Sports briefs
The construction site of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, which will house the Nets in 2012. (Apr. 4, 2011) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
Sides want different mediators
A day after appearing before a federal judge during a hearing on an injunction request to lift the NFL lockout, both sides in the dispute offered to resume mediated talks. The only hitch: Each side wishes to deal with a different mediator. The NFL offered to resume negotiations with representatives from the players' side, but only if George Cohen of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services oversees the talks. Representatives of the NFL Players Association, who are assisting 10 players suing the league on antitrust violations, want to deal only with Judge Susan Nelson, who heard arguments from both sides in Federal Court on Wednesday in St. Paul, Minn. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and nine others have filed suit against the league.
New Nets arena would welcome Isles
Nets CEO Brett Yormark said he would "love the Islanders to play a couple of games at the Barclays Center" after that arena opens in the fall of 2012. He was responding to a question during a Fox Business Network interview about the potential for the team moving to Brooklyn. "With the Long Island Rail Road coming to the foot of our arena, we can facilitate that interest," he said. But he would not say whether the Nets will seek the Islanders as a full-time tenant. Their lease at the Nassau Coliseum runs through 2015. The Islanders said they are aware of Yormark's remarks but declined to comment on them. Rose leads Bulls past Celtics
Derrick Rose scored 30 points as the Chicago Bulls closed in on the top seed in the Eastern Conference by beating the visiting Boston Celtics, 97-81. The Bulls' 17th win in 19 games put them four games up on Boston and Miami with four to play and eliminated the Heat from getting the No. 1 seed.
HORSE RACING
Derby candidate injured and out
Premier Pegasus was knocked out of tomorrow's Santa Anita Derby because of a leg injury that will sideline the promising colt through the Triple Crown series. He was the 8-5 favorite on the morning line in the $1 million prep for the Kentucky Derby. Premier Pegasus suffered a hairline fracture in his left front leg and will be out three to four months, assistant trainer Maria Ayala said. The colt was galloping on the infield training track when Ayala thought she saw him stumble.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Twins Marcus and Markieff Morris are skipping their senior seasons with Kansas, choosing to hire an agent and enter the NBA draft. The forwards led the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots this past season. -- AP
MEDIA
YES, DirecTV reach agreement
YES and DirecTV reached an agreement on a new carriage deal last night. Their previous contract expired April 1, but YES granted an extension through Thursday.
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