Columnist suspended for ‘offensive’ comment

Boston — Boston Globe sports columnist Bob Ryan was suspended without pay for a month Tuesday for saying on television that Jason Kidd’s wife needed someone to “smack her.”

“Bob Ryan’s comments were a clear and egregious violation of the standards of The Boston Globe,” Globe editor Martin Baron said in a statement. “Bob has been told in no uncertain terms that his remarks were offensive and unacceptable.”

Ryan also was barred from appearing on radio or television for one month.

Owners, players meet to discuss new deal

New York — NBA owners and players held their first preliminary talks Tuesday on a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires at the conclusion of next season.

Commissioner David Stern, union director Billy Hunter and several owners and players met for about three hours at an undisclosed Manhattan location. The talks will continue later this week, NBA spokesman Tim Frank said.

The talks were described as informal, with each side identifying some of the issues they would like to see changed in the next labor agreement.

Although the current collective bargaining agreement expires at the conclusion of next season, the owners have an option to extend it through the 2004-05 season. That option must be exercised by Dec. 15.

MVP Duncan leads All-NBA first team

New York — Two-time MVP Tim Duncan made the All-NBA team Tuesday, just the sixth player in league history to receive that honor in each of his first six seasons.

Also on the All-NBA first team were Los Angeles Lakers teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, the Orlando Magic’s Tracy McGrady and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett.