NBA

Griffin, Irving and Rubio top all-stars’ Rising Stars roster

NEW YORK – All-Star Blake Griffin and rookie guards Kyrie Irving and Ricky Rubio headline the list of 18 players chosen for the Rising Stars Challenge to be held during All-Star weekend.

In this year’s new format, first- and second-year players will be mixed in the game Feb. 24 in Orlando. TNT analysts Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal will serve as general managers and draft players for their teams.

Other second-year players chosen Wednesday were John Wall (Washington), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Landry Fields (New York), Paul George (Indiana), Gordon Hayward (Utah), Greg Monroe (Detroit), Tiago Splitter (San Antonio) and Evan Turner (Philadelphia).

The rookies joining No. 1 pick Irving and Rubio are Kemba Walker (Charlotte), MarShon Brooks (New Jersey), Brandon Knight (Detroit), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), Markieff Morris (Phoenix), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland) and Derrick Williams (Minnesota).

College Basketball

Air Force fires Jeff Reynolds; Pilipovich will take over

AIR FORCE ACADEMY – Air Force fired Jeff Reynolds as its men’s basketball coach after five seasons.

The school announced the decision Wednesday. The (Colorado Springs) Gazette first reported the firing. Assistant coach Dave Pilipovich will step in as interim coach.

Under the 55-year-old Reynolds, the Falcons were 11-10 this season with a 1-6 mark in the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons suffered their worst home loss ever Jan. 31 when they lost 81-42 to New Mexico.

Reynolds had a 63-82 overall record at the Air Force Academy and owns a 145-116 career mark in eight seasons as a head coach.

Cycling

French police raid, arrest Jeannie Longo’s husband

PARIS – French police raided the home of cycling great and Iron Horse Bicycle Classic veteran Jeannie Longo on Wednesday and arrested her husband on suspicion that he bought doses of the banned performance-enhancer EPO.

The 53-year-old Longo was expected to be questioned after the arrest of her husband and coach, Patrice Ciprelli, at their home in Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux in the French Alps, said police officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the case. Another French official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said Ciprelli was suspected of buying EPO over the Internet the last two years.

His arrest came three months after the French Cycling Federation cleared Longo, who competes in Durango’s signature classic, of breaching anti-doping rules in an embarrassing blow for France’s anti-doping agency.

A pair of California legends expected to compete on tour

LOS ANGELES – Defending champion Chris Horner and three-time winner Levi Leipheimer are expected to be in the field for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, which will include a 130-mile fourth stage that will make for the race’s longest day.

The seventh annual race, scheduled May 13-20, is expected to include about 140 of cycling’s top riders.

The roughly 800-mile route, which was announced Wednesday, will begin in Santa Rosa, Calif., and will finish in downtown Los Angeles.

Boonen wins Qatar’s Stage 4, sprints closer to the title

DOHA, Qatar – Tom Boonen edged closer to winning his fourth Tour of Qatar title when he grabbed the fourth stage ahead of Tom Veelers and Fabian Cancellara on Wednesday.

Riding under clear skies, unlike the previous day, Boonen timed his sprint to perfection, winning the 90-mile stage at Madinat Al Shamal in the northern tip of Qatar.

Boonen also won the second stage this week and has won 20 overall in Qatar.

Associated Press