USOC trims candidates for 2012 Summer Games

SALT LAKE CITY -- Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington made the cut Friday as the U.S. Olympic Committee narrowed down the list of American cities competing to stage the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Dropped from contention were Dallas, Los Angeles, Cincinnati and Tampa, Fla.

The USOC will choose an American candidate from among the four finalists in November 2002. The International Olympic Committee will vote on the host city in 2005.

New York, battered by last month's terrorist attacks, was considered a sentimental front-runner.

"It's a very significant step toward the city winning that designation," said Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. "We're very, very hopeful that New York will eventually be selected as the city."

The four surviving cities were approved unanimously by a 12-member review panel that met this week, said Charles H. Moore, chairman of the bid evaluation task force.

Venus Williams to miss tour championships

MUNICH, Germany -- Venus Williams withdrew from next week's season-ending WTA championships because of a wrist injury and could be penalized by the tour.

She already had pulled out of this week's tournament in Austria because of her wrist.

Bart McGuire, chief executive officer of the WTA Tour, said Friday the injury will be investigated. He said Williams could lose as much as $140,000 in year-end bonus money if her injury was not legitimate.

"Especially in the view of Venus' repeated confirmations of intent of play in the Sanex Championships, this is very disappointing news for the tour," McGuire said.

He added that Williams could face other unspecified sanctions under the tour's conduct code if the injury cannot be verified.

Williams' withdrawal came a day after the United States said it would not play in the Nov. 7-11 Fed Cup in Madrid, Spain, because of security concerns.

Heat acquire journeyman Gatling

MIAMI -- The Miami Heat, looking to bolster their frontcourt depth, acquired Chris Gatling on Friday in a three-team deal involving Cleveland and Toronto.

In the sign-and-trade deal, the Cavaliers got swingman Ricky Davis from Miami and forward Brian Skinner from Toronto. The Raptors received forward Don MacLean and an undisclosed amount of cash from Miami.

But the Heat may have gained the most from the deal, getting Gatling for the third time in five years. He will provide much-needed depth behind center Alonzo Mourning, who is still learning to play with a kidney disease, and forward Brian Grant.

Gatling has played for eight teams in 10 seasons, averaging 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds. In 74 games with Cleveland last season, he averaged 11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 22.6 minutes.

-- From wire reports