The supervisor is Fred Lief (800-845-8450), followed by Jay Cohen (312-516-2616) at 5 p.m., and Vin A. Cherwoo (800-845-8450) at 1 a.m. For sports photos, call 800-845-8450, ext. 1918; graphics, ext. 7636; agate, ext. 1635. AP stories and accompanying photos can be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. For reruns, call the Service Desk (800-838-4616) or your local AP bureau.

TOP STORY:

FBN–NFL LABOR

WASHINGTON — With less than 36 hours before their labor agreement expires, the NFL and the players’ union meet again before a mediator. The Cowboys’ Jerry Jones is among the owners at the negotiations. They remain far apart on how to divide more than $9 billion in annual revenues. By Pro Football Writer Howard Fendrich.

AP Photos by Cliff Owen. AP Video.

— With:

— FBN–NFL Labor-Mediator. By Frederic J. Frommer.

COMMENTARY:

CAR–PAUL NEWBERRY-031011

ATLANTA — Shane Hmiel is the only driver banned for life by NASCAR, having failed three drug tests. He had gotten clean and put his life back together. Then, just when he seemed ready to return to big-time racing, a nearly fatal crash left him paralyzed. By National Writer Paul Newberry.

AP Photos. AP Video.

AP Video:

— NFL, union labor negotiations.

— NASCAR driver Shane Hmiel.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL:

BKC–T25-BEAST-UCONN-PITTSBURGH

NEW YORK — Kemba Walker hits a step-back jumper at the buzzer, sending No. 21 Connecticut past No. 3 Pittsburgh 76-74 in the Big East tournament quarterfinals. The Huskies have won three games in three days after a late-season slide. They next play St. John’s or Syracuse. By Dave Skretta. Sent.

AP Photos.

BKC–T25-B12-OKLAHOMA ST-KANSAS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Looking to nail down a No. 1 NCAA seed, No. 2 Kansas met Oklahoma State in the second round of the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, a friendly second home to the Jayhawks. By Doug Tucker. Game started 12:30 p.m.

AP Photos.

BKC–T25-BEAST-CINCINNATI-NOTRE DAME

NEW YORK — No. 4 Notre Dame begins pursuit of the Big East title when it faces No. 25 Cincinnati in the quarterfinals. The Irish are led by Ben Hansbrough, the conference player of the year. By Dave Skretta. Game starts 7 p.m.

AP Photos.

BKC–T25-BEAST-ST. JOHN’S SYRACUSE

NEW YORK — No. 17 St. John’s tries to reach its first Big East tournament semifinal since 2000 when it faces No. 11 Syracuse. The Red Storm escaped against Rutgers in the second round after a pair of blunders by the referees in the final minutes. By Basketball Writer Jim O’Connell. Game started 2:30 p.m.

AP Photos.

BKC–T25-MWC-UTAH-SAN DIEGO STATE

LAS VEGAS — Defending champion San Diego State faces Utah in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Conference tournament. The No. 7 Aztecs, coached by Steve Fisher, split the regular-season title with No. 8 BYU. By Arnie Stapleton. Game starts 9 p.m.

AP Photos.

BKW–TENNESSEE’S FOCUS

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Sure, the Tennessee women shot great in winning the SEC tournament title over Kentucky. That doesn’t mean coach Pat Summitt is happy. She insists the Vols need to play tougher defense and rebound better if they want to win an NCAA championship. By Beth Rucker.

AP Photos.

No NCAA berths at stake Thursday among the men or women.

— NEW YORK — BKC–Big East-Officials. Sent.

— FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — BKC–Arkansas-Pelphrey. By Kurt Voigt. Sent.

NEW/DEVELOPING:

GLF–DORAL

DORAL, Fla. — Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson play in the same group, highlighting the stormy opening round of the Cadillac Championship at Doral’s Blue Monster. Another group features the world’s top three players: Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson.

AP Photos.

— With:

— DORAL, Fla. — BC-GLF–Doral-Storm. By Doug Ferguson. Sent.

BKN–LAKERS-HEAT

MIAMI — Reeling from a five-game losing streak, the Miami Heat try to break their free fall, but it won’t be easy. They face Kobe Bryant and a Los Angeles Lakers team that has won eight in a row. By Tim Reynolds. Game starts 7 p.m.

