Scoreboard

Mickey and the Babe too?

Arizona pitcher Brian Anderson was just getting used to the idea that he would be starting Game 3 of the World Series, when he found out that the opposing pitcher would be legendary Yankee Roger Clemens.

"Yeah," he said, "and they'll probably bring [Hall-of-Famer] Whitey Ford out of the bullpen." The Arizona Diamondbacks know they are the underdogs in their World Series matchup against the New York Yankees, which begins Saturday.

"There's a large segment of this country that thinks it would be fitting for the Yankees to win this World Series," says Arizona manager Bob Brenly, "but there's a large segment of the state of Arizona that thinks the other ending would be a lot better."

Michael Jordan showed fans his comeback was worth the wait as he grabbed 27 points Tuesday to finish the exhibition game and lead his Washington Wizards to a win.

"It was a great finish tonight," said Jordan, who hit two clinching baskets in the final three minutes as the Wizards defeated New Jersey 105-92. "We've been in situations where I didn't play in the fourth quarter and the team didn't maintain the success...."

"[Since] I'm a veteran leader, in the fourth quarter, I like to create some threats, get other guys open, and, if possible, finish the job myself."

The New York City Marathon Nov. 4 will feature tighter security for runners in a race that draws more than 2 million spectators. "Obviously, the world has changed for all of us since Sept. 11," Alan Steinfeld, president and CEO of the New York Road Runners, said Wednesday. "This event brings together the people of the world," he added. "It will be dedicated to the victims and the heroes who worked to save others."

Runners will be required to present photo identification and wear their bibs to board buses for the start. Some family members will be running on the behalf of marathoners who died in the attacks.

'If this were a Hollywood movie or a book, the obvious ending is the Yankees win the World Series.'

- Arizona manager Bob Brenly, on this year's World Series.