Sports in 2 Minutes

From The Associated Press

Shaq ready to take on Lakers, critics in Suns' debut

PHOENIX—Shaquille O'Neal says he is ready to run with the Phoenix Suns. Really.

"I'm going to be looking to get out like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens," he said Tuesday after going through his final workout before making his debut with the Suns on Wednesday night against his old team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

The prospect of the 7-foot-1, 325-pound O'Neal, at age 35, fitting in with the high-octane Suns has been ridiculed across much of the NBA.

The Lakers' Phil Jackson, O'Neal's former coach, said Shaq's role would be "taking the ball out of bounds and waiting for the other team to get back."

"He's a jokester, and that's funny, very funny," Shaq said without smiling. "Ha-ha. Very funny."

Suns coach Mike D'Antoni says people will be surprised about how well a motivated O'Neal can move, and playmaker Steve Nash was elated with the trade that brought O'Neal from Miami for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.

"We're going to have to adjust slightly to his strengths," Nash said, "but you know where he's strong we've been weak, and that's having a big presence in the paint, taking up space and guarding the rim."

O'Neal says he has no desire to be a star with his new team. Those roles belong to Nash and Amare Stoudemire, he said.

Kidd sent to Dallas in 8-player trade

DALLAS—Jason Kidd is a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Again. Finally.

The long-discussed, once-scuttled and ultimately reconfigured deal to bring Kidd from New Jersey back to the team that drafted him was finalized Tuesday. He was reintroduced in Dallas 14 years after the Mavericks made him the No. 2 pick.

Back then, Kidd was supposed to help turn around one of the worst franchises in sports. Now, as one of the league's best point guards, he's seen as a crucial piece in the Mavs' pursuit of a championship.

"There's no bigger reward than to have that championship trophy in your hand," said Kidd, who lost in the NBA finals twice with the Nets. "That's why I'm here. Because Dallas has its eye on that prize."

The eight-player deal, in the making since before the All-Star break and talked about a lot longer than that, sends Kidd, forward Malik Allen and guard Antoine Wright to Dallas.

The primary piece headed to New Jersey is point guard Devin Harris. The others are center DeSagana Diop, swingman Maurice Ager, forward Trenton Hassell and retired forward Keith Van Horn. New Jersey also gets two first-round draft picks and $3 million.

Man indicted in aborted shooting at Super Bowl

PHOENIX—A man accused of planning to shoot people at the Super Bowl was indicted on six counts of sending threatening communications, according to court documents filed Tuesday in federal court.

Kurt William Havelock, 35, turned himself in to authorities Feb. 3 after driving within sight of University of Phoenix Stadium during the Super Bowl with a rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition. He said he changed his mind.

Havelock told authorities he was upset that the city of Tempe denied him a liquor license application for a Halloween-themed bar.

Before the planned attack, the indictment said, Havelock sent several letters to Web sites and news organizations. Havelock's writings included an eight-page manifesto in which he warned of an "econopolitical confrontation," according to the FBI.

Tejada declines to address steroid allegations

KISSIMMEE, Fla.—Houston Astros pitcher Woody Williams walked into the clubhouse and saw a swarm of reporters gathered around Miguel Tejada.

"Leave the guy alone!" Williams said with a smile.

No chance.

Tejada arrived at spring training with his new team on Tuesday, and within minutes faced questions about the Mitchell Report and an FBI investigation looking into his alleged link to performance-enhancing drugs.

Tejada refused to answer any of them, preferring to discuss baseball and his fresh start with the Astros.

"I can't really talk about that situation," he said. "Right now, I just want to talk about baseball, because that's really my focus."

The Astros acquired the four-time All-Star shortstop from Baltimore on Dec. 12, the day before the Mitchell Report was released.

Indiana beats Purdue amidst Sampson scandal

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.—Eric Gordon scored 22 points and No. 15 Indiana beat No. 14 Purdue 77-68 on Tuesday night in the Hoosiers' last game before the completion of the school's investigation into accusations that coach Kelvin Sampson committed major rules violations.

D.J. White, playing despite a sprained left knee, had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Hoosiers (22-4, 11-2 Big Ten), who snapped Purdue's 11-game winning streak.

Robbie Hummel had 17 points for the Boilermakers (21-6, 12-2), while Scott Martin added 12.

University president Michael McRobbie said last Friday that the school would conduct a new investigation into the NCAA's accusations that Sampson committed five major rules violations.

A school investigation last year revealed Sampson and his assistants made more than 100 impermissible calls. That occurred while Sampson was on NCAA probation for making 577 improper phone calls between 2000 and 2004 while coaching Oklahoma.