Analysis: Huckabee and McCain face off after fending off Romney in US presidential race

John McCain, meet Mike Huckabee. You are now rivals.

Until now the two Republican presidential candidates have been convenient allies _ the two Davids who knocked down Mitt Romney, the financial Goliath. But there is nothing convenient about Michigan and South Carolina, states whose nomination races could make or break either candidate's hopes for being the next Republican presidential nominee.

So these two men who separately confronted Romney, one in Iowa and one in New Hampshire, are now in the same ring.

"I don't see us going out there and taking the gloves off," Huckabee said of the prospects of a tough encounter with McCain.

To be sure, McCain and Huckabee appeal to separate wings of the Republican Party. Iowa with its greater share of social conservatives and evangelicals was better suited to Huckabee. New Hampshire, with its independents and national security minded voters, preferred McCain.

Who wins depends on who else they can draw in with their distinct messages _ McCain's national security savvy and independent streak or the former Arkansas governor's religion-streaked economic populism.

The two tend to like each other _ Huckabee has called McCain a "genuine American hero." So far neither shows any inclination to go after the other with the same zeal with which Romney went after both of them.

But neither of them is reluctant to pull his punches if confronted. McCain did it directly, airing ads in New Hampshire quoting newspapers that called Romney a phony. And Huckabee prepared a negative ad against Romney in Iowa, chose not to air it, but showed it to the media anyway.

Huckabee campaign manager Chip Saltsman, speaking to reporters the night of the Iowa caucuses, conceded as much: "It's politics, and it may get a little rough."

The first inkling could come as soon as Thursday, when the Republican candidates gather in Myrtle Beach for a debate.

Flying in to South Carolina from his third place finish in New Hampshire, Huckabee on Wednesday hinted at the contrasts he might draw with McCain. His main argument: He is a governor with executive experience, McCain is a U.S. senator with armed services expertise.

"The idea that he's had longer experience, ask Joe Biden and Chris Dodd what it did for them," he said of two Democratic senators who bowed out of the presidential race. "There are not two more experienced people in terms of foreign policy and military background than Chris Dodd and Joe Biden. But they took one, two percent, something like that?"

Ed Rollins, a senior adviser, put it succinctly: "A governor makes decisions. A senator doesn't make decisions; a senator sits and listens and learns and casts votes."

McCain is looking to repeat his 2000 victory in Michigan, eager to court independent voters in the state. Romney is putting all his resources in Michigan and hoping that his role as native son and fond memories of his father, who was governor there, will boost him to victory. Huckabee could be a spoiler, tapping religious, social conservatives in the state's rural regions and among economically anxious workers closer to the manufacturing centers.

In South Carolina, Huckabee is leading in the polls and it there that the contest with McCain is likely to be head-on. Huckabee is already exploiting an issue that could be damaging to McCain _ immigration _ by running ads in the state promoting his tougher proposal for treating illegal immigrants.

Still, Romney remains a factor. Following his second place finish in New Hampshire, Romney pulled his ads from Florida and South Carolina, where he had invested heavily, to focus his finances on Michigan. A victory in Michigan for Romney would send him back to South Carolina with new life.

That would complicate things for Huckabee. Romney would be competing for some of his same voters, opening a path for McCain to win.

But Huckabee has quickly built his lead in the state, becoming a favorite with religious and working class voters.

His traveling bus bears an enormous likeness of him and a the logo: "Faith, family, freedom." And his speeches Wednesday were laden with religious and anti-abortion references that were not as prominent when he stumped in New Hampshire.

"If we were to say that the taking of an innocent life is not wrong, then nothing is wrong," he told a rally in Spartanburg, before visiting a church-assisted pregnancy center that attempts to persuade women not to have abortions.

It is common at Huckabee events to find parents with their home schooled children, many of them devout Christians.

"Mothers and fathers raise better kids than governments do," Huckabee says.

But Huckabee is aiming for a swath of voters beyond the religious and opponents of abortion. His government-off-our-backs, end-the-income-tax proclamations could resonate with young, working class people.

