GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) The New York Knicks won't sign Allen Iverson, believing any short-term gain would hinder their plans to build for the future.

Team president Donnie Walsh said the team won't make any additions at this time despite its 2-9 record. He added the decision to pass on the former MVP had nothing to do with Iverson's ability to play or his character in the locker room.

Coach Mike D'Antoni said Iverson would have come in and played 40 minutes a game, taking playing time away from others who need to be on the court to continue their growth.

LOS ANGELES (AP) Clippers longtime play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith were suspended one game by the Fox Sports Prime Ticket cable network for their comments about Memphis center Hamed Haddadi.

Lawler and Smith made their off-the-cuff comments about the Iranian-born center during Wednesday night's telecast from Memphis. The on-air banter offended a viewer who e-mailed Fox to complain.

The duo did not work Friday's night telecast against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center. Michael Eaves and Don MacLean, who regularly serve as halftime and postgame analysts on the Clippers telecasts, substituted for Lawler and Smith at courtside. ^NFL=

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce is out indefinitely after an MRI exam surprisingly revealed a bulging disk in his neck.

The Giants said their defensive captain underwent the test in New York and was examined by team physician Dr. Russell Warren and Dr. Frank Camissa, chief of the spinal surgical services at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

The 31-year-old Pierce originally sustained a burner when the Giants played Arizona on Oct. 25. He had very little discomfort until practice this week, when the club's medical staff scheduled the MRI exam. ^WNBA=

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The Sacramento Monarchs ceased operations in a shocking and disappointing development for the WNBA and one of its original eight franchises.

The decision was largely based on the Maloof family's desire to focus all its energy and efforts on the NBA's Sacramento Kings. Maloof Sports & Entertainment had owned both teams.

Now, the WNBA is left scurrying to try to find a new owner for the organization and league president Donna Orender said in a statement that there are discussions with potential investors to relocate the Monarchs to the San Francisco area in time for next season. ^BASEBALL=

CHICAGO (AP) Pitcher John Grabow became the first of the 171 free agents to reach agreement on a new deal, getting a $7.5 million, two-year contract from the Chicago Cubs.

The 31-year-old left-hander combined to go 3-0 with a 3.36 ERA last season in a career-high 75 relief appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cubs.

He pitched 30 games and had a 3.24 ERA for the Cubs after he was acquired on July 30 along with left-hander Tom Gorzelanny for pitchers Jose Ascanio and Kevin Hart, and minor league infielder Josh Harrison. ^COLLEGE BASKETBALL=

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Larry Bird and Magic Johnson will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend. They will be joined by some illustrious company.

Joining them at Sunday's ceremony will be Travis Grant, the NCAA's all-time scoring leader with 4,045 career points. That's 378 more than Pete Maravich. Grant led Kentucky State to three straight NAIA national titles during the civil rights era. He is now an assistant principal at Panola Way Elementary School in Lithonia, Ga. ^ATHLETICS=

MONACO (AP) The governing body of track and field is working behind the scenes with Caster Semenya and the South African government to resolve issues about the 18-year-old runner's gender and career.

The IAAF wouldn't confirm the South African sports ministry's claims of a deal allowing Semenya to keep the 800-meter world title and prize money she won in August and maintain privacy over her gender-test results.

International Association of Athletics Federations spokesman Nick Davies said the parties are ''almost there'' in concluding complex negotiations. ^SOCCER=

LONDON (AP) There will be no rematch. Ireland's hopes for a replay of its World Cup qualifier against France ended after both FIFA and the French Football Federation rejected requests for another game.

FIFA said it could not interfere despite a hand ball by France captain Thierry Henry that led to the decisive score Wednesday that put France in next year's World Cup.

The Football Association of Ireland in Dublin responded by petitioning its French counterpart to ask FIFA to change its mind, but the FFF said the decision by soccer's governing body's is final.

The statement appeared to be the final word in a debate that has gripped the soccer world, with fans and leading politicians in both countries demanding that the match be replayed. ^TENNIS=

LONDON (AP) The ATP Tour will not reopen a doping case against Andre Agassi even though he admitted to lying about using crystal meth in 1997.

Agassi revealed in his recent autobiography that he failed a 1997 drug test, a result he says was thrown out after he lied by claiming he ''unwittingly'' took crystal meth.

However, ATP chairman Adam Helfant said there was no way to sanction the American retroactively since he has retired from tennis. He said the ATP's decision not to reveal the positive test was in line with its policy not to comment on doping cases.