May 15 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Wednesday:
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The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427
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National Football League
Whaley replaces Nix as Bills' GM
Assistant general manager Doug Whaley will be named general manager of the Buffalo Bills today, following the succession plan set in motion by Buddy Nix's retirement on Monday. (FBN-BILLS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 450 words)
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Panthers' RB Williams restructures
The Carolina Panthers reportedly considered releasing 30-year-old running back DeAngelo Williams, but the veteran agrees to a restructured deal that could allow him to play out the remaining three years of his contract with the franchise that drafted him. (FBN-PANTHERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 350 words)
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Ravens LB McClain retires at 23
Troubled inside linebacker Rolando McClain, a first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders out of Alabama who signed with the Baltimore Ravens last month, informs the team he plans to retire. (FBN-RAVENS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words)
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Jets' GM Idzik to add Graves to front office
Friends since their days as Philadelphia Eagles ball boys and professional peers who worked together in Arizona, John Idzik and Rod Graves are together again, this time as sidekicks in the Jets front office. (FBN-JETS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words)
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NFL notebook
The latest news and notes from around the league. (FBN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 600 words)
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College Football
Horned Frogs suspend top defender
TCU sophomore defensive end Devonte Fields is suspended for the first two games of the 2013 for violating team and university policy. (FBN-TCU-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words)
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The Rutgers aftermath...
Scandal-ridden Rutgers hires new athletic director
NEWARK, New Jersey - Rutgers hires Julie Hermann to replace athletic director Tim Pernetti, who resigned last month following revelations of physical and verbal abuse by former basketball coach Mike Rice. (XXX-XXX/, moved; will be led by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, by David Jones, 500 words)
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National Basketball Association
Fate of Kings decided in Dallas
Sacramento or Seattle? The final arguments, and a deciding vote, settles the extensive tug of war between ownership groups in Seattle and Sacramento vying to be the home of the NBA's Kings franchise. (BKN-KINGS-NEWS/, expect within one hour of Board of Governors vote, approximately 2115 GMT/5:15 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 500 words)
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Eastern Conference semifinals
Game 5: Bulls at Heat
MIAMI - The Miami Heat, on the verge of eliminating the Chicago Bulls by winning four straight games since their Game 1 loss at home, return to American Airlines arena after a dominant victory. Miami could be without Dwayne Wade. (BKN-HEAT-BULLS-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect by 0130 GMT/9:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Walter Villa, 700 words)
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Western Conference semifinals
Game 5: Grizzlies at Thunder
OKLAHOMA CITY - Memphis can be the first team to punch a ticket to the Western Conference finals by rolling to a fourth consecutive win in the series over Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. (BKN-GRIZZLIES-THUNDER-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect by 0345 GMT/11:45 PM ET, 700 words)
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NBA notebook
The latest news and notes from around the league. (BKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, 500 words)
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Golf
Oosthuizen, Dufner head field at Byron Nelson Championship
South African world No. 7 Louis Oosthuizen heads the field at this week's Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas, where American Jason Dufner defends the title he sensationally clinched by one shot last year after sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole. We preview the event. (GOLF-PGA/ (PREVIEW), expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, 350 words)
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Marshals come to Tiger's defense
A day after two marshals disputed Tiger Woods' version of events from a controversy with Sergio Garcia at the Players Championship, two others come to the defense of the world's No. 1-ranked golfer. (GLF-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 450 words)
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Kuchar on course for major title
Following Keegan Bradley and Bubba Watson, it might just be Matt Kuchar's turn for a major breakthrough, perhaps as soon as next month in the U.S. Open at Merion. (GLF-COLUMN/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Tom LaMarre, 950 words)
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Major League Baseball
The Sports Xchange covers all MLB games, top matchups highlighted below