"South Carolina is just a state designed for a guy like Huckabee," said Clemson University political scientist David Woodard. "If he can pull a surprise in Michigan, and comes in with a full wind, he could level the field."

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EDITOR'S NOTE _ Jim Kuhnhenn has covered politics in Washington for 14 years. Associated Press Writer Llbby Quaid contributed to this article.

WVU concludes rough January: Loss at Rutgers made Mountaineers 2-7 in month

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - At first the "hip, hip, hooray" might seem outof place.

Maybe some of the Coke toasts on the plane ride back toPittsburghseem inappropriate. Party hats and noise makers, well, it does notseem right.

Yet West Virginia University's basketball team, despite Sundayafternoon's 87-61 thumping by host Rutgers, has reason to celebrate.January is over."It was rough," WVU forward John Oliver said. "We had a lot ofroad games. We'd get home, then go on the road again. Up and down.We lost a whole bunch of games.""It's been the toughest month yet," Mountaineer junior forwardMarcus Goree said. "A lot of games we lost by one, two points.""Sometimes it feels good and bad," WVU guard Lionel Armstead said."It feels bad that we didn't win as many as we should have. You haveto learn from those terrible losses."With a 26-point road pounding that at times seemed even worse, WVUf inished a 2-7 January. The schedule contained three home games -against probable NCAA participants Connecticut, Miami (Fla.) andVillanova - last week's neutral-site contest with Marshall and roadgames at Syracuse, Providence, Seton Hall, Georgetown and Rutgers.Of all the foes, only Georgetown does not have a winning record.If there was a tougher schedule than the one rebuilding WVU (9-12, 3-8 in Big East) attempted, it belonged to a rap group that decided totour Utah.Making matters worse in the month's finale was the fact WVU endedDecember with a 65-63 comeback win over Rutgers in Morgantown. Withfive days off since their previous game, the Scarlet Knights (14-6,6-4), in a rare position of NCAA Tournament contenders, basicallylaid in wait for the rematch. Greeting WVU was the fifth sellout of1998-99 at the 8,500-seat Louis Brown Athletic Center."I feel relieved," Rutgers freshman center Rashod Kent said. "Weknew we could beat this team as long as we ran our offense andplayeddefense."Perhaps thrown by the refreshing national anthem of guitar-strumming United States/former Rutgers soccer player Alexi Lalas,WVUfailed to score on its first eight possessions and never led.Rutgers jumped to leads of 8-0, 13-4, 30-12, 40-16 and 51-24 atintermission. The crowd of 8,503 developed blue-and-gold blood lust.Fueling the decibels was the, well, perfect game of senior forwardRob Hodgson. He made 11-of-11 from the field, including his six 3-point tries. He also sank his three free throws, added fiverebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. The only stain onthe statistical sheet of his career-high 31-point day was aturnover."We were leaving shooters open that we knew we couldn't," Oliversaid."We were supposed to guard him and we didn't," WVU Coach GaleCatlett said.Rutgers hit 10-of-19 3-pointers and shot 53 percent (28-of-53)from the field. Junior guard Earl Johnson added 10 points for theScarlet Knights, who have won four straight. Against early WVUpressure, Rutgers continually found Hodgson behind the defense fordrives or open 3-pointers."We changed our press attack," said Hodgson, who made just acombined 12-of-35 from the field in his previous five games. "Thatstarted me early."Hodgson's biggest shot came with 2:18 left when he defended hisspotless afternoon with a final 3-pointer."Everyone knows how hard Rob is on himself," Rutgers forward JeffGreer said. "I was coming on the fast breaks saying, 'Where's Rob?Where's Rob?' "WVU barely managed a whimper, a la earlier games with Connecticutand a December road bashing at Ohio University.Goree led the Mointaineers in both scoring (19) and rebounding(seven). Point guard Jarett Kearse, who earned three fouls in thefirst 9:48, finished with 14 points and center Chris Moss 10. WVUshot just 41 percent. Its last 50 percent-plus effort came in thefirst Rutgers game. Forward Elton Scott and the recently hotArmstead combined to score nine points on 4-of-13 shootingIn an effort to halt the Rutgers tsunami, Catlett used 10 playersin the first half. That had an opposite influence on WVU's offense,which committed 16 turnovers. Rutgers committed just four in thehalf against a defense that enveloped it in December's rally."Once you break the press a few times, they slow back off," Greersaid. "They didn't play as hard as they did in Morgantown.""I considered leaving at halftime," Catlett said. "It wasn't verypretty from where I sat."The best news for WVU was that February appears kinder. Four ofthe seven games, including Wednesday night's with Providence, arehome. Five of the seven contests are against those, like WVU, in thebottom half of the Big East standings. Only one game, the Feb. 9game with visiting St. John's, is against a ranked foe."Some guys are frustrated," Oliver said."We don't have," Armstead said, "any choice other than to have abetter month."Writer Mike Cherry can be reached at 348-5170.

