Sports briefs

NBARockets fire McHale

There are high expectations for the Rockets again this season behind James Harden and Dwight Howard, but Kevin McHale won't be around to see where they end up: Houston fired McHale yesterday with the team off to a puzzling 4-7 start. Assistant J.B. Bickerstaff will take over as interim head coach. "The team was not responding to Kevin McHale and we had to make the tough call," general manager Daryl Morey said a few hours before the Rockets took a four-game skid into their home game against Portland.

GOLF

Tiger a Cup vice captain

Tiger Woods will be at the Ryder Cup next year at Hazeltine. Still to be determined is whether he plays. U.S. captain Davis Love III said that Woods, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker will be vice captains for the 2016 matches in Minnesota. Woods had back surgery in September and a follow-up procedure. He said he faces a long recovery and has not indicated when he will be able to play again. Love said that Woods has told him he still wants to make the team -- and if he does, he still wants to be a vice captain. Love previously named Tom Lehman as a vice captain.

NHL

3-on-3 All-Star tourney

The NHL will play a 3-on-3 All-Star tournament instead of a traditional All-Star Game. The NHL and the players union announced the format change for the Jan. 31 event in Nashville, Tennessee. Players will represent the Pacific, Central, Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions in the $1- million, winner-take-all tournament that will have three 20-minute games. The Central will open against the Pacific, and the Atlantic will face the Metropolitan in the semifinals, with the winners advancing to the championship game. -- AP