SPORTS SHORTS

NBA: LeBron ready for opener

LeBron James sat out Cleveland’s final preseason game against Dallas on Monday night, but Cavaliers coach David Blatt said the fourtime MVP will be ready when the regular season opens next week.

James, who had an antiinflammatory injection in his back last week, hasn’t played since Oct. 12.

Asked before the game against the Mavericks if there was any chance James wouldn’t be ready when the Cavaliers visit Chicago on Oct. 27, Blatt said, “he will absolutely be ready for the season opener.”

James missed a careerhigh 13 games last season with back and knee issues.

MLB: Zito announces retirement

Lefthander Barry Zito is retiring just as he planned.

The pitcher made the announcement in an article he wrote for “The Players’ Tribune” posted Monday, saying, “I’m retiring today from baseball, but I’ll never be too far away from the game that made me who I am.”

The 37yearold Zito said last month when called up to the Athletics following a season in TripleA that he planned to retire and turn his attention to his other love, music, and spending more time with his family.

ETC.: Coach K done as U.S. coach after 2016 Olympics

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski plans to step down as U.S. basketball head coach after the 2016 Rio Olympics, according to multiple reports.

Krzyzewski has once before said his time with the national team was done. After winning gold at the 2012 Olympics, he said he was finished before changing his mind in 2013.

In 10 years as the national team’s head coach, Krzyzewski has a 751 record with two Olympic gold medals. Former NBA AllStar Chris

Webber has a new job: teacher. Wake Forest University announced Monday that Webber will teach a course in its new master of arts in sports storytelling program.

Webber will be a professor of practice in the program that is part of the university’s documentary film program. He will teach a class on sports, race and society.