Wakefield Struggles, D-Rays Edge Red Sox

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Struggling knuckleballer Tim Wakefield gave up a two-run homer to Delmon Young, and the Boston Red Sox lost 5-4 to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Sunday.

The Red Sox, who clinched at least the wild-card spot Saturday, started play with a 2 1/2-game lead over second-place New York in the AL East.

Wakefield (16-12) entered 9-0 at Tropicana Field and 19-2 overall against the Devil Rays, but he gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings.

In his past four starts, the right-hander has allowed 21 runs over 17 2-3 innings. The four outings have come after he missed a start with a sore back.

Young put the Devil Rays up 2-0 with his homer in the second. The rookie right fielder, who had been 1-for-14 against Wakefield, has 13 homers and 93 RBIs this season.

Tampa Bay, last in the AL East with a 64-92 record, snapped a five-game skid. Al Reyes pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 29 opportunities.

Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez missed his 24th consecutive game with a strained left oblique. Boston manager Terry Francona is not sure when Ramirez will return.

"I don't know," Francona said. "He said he had a better day yesterday, which is good. I'd rather hear him say that than say it's getting worst. He seems real upbeat, but he's not ready to play. Just keep plugging away."

Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis sat out for the seventh straight game due to a bruised right wrist. He could return during a regular season-ending six-game homestand that starts Tuesday.

Jonny Gomes' fourth-inning RBI single and a run-scoring single by Jorge Velandia in the fifth extended the Devil Rays lead to 4-0.

Edwin Jackson (5-15) had a one-hitter through five, but failed to get out of the sixth when Boston scored three times to pull to 4-3. David Ortiz and Coco Crisp had RBI singles, and another run scored when J.D. Drew walked with the bases loaded.

Jon Switzer replaced Jackson with the bases loaded and one out, and induced a double-play grounder from Eric Hinske.

Jackson gave up three runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He was 0-3 with a 9.15 ERA over his previous four starts.

Tampa Bay went up 5-3 in the sixth on Josh Wilson's sacrifice bunt. Alex Cora got Boston to 5-4 with a solo homer off Dan Wheeler in the eighth.

Notes:@ Tampa Bay All-Star LF Carl Crawford (strained left groin) missed his sixth consecutive game. He might also sit out a three-game series against the New York Yankees that begins Tuesday. ... Boston LF Jacoby Ellsbury singled in the third and has a hit in 19 of 20 games since being recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket on Sept. 1. ... Red Sox C Doug Mirabelli made his first start since straining his left hamstring on Sept. 6.

Is Shane on wane as a Bear? Matthews seems lost in QB rotation

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. Shane Matthews' job isn't easy these days-working his way into playing shape, honing his proficiency at runningthe Bears' offense and keeping up with trade rumors.

But he has help.

"My buddies are always on the Internet, kind of giving me updateson what's going on," Matthews said. "I had somebody call me yesterdayabout me going to Cleveland. They saw (ESPN's) John Clayton sayingsomething about that.

"But it's out of my control. There's nothing I can do about that."

