Shaq charms Cavs' title-hungry crowd

Sports, In Brief

The Associated Press

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INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Laughing and loose, Shaq looked right at home.

Shaquille O'Neal and his oversized persona debuted in Cleveland on Thursday with a stated goal for next season. His friend LeBron James craves a championship, and O'Neal is here to serve.

"My motto is very simple," O'Neal said. " 'Win a Ring for the King.' "

The 15-time All-Star with four NBA titles was in a black suit, pink shirt and pink tie for a news conference that might as well have been billed The Shaq Show.

Acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Suns, O'Neal was welcomed by a team that believes he can help bring this title-thirsty region its first major pro sports crown in 45 years. ...

A person familiar with the negotiations has said the Houston Rockets have a multiyear deal with Trevor Ariza, who played with the Lakers last season.

BASEBALL

The Texas Rangers borrowed $15 million from Major League Baseball within the last week, according to a Yahoo! report. The Rangers and the commissioner's office would comment on the issue.

Baseball will continue to offer financial assistance to owner Tom Hicks until he is able to sell the team, the Web site reported, citing a major league source with direct knowledge of the situation. Prior to the season, Hicks had revealed his plan to sell the Rangers.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Rebekkah Brunson scored the go-ahead basket with 34 seconds left and blocked a key shot moments later, helping the Sacramento Monarchs snap a six-game losing streak with a 74-68 victory over the host Minnesota Lynx. ... Tammy Sutton-Brown had 14 points and 14 rebounds as the Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 67-53. ... Shameka Christon's 25 points led the New York Liberty to to a 80-64 victory over the Detroit Shock.

FOOTBALL

Rutgers and UCLA have agreed to play a home-and-home football series for the first time.

The Scarlet Knights will host the Bruins at Rutgers Stadium in the 2016 season opener for both teams. Rutgers will travel to Pasadena the following September.

HOCKEY

Sidney Crosby, left off the team as an 18-year-old in 2006, was among 46 players invited Thursday to the Canada Olympic hockey orientation camp next month.

Also chosen were the NHL's three Staal brothers, five goalies and Colorado forward Joe Sakic, who turns 40 next week and would be the team's oldest player if selected. ... The Los Angeles Kings have a four-year deal in place with free agent defenseman Rob Scuderi, who is leaving the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

SOCCER

Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano defended the club's spending spree, saying it was necessary to retain its place as the world's biggest club.

Madrid has spent $300 million on five players, taking on bank loans to fund the 65 million euro ($92 million) purchase of AC Milan's Kaka and 80 million pound ($131 million) acquisition of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

ROWING

British Olympic champions Andy Hodge and Peter Reed easily defeated Andrew Walker and John Huppi from Tulane Rowing Association in the Silver Goblet event for international coxless pairs at Henley Royal Regatta