AP Photos.

HKN–CANADIENS-PACIORETTY

QUEBEC CITY — Montreal police start a criminal investigation into the on-ice hit by Boston’s Zdeno Chara that left the Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty with a severe concussion and cracked vertebra. The NHL has said it would not suspend Chara. Sent.

AP Photos.

BBA–YANKEES-BERRA

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Yogi Berra is taken by ambulance from the Yankees’ spring training game to a hospital following a fall in the clubhouse. The team says the 85-year-old Hall of Famer didn’t want to go to the hospital and is “in good spirits.” Sent.

AP Photos by Charlie Neibergall, David Goldman.

RAC–ZENYATTA-PREGNANT

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Zenyatta is racing toward motherhood. The news comes just over two weeks after the Horse of the Year mated with 2006 Preakness champion Bernardini. Earlier this week, it was announced Rachel Alexandra was pregnant. Sent.

AP Photos.

RAC–LIFE AT TEN

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is expected to release its report on why Life At Ten was allowed to race in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic last fall. Life At Ten struggled while warming up then bizarrely loped behind the field. Trainer Todd Pletcher cited dehydration. By Will Graves.

AP Photos.

OLY–USOC-CITIGROUP

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Citigroup signs a sponsorship deal with the U.S. Olympic Committee, a move the banking group’s CEO believes is a small way to say thanks for customers’ support during the financial crisis. By National Writer Eddie Pells. Sent.

BASEBALL:

BBO–CAMP LAST CHANCE

There’s Eric Chavez, Andruw Jones, Mike Hampton and a whole lot of others. It’s a roll call of former stars giving it one more shot in spring training, hoping to land any role at all with a team. Welcome to Camp Last Chance. By Howie Rumberg.

AP Photos.

BBA–TWINS-THOME RETURNS

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jim Thome’s back still aches in the morning, just as it has for the past decade or more. But that isn’t enough to keep him from coming back for another season to chase his 600th home run and, more important, his first World Series ring. By Jon Krawczynski.

AP Photos.

BBN–PADRES-REPLACING GONZALEZ

PEORIA, Ariz. — How do the San Diego Padres replace three-time All-Star Adrian Gonzalez? “We don’t,” says outfielder Ryan Ludwick. While Brad Hawpe takes over at first base, the Padres look to a number of players to help offset the loss of Gonzalez, the franchise face who was traded to Boston. By Bernie Wilson.

AP Photos.

FEATURES:

BKN–NBA CONCUSSIONS

MILWAUKEE — Many current and former NBA players would welcome a policy on concussions. The talk sounds similar to what NFL players have been saying. Says Cavaliers coach Byron Scott: “We don’t have helmets. This is something probably that should’ve been put in place awhile back.” By Colin Fly.

AP Photos.

— With:

— CHICAGO — Chicago-Concussion Ordinance. By National Writer Nancy Armour.

HKN–DUCKS-HILLER’S VERTIGO

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jonas Hiller would rather have a broken arm or a sprained ankle than his curious case of vertigo. The Anaheim Ducks’ Swiss goalie has played just one full game since his All-Star appearance while struggling with dizziness and fatigue, and team doctors can’t tell him when he might feel better. By Greg Beacham. Sent.

AP Photos.

CAR–NHRA-KURT BUSCH

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch is spending another off week at the drag strip. This time, he’s making his professional debut. By Mark Long.

AP Photos.

SOC–HAMM-BECKHAM

BARCELONA, Spain — Mia Hamm says it’s too early to judge how much influence David Beckham has had on soccer in the United States. Hamm tells the AP that while Beckham has “created a buzz” she believes his commitment to England and playing in Europe might diminish his appeal. By Paul Logothetitis. Sent.

AP Photo by Reed Saxon.

OTHER NEWS:

Baseball:

— SURPRISE, Ariz. — BBA–Rangers-Colby Lewis. By Stephen Hawkins.

— PHILADELPHIA — BBN–Phillies-Manuel Contract. Sent.

— GLENDALE, Ariz. — BBN–Dodgers-Garland. Sent.

— PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — BBN–Mets-Perez. Sent.

NBA:

— WESTWEGO, La. — BKN–Hornets-Jack. By Brett Martel.

Tennis:

— INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — TEN–Indian Wells.

— BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — TEN–Nalbandian Surgery. Sent.

Golf:

— RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico Open.

— NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — GLF–Champions Tour.

Football:

— LEXINGTON, Ky. — FBC–Kentucky-Pro Day.

— INDIANAPOLIS — FBO–African Football. Sent.

Soccer:

— GENEVA — SOC–FIFA-Match Fixing. By Graham Dunbar. Sent.

— LONDON — SOC–Arsenal-Wenger. Sent.

— NYON, Switzerland — SOC–Betting-Profit Share. Sent.

Winter Sports:

— SPINDLERUV MLYN, Czech Republic — SKI–Women’s World Cup-Preview. By Karel Janicek. Sent.

— INZELL, Germany — SPD–Speedskating Worlds. Sent.

Cycling:

— VERNOUX-EN-VIVARAIS, France — CYC–Paris-Nice. Sent.

— INDICATORE, Italy — CYC–Tirreno-Adriatico. Sent.

Olympics:

— COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — OLY–USOC-Olympic Tickets. Sent.

— LONDON — OLY–London 2012-Ticket Fraud. Sent.

— LONDON — OLY–London 2012-BOA Dispute. Sent.

Also:

— ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Iditarod. By Mary Pemberton.

— COLLEGE STATION, Texas — ATH–NCAA Indoors. By Chris Duncan.

— LAS VEGAS — BOX–Mayweather-Felony Charges. Sent.

— LAUSANNE, Switzerland — GYM–Worlds-Faulty Apparatus. Sent.

Capsules:

— BKN–NBA Capsules.

— HKN–NHL Capsules.

— BKC–Top 25 Capsules.

— BBO–Spring Training Capsules.

— GLF–Golf Capsules.

___

Thursday’s Time Schedule
NBA

L.A. Lakers at Miami, 7 p.m.

New York at Dallas, 9:30 p.m.

Denver at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m.

NHL

Buffalo at Boston, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Montreal at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Calgary at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Vancouver at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

College Basketball (Top 25)
Men

No. 2 Kansas vs. Oklahoma State at Kansas City, Mo., 12:30 p.m.

No. 3 Pittsburgh vs. No. 21 Connecticut at New York, noon

No. 4 Notre Dame vs. No. 25 Cincinnati at New York, 7 p.m.

No. 7 San Diego State vs. Utah at Las Vegas, 9 p.m.

No. 8 BYU vs. TCU at Las Vegas, 3 p.m.

No. 10 Texas vs. Oklahoma at Kansas City, Mo., 7 p.m.

No. 11 Syracuse vs. No. 17 St. John’s at New York, 2 p.m.

No. 14 Louisville vs. Marquette at New York, 9 p.m.

No. 16 Arizona vs. Oregon State at Los Angeles, 5:40 p.m.

No. 19 Kansas State vs. Colorado at Los Angeles, Mo., 3 p.m.

Women

No. 22 Houston vs. UTEP at El Paso, Texas, 9:30 p.m.

Exhibition Baseball

N.Y. Mets vs. Florida at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Toronto vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Boston vs. Tampa Bay at Port Charlotte, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

St. Louis vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees vs. Philadelphia at Clearwater, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

N.Y. Mets vs. Washington (ss) at Viera, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Kansas City (ss) vs. L.A. Angels (ss) at Tempe, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

San Diego vs. L.A. Dodgers at Glendale, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Colorado vs. Milwaukee at Phoenix, 3:05 p.m.

San Francisco vs. Cincinnati at Goodyear, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Cleveland vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox (ss) vs. Texas at Surprise, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

L.A. Angels (ss) vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 3:05 p.m.

Kansas City (ss) vs. Oakland at Phoenix, 3:05 p.m.

Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla., 7:05 p.m.

Washington (ss) vs. Houston at Kissimmee, Fla., 7:05 p.m.

Detroit vs. Florida at Jupiter, Fla., 7:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox (ss) vs. Arizona at Scottsdale, Ariz., 8:40 p.m.