Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Friday, Dec. 19
Dec. 19 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Friday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - ADVISORY LONDON - Starting at 2 PM ET, we began publishing the following series of year-end review stories: A review of world sport in 2014 A look ahead to 2015 Year reviews of: North American sports Golf Tennis Olympics Motor racing Soccer Rugby Cricket - - We will also have stories on: Five major upsets of 2014 Five best performances of 2014 Five biggest flops of 2014 Five talking points of 2014 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Harbaugh avoids Michigan talk With reports circulating that Michigan has extended Jim Harbaugh a six-year, $48 million offer to become their head coach, he refuses to answer questions about the job opening. (FBN-49ERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 480 words) - - Belichick credits DT Branch for beefing up 'D' Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are in the MVP conversation, but the New England Patriots have many overlooked assets that could push them to the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. Coach Bill Belichick identified tackle Alan Branch as one of the difference-makers on his defense. (FBN-49ERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 480 words) - - Seahawks sign DE Avril to $28.5 million extension Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril signs a $28.5 million contract extension. (FBN-SEAHAWKS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) - - Bengals' ground game getting it done CINCINNATI - Fourteen weeks into the season the Cincinnati Bengals running game is finally starting to look the way Hue Jackson had imagined it would when he was hired as offensive coordinator Jan. 9. (FBN-BENGALS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 515 words) - - NFL Week 16: What to watch in every game Keys, players to watch, matchups and facts for all Week 16 games, including who wins and why. (FBN-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 3,000 words) - - NFL roundup News and notes from around the league. (FBN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 7:45 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Loner Rondo out, future in focus for Celtics BOSTON - Point guard Rajon Rondo was a loner. His worth was higher elsewhere - Dallas - than in Boston, where the Celtics have their eyes on the long-term. (BKN-CELTICS-NEWS/ (PIX), expect ASAP after pregame availability, The Sports Xchange, by Mike Shalin, 500 words) - - Rondo makes Fantastic Five for Mavericks DALLAS - The addition of a true point guard makes the Mavericks a win-now contender in the Western Conference. (BKN-MAVERICKS-NEWS/, expect ASAP after 4:45 PM CT news conference, The Sports Xchange, by Art Garcia, 500 words) - - TSX covers all NBA games, highlighted matchups below - - Bulls at Grizzlies MEMPHIS - Jimmy Butler powered the Chicago Bulls past the New York Knicks last night. Backcourt mate Derrick Rose (illness) is expected to return for tonight's game against Memphis, which is 12-1 at home this season. (BKN-GRIZZLIES-BULLS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 8 PM ET tipoff, The Sports Xchange, by Don Wade, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Trail Blazers at Spurs SAN ANTONIO - Portland's first visit to San Antonio to face the Spurs since being eliminated from the 2014 playoffs comes just days after the Blazers won on their own home floor. (BKN-SPURS-TRAILBLAZERS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 8 PM ET tipoff, The Sports Xchange, by Mark Rosner, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NBA Wrap: Cavs hope to rebound from rout LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, coming off their largest loss of the season, look to rebound when they host the Brooklyn Nets in one of the 10 games on the schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 800 words) - - Today's NBA schedule at a glance Utah at Orlando, 7 PM ET Charlotte at Philadelphia, 7 PM ET Minnesota at Boston, 7:30 PM ET Brooklyn at Cleveland, 7:30 PM ET Toronto at Detroit, 7:30 PM ET Washington at Miami, 7:30 PM ET Chicago at Memphis, 8 PM ET Portland at San Antonio, 8 PM ET Los Angeles Clippers at Denver, 9 PM ET Oklahoma city at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 PM ET - - NBA Roundup The latest moves and news from the NBA. (BKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL More power: Padres add Upton For the third time this month, the San Diego Padres dig into their well of prospects to land an impact outfield bat. Today, San Diego acquires Justin Upton from the Atlanta Braves to join Wil Myers (Rays) and Matt Kemp (Dodgers). (BBO-PADRES-BRAVES-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE TSX covers all NBA games, highlighted matchup below - - Islanders at Red Wings DETROIT - Coming off of a four-day break the New York Islanders surge into Joe Louis Arena with 15 wins in the past 20 games. (HKN-REDWINGS-ISLANDERS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 7:30 PM ET scheduled start, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NHL Game Roundup Capsule recaps of all five NHL games on the schedule Friday. (HKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect multiple versions, moving periodically after 7 PM ET scheduled starts, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - NHL Roundup The latest news and notes from around the NHL. (HKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - NHL Wrap: Upstart Islanders visit skidding Red Wings The New York Islanders look to extend their surprisingly solid start to the season when they visit a Detroit Red Wings team mired in a four-game losing skid in one of the five games on the National Hockey League schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words) - - Today's NHL schedule at a glance Tampa Bay at New Jersey, 7 PM ET Anaheim at Ottawa, 7:30 PM ET New York Islanders at Detroit, 7:30 PM ET Boston at Winnipeg, 8 PM ET Dallas at Calgary, 9 PM ET - - NHL Roundup The latest moves and news from the NHL. (HKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - ALPINE SKIING Nyman in a hurry to land leading role VAL GARDENA, Italy - American Steven Nyman wants to become more than a one-race wonder. The 32-year-old claimed a third career World Cup downhill victory today, all of which have come on the testing Saslong course at the Italian resort of Val Gardena. (ALPINE SKIING/NYMAN (INTERVIEW), moved, by Patrick Lang, 530 words) - - - - SOCCER FIFA to settle 2022 dates in March MARRAKECH, Morocco - The long-running saga over the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be settled in March, FIFA's executive committee decides. (SOCCER-FIFA/2022, moved, by Brian Homewood, 200 words) - - - - JURISPRUDENCE Michael Phelps sentenced to 18 months probation BALTIMORE - American swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, is sentenced to 18 months probation and a year suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to drunken driving. (SWIMMING-PHELPS/SENTENCE, moved; will be led, by Steve Ginsburg, 400 words) - - - - OLYMPICS Rio de Janeiro preparations on track, mayor says RIO DE JANEIRO - Preparations for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games are on track and facilities are set to be delivered on time, the mayor of host city Rio de Janeiro says. (OLYMPICS-BRAZIL/PREPARATIONS, moved, 268 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
