Iverson wants to stay in Philadelphia

Despite the persistent trade speculation, Allen Iverson said Friday he wants to stay with the Philadelphia 76ers – but only if they want him.

“I want to be a Sixer, I have said that since Day 1,” Iverson said at a news conference to promote his annual charity softball event. “But if I am not wanted, then I definitely don’t want to be a Sixer and I am willing to start my career all over.”

Iverson had no preference for a destination team if the 76ers do trade him.

•After acquiring Peja Stojakovic to start at shooting guard, the New Orleans Hornets traded guard Kirk Snyder to the Houston Rockets for cash and a conditional second-round draft pick in 2008.

•Texas men’s coach Rick Barnes got a $500,000 raise after taking the Longhorns to regional finals of the NCAA tournament.

Track and field

Jones runs 4-year best

Though Marion Jones lost for the first time this season in the 100 meters, her time of 10.91 seconds at the Golden Gala meet in Rome was her best time in four years.

Jamaica’s Sherone Simpson won in 10.87, slightly off the 10.82 she ran in her hometown of Kingston in June, but still good enough for the second-fastest time this year.In other events, Asafa Powell matched Maurice Greene’s meet record of 9.85 in the men’s 100; Jeremy Wariner posted a personal-best 43.62 in the 400, good for fourth fastest all-time; and Kenenisa Bekele edged three challengers in a close 5,000 race.

Miscellany

Casey stays at OSU

Pat Casey, who led Oregon State to a national baseball championship last month, said he will sign a 10-year contract worth what was described as nearly $300,000 a year to stay with the Beavers and turn down the offer to be head coach at Notre Dame.

In his 12 seasons at Oregon State, Casey’s teams have compiled a 391-253-4 record.

•Lovieanne Jung hit a grand slam to break up a scoreless game and lead the United States to a 6-1 victory over Canada in the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City.

•Kramer Largent, 30, the youngest son of Seattle Seahawks great and former Oklahoma congressman Steve Largent has been indicted by a Delaware grand jury on charges of soliciting an underage girl for sex, according to court records.

•Tennessee Tech offensive coordinator Doug Malone became interim head football coach after head coach Mike Hennigan rescinded his resignation from earlier in the week in favor of medical leave.

•Jurors at the military trial of a former Naval Academy quarterback listened to a tape of a phone call in which the player apologized to a female midshipman he is accused of raping in her dorm room.

Lamar Owens Jr., 22, of Savannah, Ga., is charged with rape, conduct unbecoming an officer and violating a military protective order. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.