That helpless feeling is one Matthews is getting used to. A yearago he was the Bears' starting quarterback, about to establishhimself in the NFL. He threw eight touchdown passes and threeinterceptions in leading the Bears to a 3-2 record before a hamstringinjury short-circuited his season.

Today he's the third-string quarterback, falling further behindstarter Cade McNown with each day. He knows he has a better chance ofplaying in Cleveland, Tampa or somewhere other than Chicago. He mightbe the only player in the league who hopes the No. 4 guy beats himout.

"It's very awkward," said Matthews, 30, a six-year veteran. "Idon't even know how to approach it. You want to go out and play wellevery time you can. But, realistically, if I'm here, there's a chanceI won't play a down."

Matthews, a Pascagoula, Miss., native, has an easy-going Southerndemeanor that masks an intense pride. "I've proven I can play in thisleague," he said. His chances of doing that this year are slim, andthat's not an easy thing for him to take.

"It's difficult," he said. "But I've been through so much in myfootball career, and I've been screwed every way possible. I know thebig picture: Cade's the guy and they chose Jim to be the backup, andif I'm the third guy, I can live with it. If not, maybe I can gosomewhere else and play."

Maybe. Maybe not. There have been rumors of trade offers forMatthews, offers that might seem more enticing with the developmentof No. 4 quarterback Mark Hartsell. "We're hearing rumbling, but it'sjust rumbling until I hear something concrete," said Steve Mandell,Matthews' new agent. "I wouldn't be surprised if some teams show someinterest."

If something's up, Bears vice president of player personnel MarkHatley isn't saying.

"We've got four quarterbacks, and we'll narrow it down to three,"Hatley said. "We've worked real hard to get our depth (atquarterback) to where it is, and we feel good about that position.

"I don't want to get into the trade possibilities. He's going tobe here. We plan on him being here and playing and helping us win."

Matthews is not asking for a trade, though in the offseason heasked the Bears to let him out of his contract, to no avail.

"I thought if they were going to go with (McNown and Miller) maybethey could let me move on with my career," he said. "They decided notto do that."

It was too good of a deal for the Bears. A right-of-first-refusalin Matthews' contract last year effectively chilled other teams'interest in him. He signed with the Bears for $500,000, with $1million in incentives based on playing time and performance.

"It's an unbelievable luxury," quarterbacks coach John Shoop said.

"We're extremely glad we've got him," Hatley said. "It would beinteresting to see if anybody else in the league has got (as good aNo. 3 quarterback) because I don't think they do. Shane's done a lotof good things. We can win with him."

Matthews has been the ultimate good soldier, working with theother quarterbacks on the nuances of the Bears' offense.

"Shane's been nothing but great to me," Hartsell said. "He's beenmore than helpful."

"He's been a big plus for Cade," Hatley said. "I'm sure if youtalked to Cade, he'd say the same thing."

All Matthews can do is continue to play well and hope for thebest. He knows three quarterbacks played extensively for the Bearslast year. There are no other options.

"It's not like I can play poorly so they can get me out of here,"Matthews said. "You can't do that because any time you step on thatfield, you're auditioning for the entire league.

"I could throw fits and cuss and scream and moan and groan abouteverything, but it's only going to make matters worse. I guess if Idid that, maybe they would run me out of here. But that's just not mypersonality. That's not how I was brought up."

Texas may eliminate steroid testing program

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — When Texas began testing tens of thousands of high school athletes for steroids, the goal was to stop teens from taking dangerous performance-enhancing drugs. The death of a 17-year-old baseball player in a Dallas suburb had drawn national attention to the hazard.

But that program could now be axed to save money. Tough economic times are prompting the state along with school districts across the country to pull back from steroid testing just a few years after a series of scandals in professional and amateur sports.

"When steroids was all over the media, everybody said 'We've got to have it,'" said Chris Franz of Sport Safe, an Ohio-based company that conducts recreational drug and steroid testing for hundreds of high schools and districts across the country.

In 2008, Texas became the third state to begin steroid testing, setting up a massive $6 million program. Every one of the state's 700,000-plus public school athletes — from freshmen female tennis players to senior offensive linemen in football — were eligible to be randomly selected, pulled from class and required to submit a urine sample.

But after the first 50,000 tests produced fewer than two dozen confirmed cases, critics derided the effort as a waste of money. This month, with the state facing a projected $15 billion budget shortfall, the House's first draft budget eliminated the program's money. A Senate draft still includes funding.

Even some one-time supporters of screening are wavering. "We accomplished our goal," said state Rep. Dan Flynn, "and that was to educate and create a deterrent."

New Jersey and Illinois also have statewide programs. Florida eliminated its small testing program in 2009. Many school districts also conducted testing although the exact number isn't known.

Programs were often funded with state and federal grants. Now, as the money starts running out, so does the desire to keep testing Depending on the complexity of the test, steroid testing can easily exceed $100 per student and when schools see very few getting caught, they decide to pull back.

"If schools had the budget to do it, they would," Franz said. "The biggest thing Texas would be missing is the deterrent. And that's too bad."

Supporters of steroid testing insist that the rarity of confirmed cases shows the program is working as a deterrent.

Eliminating the program now would only encourage steroid use, said Don Hooton, of Frisco, who started the Taylor Hooton Foundation after his 17-year-old son's suicide in 2003 was linked to steroid use. He has testified before Congress and the Legislature to advocate for testing.

"It's like a school district that has a serious gun violence problem and puts up metal detectors," Hooton said. "When gun violence goes down, they say 'Well, that's a waste of money, let's take the metal detectors away because we don't have a problem anymore.'"

Texas has been scaling down the program almost since it began. The original $6 million budget was slashed to $2 million in 2009.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, an early supporter, intends to fight to preserve the tests as "an important deterrent," said his spokesman, Mike Walz. When put up against proposed budget cuts for teachers and pre-kindergarten programs, health care for the poor and myriad other budget issues, said Flynn, "What's more important? We didn't catch a lot of kids, but we were hoping we wouldn't have to. I can't fight to get $1.8 million."

Jeff Horn, principal at Green Valley High School in Henderson, Nev., calls the funding excuse "a cop-out." Green Valley started Nevada's first public school drug testing program in 2008 and hasn't had a positive test for steroids yet, but intends to continue after its federal grant runs out this year. Horn said student fees will be used to pay for the tests. "It's not about athletics anymore," Horn said. "It's about saving lives."

Hooton said Texas could still have a smaller testing program that targets sports most likely to find steroid users, such as football, baseball and weightlifting. In 2007, lawmakers briefly considered a "ticket tax", a 25-cent fee on football and basketball game tickets, to pay for testing. Gov. Rick Perry and Republicans holding majorities in the House and Senate and have pledged not to raise taxes this session.

Hooton said Texas' action will have national consequences.

"There are eyes from all over the United States that are watching this program. It is the shining star, the most substantial effort and I'm very proud of it," Hooton said. "If Texas kills this program, it will become an excuse for other states to never stick their toe in the water and make a run in this thing."

O, brother, where art the accolades now?

Strapped into my Nexis coupe, I've been motoring through newspaperreviews of "The Ladykillers," the new Coen Brothers concoction, and"Cold Mountain," the Weinstein brothers hit that wasn't, looking forcomments on their soundtracks -- both produced by T Bone Burnett. Ihad a feeling they weren't getting as much attention as theydeserved, and I was right.

Yes, the phenomenal success of Burnett's soundtrack for the Coens'"O Brother, Where Art Thou," which had mainstream listeners flockingto the recordings of country relics like Ralph Stanley, isyesterday's news. But you don't have to be carrying a roots-musictorch to recognize what a lift "The Ladykillers" gets from itsinfusions of gospel and blues, and ditto "Cold Mountain" from its pre-bluegrass country and folk.

It can even be argued that the music in these films, both newlyrecorded and drawn from the past, is the best thing about them andthere should have been more of it. (There is plenty of great materialon their respective soundtrack albums that didn't make the finalcinematic cut but could have.)

