IN BRIEF

Jordan pleased his son will walk on at Illinois

Michael Jordan applauded his son’s decision to walk on at Illinois rather than accept a scholarship to a smaller college.

The basketball legend and his 18-year-old son, Jeffrey, appeared on the “Today” show Friday.

Jordan said his son decided he wanted the challenge of proving himself at the Big Ten Conference school.

“I’m thinking that’s what I would have done,” Jordan said.

Talking on the Illinois campus, NBC’s Matt Lauer asked if the son had ever beaten his father in a basketball game.

“Ask him how many times,” the elder Jordan said to Lauer, knowing the answer would be once, before admitting that he wasn’t thrilled about it at the time.

The younger Jordan, a 6-foot-2-inch guard at Loyola Academy prep school in Wilmette, Ill., chose Illinois over Valparaiso in April.

Also: P’Allen Stinnett, a former Palo Verde High School standout, scored all of his game-high 23 points in the second half, giving Creighton a 74-62 win over DePaul in his college debut.

Stinnett held up his hands and shook his head as he banked home his last 3-pointer from the right wing with about two minutes to play.

GOLF

Creamer leads by five in Alabama tournament

Paula Creamer made a big move at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Ala., to join Lorena Ochoa and Suzann Pettersen as the LPGA Tour’s only multiple winners this year.

After birdieing the final seven holes Thursday for a share of the lead in the Tournament of Champions, Creamer shot a bogey-free, 7-under-par 65 to open a five-stroke advantage at 12-under 132.

The 21-year-old Californian, the SBS Open winner in February for her only victory of the season and third in three years, birdied three of the final four holes, rolling in a 35-footer on the par-4 18th.

Jin Joo Hong was second at 7 under after a 67. Annika Sorenstam (67) and Pat Hurst (69) were 6 under.

Also: Phil Mickelson shot a 6-under 66 to move within one stroke of leader Kevin Stadler after the second round of the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China.

Stadler shot a 69 to reach 11-under 133 on the Sheshan International course. Mickelson birdied four of the last five holes.

Tadd Fujikawa received a sponsor’s exemption to play in the Sony Open, where last year the 16-year-old became the youngest player in 50 years to make the cut on the PGA Tour.

Fujikawa made a 15-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole for a 66 in the second round of that event to make the cut. He went on to tie for 20th and turned pro this summer.

The Sony Open, the first full-field event of 2008, will be Jan. 10 to 13 at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. Fujikawa, a junior in high school, turns 17 on the Tuesday of the tournament.

SOCCER

Galaxy hires Gullit to turn around franchise

The Los Angeles Galaxy’s first famous European import did little to contribute right away on the field. The Major League Soccer team hopes for a more immediate impact from the second.

Ruud Gullit, once one of soccer’s best players, was introduced as coach of the Galaxy.

“It is a big challenge. It’s all here for the taking,” Gullit said at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., where the Galaxy play. “We’re going to work very hard to change things here.”

Even with David Beckham, the Galaxy failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year, going 9-14-7 for 34 points. They were eliminated from contention on the season’s final day.

Also: Seattle was granted an expansion franchise by MLS and could begin play as soon as 2009.

Commissioner Don Garber will announce the decision in Seattle on Tuesday, the league said.

Galaxy forward Landon Donovan was among 17 players chosen by U.S. soccer coach Bob Bradley to face South Africa in the 2007 Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup, the Americans’ final game of the year.

Other players on the initial roster for the Nov. 17 game in Johannesburg, South Africa, include Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey of Fulham, Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and Glasgow Rangers midfielder DaMarcus Beasley.

David Beckham was recalled to England’s national team for what could be Steve McClaren’s last games as coach.

The Galaxy midfielder sprained his right knee in August and missed England’s 3-0 victories against Israel and Russia at Wembley in September.

“He’s an important player for England. He always has been over the years,” McClaren said. “I think he proved in his comeback in the summer against Brazil and Estonia he was one of our best players and, unfortunately, he got injured.”

Wayne Rooney injured his ankle in training and will be sidelined about four weeks, ruling him out of England’s final European Championship qualifier.

The striker was hurt in training with Manchester United on the same day he was picked for England’s squad to play Austria in a friendly Nov. 17 and Croatia in a Euro 2008 qualifier three days later.

A lawyer for UNR’s former women’s soccer coach who claims she was fired partly because she complained about NCAA rules violations said he believes the NCAA is looking into the allegations.

“I have reason to believe they are aware,” said Jeff Dickerson, who filed a lawsuit against the university Thursday on behalf of the former coach, Terri Patraw.

Dickerson and Patraw said they cannot comment on the specific violations.

TENNIS

Federer hopes to play ‘for a very long time’

Some bad news for Roger Federer’s rivals: Retirement is so far off his radar screen he hasn’t even thought about what he might do when he’s done with tennis.

“I hope I play for a very long time,” Federer said in Shanghai, China, where he will compete in the Masters Cup that begins Sunday, suggesting he may play until he’s 35.

Considering he’s only 26 and already within sight of Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam titles, Federer could force the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to wait a stretch, and that’s not to mention all those teenagers whacking balls on practice courts around the world while dreaming of becoming No. 1.

Federer has held that distinction for four consecutive years and shows no signs of slowing.

Also: Maria Sharapova routed Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 6-2 at the Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid, Spain, and avoided a semifinal matchup with defending champion Justine Henin.

Ivanovic will face Henin today at the WTA’s season-ending championships, and Sharapova will play fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze.

UNLV ATHLETICS

Spartans trip Rebels in men’s soccer match

San Jose State dropped the Rebels men’s soccer team to 6-8-2 overall and 2-5 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation with a 3-1 decision at Peter Johann Memorial Field.

Lamar Neagle scored the Rebels’ goal on a penalty kick in the 87th minute.

Also: The men’s and women’s swim teams were swept by Brigham Young in their Mountain West Conference-opening meets in Provo, Utah.

The 21st-ranked men fell 185-114, though they won five of the 12 individual events, including Johan Claar’s victories in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle.

The women lost 173-127, though UNLV’s Kim Bonney won the 100 and 200 breaststrokes.