Sports Digest: PUC alum Simmons to be honored

Pro basketball

DENG, HIBBERT FIRST-TIME ALL-STARS: Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce overcame slow starts to return to the All-Star game, but the lengthy runs of Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan are over.

Nowitzki was chosen Thursday to his 11th straight All-Star game, despite his lowest scoring average since his second NBA season. Pierce has come on after a slow start caused by a foot injury and was picked for the 10th time.

But Garnett wasn't chosen after 14 consecutive selections, and Duncan was left out after 13 in a row. Other All-Star regulars such as Ray Allen and Amare Stoudemire will be home, giving way to five first-timers: LaMarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Andre Iguodala, Roy Hibbert, and Luol Deng.

Also headed to Orlando for the Feb. 26 game are Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson and Deron Williams.

Pro golf

JOHNSON IN 3-WAY TIE AT PEBBLE BEACH: Dustin Johnson pitched in for eagle on the third hole at Pebble Beach to get a small measure of revenge. He wound up with a 9-under 63, and part of a three-way atop the leaderboard in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Charlie Wi flirted with a 59 without even knowing it at Monterey Peninsula. He made par on his last three holes for a 9-under 61, while former U.S. Amateur champion Danny Lee had a 9-under 63 at Pebble Beach.

Tiger Woods made a solid start to his PGA Tour season at Spyglass Hill. He made six birdies in a round of 4-under 68, leaving him in a tie for 15th after the opening round. Woods is playing this tournament for the first time in 10 years.

Pro football

MANNING TAKES WORKOUT REGIMEN TO DUKE: Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Rockies first baseman Todd Helton have been working out at Duke this week, an athletic department spokesman says Thursday.

The spokesman said both are there primarily to visit David Cutcliffe, who was Tennessee's offensive coordinator when both were college quarterbacks.

The cover was blown earlier Thursday when Matt Skura, a Duke football player, posted on Twitter that he was "stretching" next to Manning. The post was later taken down.

Men's basketball

PUC ALUM SIMMONS TO BE HONORED: Former Purdue Calumet standout Ben Simmons will be honored during halftime of the 3 p.m. Feb. 18 game against Calumet College. Simmons, the No. 2 rebounder in Peregrines history, will receive the Purdue Alumni Calumet/Bob Hayes Alumni Athletic Award.

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR VU-BUTLER: Single-game tickets for the Valparaiso-Butler game on Feb. 24 are available through the Valparaiso University ticket office. Tickets are $20. The 6 p.m. game at the Athletics-Recreation Center will be televised on ESPNU. For details, visit www.valpoathletics.com or call (877) 698-8849 or (219) 464-5233.

Women's basketball

CALUMET COLLEGE'S FIELDS SCORES 1,000TH POINT: Moneva Fields scored her 1,000th point in Calumet College's 68-53 loss to Robert Morris on Wednesday. Fields scored 13 in the game and reached the plateau on a free throw with 13 seconds left in the game.

Jennifer Walton (Munster) added 15 points.

Around the horn

Purdue Calumet team physician and adolescent orthopedic sports medicine specialist Dr. Lorin Brown will discuss neck injuries on "Purdue Calumet Sports Insight" at 5:30 p.m. today on WJOB-AM (1230). ... The Porter County Punishers will play the Michiana Monarchs in an American Basketball Association game at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Portage Township YMCA. ... Next year's Winter Classic could set an attendance record. The Detroit Red Wings will face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium, the iconic college football facility that drew more than 104,000 fans for a college hockey game in 2010. The NHL formally announced the outdoor showcase Thursday. ... The University of Wisconsin says a third allegation of misconduct has surfaced against a former top athletic official. Chancellor David Ward said Thursday that university police are investigating a new allegation involving John Chadima, who resigned last month after he was accused of sexually assaulting a male student at a Rose Bowl party. Ward says the latest allegation involves Chadima and an adult male. The school said the same thing on Monday as it announced a second alleged incident. ... The head of the Nevada Athletic Commission says UFC welterweight Nick Diaz tested positive for marijuana after his recent loss to Carlos Condit and faces disciplinary action, including a possible suspension and fine.