The "Ladykillers" CD, which ranges from the antique blues of BlindWillie Johnson to the hip-hopped gospel of Nappy Roots, is not quiteas rewarding as the "Cold Mountain" album, which has two real aces inits hole: the White Stripes' Jack White making a winning switch fromgarage rock to earthy fare like "Wayfaring Stranger" and a group ofSacred Harp singers opening ears with its a cappella folk hymns,recorded in a small church in Alabama.

Still, the music in "The Ladykillers," as sparingly applied as itis, is reason enough to see the film, which transfers the classic1955 British comedy starring Alec Guinness to modern Mississippi.Hamming it up with wheezes of laughter, odd head jerks and faketeeth, Tom Hanks plays a pedantic dandy who hires a bunch of misfitsto clean out the vault of a casino. They tunnel into it from thebasement of a feisty old Bible-thumping black woman (Irma P. Hall),whom they each try to knock off after she discovers they're notreally a classical music ensemble in need of a quiet rehearsal space.

As with the weakly conceived "O Brother," which would haveevaporated into thin air without the eerie essence of its mountainmusic, Burnett provides a soulful counterbalance to the goony anticsfavored by the Coens. No matter how cheap the film's humor gets in"The Ladykillers" -- and it doesn't get cheaper than when miningirritable bowel syndrome for yuks -- the soundtrack pulls it backfrom the far side of miscalculation by providing the humane spark theCoens are too gag-happy to bring to their characters.

While there's no doubting the pleasure the filmmakers took incapturing a joyous slice of African-American life -- the rousinggospel finale, set in a church, likely sent them home as happy as itdoes theatergoers -- the film can't avoid the taint of exploitingthat culture. Burnett's roots credibility is the Coens' bestinsurance against charges of indulging in precious stereotypes, andworse. If the film loved the Hall character as much as we're supposedto think it does, would it have made her quite so dim?

"Cold Mountain," a lush, strenuously romantic adaptation ofCharles Frazier's Civil War bestseller, required counterbalancing ofa different order from its musical contributors. For beginners, theyscratched against the big-budget production's photogenic realism --or, in the case of Nicole Kidman's peachy keen complexion and super-whitened teeth, photogenic surrealism -- with their down-home grit.(The film would have you believe that a few years of hardship on theold farm is better than Botox for a fair-skinned beauty'scomplexion.)

White, Alison Krauss, the Sacred Harp singers (directed by thetalented Tim Eriksen, who dubbed the singing parts for BrendanGleeson's Stobrod) and the fiddle and banjo duo of Stuart Duncan andDirk Powell also invest the film with the intangible Americanqualities and insights that can't help eluding screenwriter-directorAnthony Minghella and leading man Jude Law, who are British, andKidman, who spent her formative years in Australia. The fact that thefilm was shot in Romania made it even more reliant on authenticAmerican sounds.

What's so distinctive about Burnett's approach to roots music (aterm he himself has no use for) is that as indebted to tradition ashe is, he actively avoids anything that smacks of high-minded"purity." His aim is to blend elements of the past and present into avital hybrid. He once said that in recording one of the timelesstunes in "O Brother," he treated it like it was rock 'n' roll, seeingit in the same sphere as a Traffic song. And, indeed, singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell remarked that "Man of Constant Sorrow," assung by Dan Tyminski, "ranks with 'My Sharona,' 'Whole Lotta Shakin'Goin' On' and 'She Loves You' in its immediacy."

Whoever said that lightning doesn't strike twice knew what theywere talking about. The success of the "O Brother" album has not beenduplicated by the "Cold Mountain" soundtrack, despite a quick flurryof stories about Sacred Harp music and efforts to sell and pre-sellthe film and music in the same way as "O Brother." And "TheLadykillers" CD likely won't do as well as the "Cold Mountain"soundtrack.

