sports

The Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic is missing its leading lady, with defending champion Zenyatta pitting her 13-0 record against the boys on the second day of the season-ending world championships. Her defection leaves Music Note as the early 9-5 favorite in the eight-horse field for the 1 1-8-mile Ladies' Classic today at Santa Anita.

The $2 million race is the highlight of six Breeders' Cup races on Day 1, five of them featuring females, with the $500,000 Marathon for males. Zenyatta's presence in Saturday's $5 million Classic is daunting to some of her rivals.

"I would have entered her with the fillies so I didn't have to run at her," said Chip Woolley Jr., who trains Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. "You know she's going to be running late and she has a lot of style, much the same as my horse. She's twice his size, so if she decides to knock him out of the way, she's got a good chance."

BASKETBALL

The first woman to play pro basketball with guys is also the first hired to coach them.

Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman was introduced Thursday as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks' affiliate in the NBA Development League, which will tip off next November.

The D-League team is partially owned by Donnie Nelson, the Mavericks' president of basketball operations. Hiring Lieberman was his idea, and he's confident young men won't have a problem taking orders from a woman -- at least, not this woman. "She's got the skins, the experience -- she knows what she's doing -- so I certainly hope that we're well beyond those issues," Nelson said. "Besides, if you can't respect authority, no matter what form or color it comes in, I don't want you on my team."

Lieberman has been a basketball pioneer since she was 17 and made the U.S. Olympic team for the first women's tournament, at the 1976 Montreal Games. She starred at Old Dominion and in various women's pro leagues, then in 1986 played for the Springfield Fame of the United States Basketball League. When the WNBA started, she returned as a player, and later was a coach and GM.

NFL

The National Organization for Women called on the Oakland Raiders to suspend coach Tom Cable while the team investigates allegations he has a history of violent behavior toward women. NOW president Terry O'Neill praised the Raiders in a statement for undertaking a "serious evaluation" of charges made by Cable's first wife, Sandy Cable, and former girlfriend, Marie Lutz, that the coach physically abused them at various times during their relationships. But she said that Cable should be suspended while that investigation proceeds. "This is the National Football League. Boys and girls around the country, as well as many women, look to the leaders of the NFL as our role models," O'Neill said in a phone interview. ... A person with knowledge of the injury says Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson will miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee.

TENNIS

U.S. Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer was suspended for one year by a Belgian anti-doping tribunal, accused of failing to report her whereabouts to drug-testing officials three times. The regional tribunal called the punishment "reasonable." Tribunal spokesman Koen Uman said the suspension takes immediate effect, but Wickmayer can appeal. The 18th-ranked Belgian has denied any wrongdoing and said she planned to appeal.

AROUND THE HORN

NFL: Former Vikings first-round pick Erasmus James was arrested after punching a friend in the face at a bar in Madison. The 27-year-old James began fighting with a friend after James tried to order a drink at a bar near Wisconsin's campus after closing time.

Boxing: Lou Filippo, a World Boxing Hall of Famer who judged 85 world champion fights and had small roles in the "Rocky" movies, has died. He was 83.

Golf: Nick Watney tied the course record with an 8-under 64 to build a two-shot lead in the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, China. Tiger Woods opened with a 67.

ASSOCIATED PRESS