Woods, the No. 3 seed, had been eliminated in the first round.
But this was stunning even to Woods.
Moments after he made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to extend the match, he hit a 3-wood so far to the right that it landed in a desert bush. It took two shots just to get it back onto the grass. After badly missing an 18-foot bogey putt, he conceded to Bjorn.
The other top seeds didn't have that much trouble.
Top-ranked Lee Westwood never trailed in his 3-and-2 victory over Henrik Stenson, while PGA champion Martin Kaymer had the shortest match of the opening round, a 7-and-6 win over 19-year-old Seung-yul Noh of South Korea.
Phil Mickelson, the No. 4 seed who only decided to play this World Golf Championship two weeks ago, won 6-and-5 over Brendan Jones.
