DALLAS — Repeating the words several times, David Stern made it clear: NBA owners and players are “very far apart” on a new labor deal.

And with the union saying the league hasn't moved off its harshest demands, it may be hard to get closer in time to prevent a lockout.

Representatives of the owners and players completed a second day of meetings, scheduled two more for next week, and expressed hope that continued dialogue before the June 30 expiration of the collective bargaining agreement could head off a work stoppage.

NEW YORK — The 1-2 finishers in the Kentucky Derby are 1-2 on the morning line for the Belmont Stakes.Derby winner Animal Kingdom was made the 2-1 favorite for Saturday's final leg of the Triple Crown, with Derby runner-up Nehro the second choice at 4-1.Preakness winner Shackleford was next at 9-2.

BOSTON — The NHL's general managers agreed with a recommendation to broaden the league's definition of illegal hits to the head, likely expanding the scope of a rule enacted last year to outlaw blindside head shots.Hockey's inherent violence claimed the sport's spotlight again this week during the Stanley Cup finals. Boston forward Nathan Horton was knocked out for the series in Game 3 on Monday with a severe concussion after a late hit from Vancouver's Aaron Rome.

NEW YORK — Johnathan Taylor and Buddy Lamothe may never play baseball again after accidents left them partially paralyzed.That didn't matter to the teams that picked them during the final rounds of the Major League Baseball draft.Taylor, an outfielder from the University of Georgia, was a 33rd-round pick of the Texas Rangers, while Lamothe, a reliever from San Jacinto College, was the Houston Astros' 40th-round selection.Taylor was left paralyzed from the chest down after he broke his neck in March during a game when he collided with teammate Zach Cone, the Rangers' supplemental-round pick Monday. Texas director of amateur scouting Kip Fagg said the team's selection of Taylor was “something we felt was right.”

DETROIT — Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Jim Northrup, who hit a decisive two-run triple in Game 7 of the 1968 World Series, died. He was 71.

PITTSBURGH — Former big leaguer Jose Pagan, who drove in the eventual winning run for Pittsburgh in Game 7 of the 1971 World Series, has died. He was 76.No cause was given for his death Tuesday. Pagan's double in the eighth inning of Game 7 gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead over Baltimore, and the Pirates won, 2-1.

ALLIANCE, Ohio — Freeport pitcher Daniel Brickeen will attend the University of Mount Union and play baseball.The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Brickeen is a two-year letterman with the Yellowjackets. He plans to study biology.Mount Union was 17-20 this season and has finished in the top half of the Ohio Athletic Conference five times in the past 10 years.

Two travel fastpitch softball teams — the Butler Bonecrushers and Pittsburgh Spirit — will play each other Monday night at Pullman Park.The 16-under teams will play at 6 p.m., the 18-under teams at 8 p.m. This is believed to be the first fastpitch girls softball games ever played at Pullman.Bases will be 60 feet apart and cones will be placed around the outfield, 225 feet from the plate, to signify home run distance.

ELLWOOD CITY — Butler Cubs boxer Bobby Osterrider improved his amateur record to 7-1 with four KO's by winning a unanimous decision Saturday night at the Sons of Italy.Osterrider defeated Deorion Jordan of Cleveland by landing a majority of hard lefts and rights.He cemented the victory with a flurry of hard punches in the third round.

Mike McNulty of Harmony fired a 5-over 75 at the WPGA Amateur Qualifying round at Hannastown Golf Club Wednesday to claim the 10th and final spot and will advance to the championship at Oakmont Country Club Monday and Tuesday.

MONROEVILLE — Summit Academy will be one of 21 teams that will take part in the Pennsylvania Passing League's 7-on-7 Saturday at Gateway High School.Teams are guaranteed four games with pool play determining the seeding for the single-elimination championship tournament.Admission is free. Pool play begins at 8:15 p.m.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Slippery Rock University senior Madison Thibault has been named a member of the inaugural College STUNT Association All-American team.Thibault, of Allentown is a psychology and gerontology major at SRU and was also a member of the SRU All-Girl cheerleading squad.

ROBINSON TWP. — Several local baseball players will take part in the WPIAL Baseball Coaches Association's All-Star Games Sunday.There will be two all-star contests, pitting Class AA against Class A at 1 p.m. and Class AAAA against Class AAA at 4 p.m.Butler's Cody Herald and Bobby Swartwout (AAAA), Mars' Tyler Dean and Blake Friday (AAA), Freeport's Jake Campbell and Dalton Moore and Shady Side Academy's Grant Foley of Meridian (AA) are local players participating in the event.