But not everything can be measured in numbers. As a direct resultof Burnett's film work (including his wide-ranging soundtrack for theera-spanning "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood"), all manner oftraditional American music has a higher profile than it's had inyears. And he is hardly finished fighting this good fight. DMZ, theColumbia Records-associated label that he and the Coens formed in thewake of "O Brother," recently released an intriguing album ofcontemporized blues, spirituals and gospel by Ollabelle, a collectiveNew York ensemble featuring Amy Helm, daughter of the Band's LevonHelm.

More movie projects will undoubtedly follow, maybe one about realmusicians. Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants? The reviewers wouldhave no choice but to open their ears.

Report: Pippen asks for trade to Lakers

Scottie Pippen has asked to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, atelevision station reported Wednesday.

KRIV-TV, citing sources it did not identify other than to say theywere close to the Houston Rockets forward, said Pippen recently askedcoach Rudy Tomjanovich to be traded to the Lakers.

Jimmy Sexton, Pippen's agent, declined comment, telling KRIV hewould neither confirm nor deny the story. Tomjanovich did notaddress the issue either, citing club policy that prohibits teamofficials from commenting on trade speculation.

The Lakers also had nothing to say about any proposed deal thatwould reunite Pippen with former Bulls coach Phil Jackson, nowcoaching the Lakers. The Orlando Magic, undergoing a massiveoverhaul, traded center Ike Austin to the Washington Wizards forTerry Davis, Ben Wallace, Tim Legler and Jeff McInnis.

Austin is the fourth Magic starter from last season to be dealt.Pierce, Williams win

Mary Pierce, enjoying her highest ranking in a year but stillwithout a title in 1999, defeated Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 7-5 in the secondround of the Acura Classic in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Pierce, ranked sixth in the world, won four titles last year.

In other matches, Martina Hingis narrowly avoided another early-round exit, holding off qualifier Lisa Raymond 6-1, 4-6, 6-3; fourth-seeded Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario defeated Ruxandra Dragomir of Romania6-3, 6-1; No. 6 Serena Williams beat Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 6-3, 6-1; and Julie Halard-Decugis of France got by Amy Frazier 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.

Williams needed just 47 minutes to finish off Schnyder afterstruggling to beat Elena Likhovtseva in three sets Tuesday night.Third-seeded Andre Agassi advanced to the round of 16 in the $2.45million ATP Championship in Mason, Ohio, by beating Arnaud DiPasquale of France 6-4, 6-1.

The American contingent, which already included top-ranked PeteSampras, also picked up three surprise winners when Michael Changbeat eighth-seeded Alex Corretja of Spain 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2; JustinGimelstob beat fellow American Todd Martin, the No. 9 seed, 6-4, 6-4;and Chris Woodruff beat 13th-seeded Thomas Enqvist of Sweden 6-1, 7-5.

In the night match, defending champion Patrick Rafter beat DanielVacek of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. Intidab takes Phenomenon

Intidab beat Artax by 1 1/2 lengths in winning the $150,000 APhenomenon Handicap for older horses at Saratoga.

With Robbie Davis in the saddle, Intidab went six furlongs in 1:09in besting a field of seven horses aged 3 and up.

Intidab returned $22.80, $14.40 and $4.50. Artax paid $10.20 and$3.50. Yes It's True was worth $2.10. Happyanunoit, a 13-1 longshot, took the lead midway through the stretch and held off 3-5favorite Tuzla to win the $134,750 Palomar Handicap at Del Mar.

Ridden by Brice Blanc and carrying 113 pounds, Happyanunoitcovered 1 1/16 miles on turf in a stakes-record 1:41 1/5 and paid$28.80, $5.60 and $2.10.

Tuzla returned $2.40 and $2.10. Isle De France paid $2.10.Badgers lose recruits

Two Wisconsin recruits were declared academically ineligible forthe 1999 season as practice began for freshmen players.

Isaac Booker, a 255-pound running back from Lake Butler, Fla., andStephon Watson, a defensive back from Aberdeen, Md., will attend UWthis year but cannot practice with the Badgers.

They will have three years of football eligibility remaining.Linebacker Chris Ramseur was kicked off the Tennessee football teamby coach Phillip Fulmer for violating team rules.