Fast Break

NBA

Morrison has tough first start

Adam Morrison’s first start as an NBA player didn’t go so well in the Charlotte Bobcats’ 99-85 loss to the visiting Seattle SuperSonics.

The former Gonzaga University star and the No. 3 pick in the draft, was just 3 of 12 against the team from his home state. He missed all three of his shots in the decisive third quarter, including a layup on a fast break during Seattle’s 9-2 run early in the period that put the Sonics ahead to stay. Morrison sat out the first 7 minutes of the final quarter. When coach Bernie Bickerstaff finally sent him to the scorer’s table, the crowd responded with a sarcastic cheer. With a total of nine points, Morrison failed to score in double figures for the first time as a pro.

Football

Walsh stricken with leukemia

Hall of Fame football coach Bill Walsh, who built an NFL dynasty with the San Francisco 49ers and revolutionized the sport with his West Coast offense, disclosed Friday that he has leukemia.

Stanford officials confirmed that Walsh, who served as the school’s interim athletic director until July, has told friends and colleagues there that he has cancer.

Walsh said the cancer first was diagnosed in 2004, but he feels better since a series of blood transfusions in the past month.

Eerie moment for Marshall team

A plane carrying the Marshall football team to today’s game at East Carolina was evacuated Friday after smoke was reported in an engine, emergency officials said in Kenova, W. Va.

About 200 people were on board the plane as it was preparing to take off from Tri-State Airport. No injuries were reported.

The incident came four days before the 36th anniversary of the Marshall plane crash that killed 75 people, including most of the football team, on their way home from a game at East Carolina.