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Astros at Tigers
DETROIT - The Detroit Tigers are glad to have the Houston Astros in the American League. Max Scherzer can lift Detroit to a 7-0 record against the lowly visitors this afternoon. (BBO-TIGERS-ASTROS-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Dana Gauruder, 750 words)
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Red Sox at Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Jon Lester is unbeaten in eight starts and credits more success with his fastball. Can the Tampa Bay Rays sit on the heater to pull within a game of the Boston Red Sox and second place in the AL East? Reigning Cy Young winner David Price starts for Tampa. (BBO-RAYS-REDSOX-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect by 0200 GMT/10 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 750 words)
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Nationals at Dodgers
LOS ANGELES - Zack Greinke returns to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were flattened in starts made by his replacements due to their cumulative ERA of more than 12.00. Ross Detwiler gets the ball for the Washington Nationals, who aren't certain banged-up OF Bryce Harper will be in the lineup. (BBO-NATIONALS-DODGERS-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect by 0510 GMT/1:10 AM ET, The Sports Xchange, 750 words)
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Rivals beware: First-place Yankees getting healthier
NEW YORK - A makeshift replacement cast has helped the injury-riddled New York Yankees hit first place in the AL East and the Bronx Bombers figure to get stronger as the regulars begin to return. (BASEBALL-YANKEES/ (PIX), expect by 2330 GMT/7:30 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 500 words)
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MLB notebook
The latest news and notes from around the league. (BBO-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 500 words)
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National Hockey League
Western Conference semifinals
Game 1: Red Wings at Blackhawks
CHICAGO - Longtime rivals and Original Six franchise Detroit and Chicago open their 16th postseason series at United Center. (HKN-BLACKHAWKS-REDWINGS-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect by 0300 GMT/11 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 700 words)
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Letang, Subban, Suter named Norris finalists
Boston Bruins star Patrice Bergeron, Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings and Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks are the three finalists for the 2012-13 Frank J. Selke Trophy. (HKN-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 350 words)
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NASCAR
Who's Who of All-Star Saturday
A snapshot of the top 25 drivers in the Sprint Cup standings entering Saturday's All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (CAR-DRIVERCAPSULES/, expect by 1930 GMT/3:30 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words per driver)
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HORSE RACING
Orb expected to be overwhelming Preakness early favorite
BALTIMORE - Post positions are drawn for Saturday's $1 million Preakness Stakes with Kentucky Derby winner Orb expected to be the short-priced favorite for the middle jewel of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown series. (HORSE RACING-PREAKNESS/DRAW, expect by 2330 GMT/7:30 PM ET, by Steve Ginsburg, 450 words)
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Dettori admits he took cocaine
LONDON - Former Breeders' Cup Classic-winning jockey Frankie Dettori reveals he took cocaine before a positive drug test in France last September that brought him a six-month ban. (HORSE RACING/DETTORI, moved, 300 words)
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The O.J. saga
LAS VEGAS - O.J. Simpson, the former NFL star famously acquitted of murder in 1995, takes the witness stand in a Las Vegas courtroom seeking a new trial in an armed-robbery case that sent him to prison five years ago. (SIMPSON/APPEAL, moved; will be led, by Timothy Pratt, 500 words)
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Boxing: There's a reason they call him 'Money'
NEW YORK - Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the highest-paid professional athlete in the United States, according to Sports Illustrated magazine, which published its annual 50 Most Fortunate list. (SPORTS/HIGHESTPAID, moved, 300 words)
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Tennis
Murray doubtful for French Open with back injury
ROME - Andy Murray is doubtful for the French Open after suffering a lower back problem that forced the world's second-ranked player to retire from the Italian Open on his 26th birthday. (TENNIS-ITALIAN/MURRAY (UPDATE 1), moved; will be led, 300 words)
See also: PARIS - Former French Open semi-finalist Gael Monfils, who has struggled after a string of injuries marred his 2012 season, is given a wild card for the grand slam claycourt event. (TENNIS-FRENCH/WILDCARDS)
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Olympics
India eyes return to Olympics with government guarantees
India is assuring the International Olympic Committee of the Olympic movement's autonomy in the country in a first step towards mending relations after the nation was banned from the Olympics over government interference. (OLYMPICS-INDIA/, moved, by Karolos Grohmann, 350 words)
