Krzyzewski: Coaching USA ‘ultimate honor’

Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski Wednesdaywas of ' cially named to lead the men’s 2006 World Championship team and the 2008 Olympic team in the China Games.

“ Mike Krzyzewski is the right man at the right

time,” said Jerry Colangelo, CEO of the

Phoenix Suns who was appointed

managing director of the USA Basketball men’s senior national team program on April 27. “ His professional record speaks for itself. His loyalty and commitment to his country is more than self evident and his success as a leader of men is also a part of who he is.”

Under Krzyzewski, the ' rst collegiate coach since professionals began playing at the 1992 Olympics, the men’s team will compete in the 2006 World Championship ( Aug. 19- Sept. 3 in Saitama, Japan); if necessary the 2007 FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament ( dates and site to be determined); and if the USA quali ' es, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games ( Aug. 8- Good call: Coach K “ has gained everybody’s respect,” Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, above, says. 24 in Beijing).

“ For me, this is the ultimate honor in coaching,” said Krzyzewski, 58, an assistant on the 1992 Olympic team. “ It is a chance to represent the United States at this elite level of basketball.”

The USA ' nished third at the 2004 Olympics, sixth at the 2002 World Championships.

Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer, who played for Krzyzewski at Duke and was a member of the 2004 Olympic team, says his former college coach will do a great job. “ I think with the Dream Team experience, this is something he was looking forward to doing,” Boozer said. “ In the basketball arena he has earned everybody’s respect.” Nike backs Swoopes: Sheryl Swoopes’ decision to reveal she is a lesbian won’t affect her relationship with sponsor Nike, marketing manager Raye Pond says. “ We’ve had a relationship with Sheryl for more than 11 years and she has inspired us all as a pioneering female athlete. . . . We admire her courage and her strength and look forward to a continued relationship with Sheryl,” Pond said. Garnett update: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett didn’t sustain structural damage to his left ankle, X- rays showed Tuesday. Garnett sprained his ankle in practice Monday when he landed on Mark Madsen’s foot. Garnett sat out an intrasquad scrimmage Monday night and did not attend practice Tuesday. “ He’s day- to-day,” coach Dwane Casey said. “ It’s just a sprained ankle. Nothing major.” Reduced sentence: Denver Nuggets coach George Karl’s suspension for making improper contact with a prospectwas reduced Tuesday to two games. The NBA originally suspended Karl for the ' rst three games of the season. The Nuggets were ' ned $200,000 by the NBA, which said the violation occurred May 16- 18 when Karl attended workouts at Marquette University involving a player not eligible for the draft. The NBA did not identify the player. Police to interview Nugget: Police said Tuesday they plan to interview Denver Nuggets ' rst- round draft pick Julius Hodge in the next week about allegations of sexual assault. Hodge, 21, is under investigation after a woman ' led a complaint last week. He returned to Denver thisweek after a weeklong road trip with the Nuggets. “ He has been very compliant,” Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. Jump shots: The Charlotte Bobcats released former West Virginia center D’or Fischer on Tuesday. Fischer joined the Bobcats as an undrafted free agent. He played in four exhibition games and averaged four points and two rebounds. . . . Boston guard Will Bynum waswaived Tuesday, two months after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech. In four exhibition games, Bynum averaged 1.3 points and 1.5 assists in 9.5 minutes. . . . The Detroit Pistons waived Greek center Andreas Glyniadakis on Tuesday. Glyniadakis, 24, was taken by the Pistons in the second round of the 2003 draft ( 58th overall). . . . The New Orleans Hornets traded center Jamaal Magloire to the Milwaukee Bucks for forward Desmond Mason, an unconditional ' rst- round pick in the 2006 draft and cash. Contributing: David DuPree, Roscoe Nance, wire reports

uPreseason results, 6B

By Steve Wilson, Reuters