NFL

NORFOLK, Va. -- Michael Vick's bankruptcy attorneys say the imprisoned NFL quarterback expects to return to football.

Attorneys wrote in a disclosure statement that Vick "has every reason to believe" he will be reinstated by the NFL once he completes a 23-month sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction last summer. The attorneys filed the statement before a hearing Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Virginia.

Vick still has a contract with the Atlanta Falcons. But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would have final say on his return.

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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker is scheduled to undergo ankle surgery and will likely miss the remainder of the season.

No official announcement was made and interim coach Tom Cable did not mention it during his daily meeting with the media, but Walker told reporters Thursday that his season is over after injuring his left ankle during Oakland's 17-6 loss to Carolina last Sunday.

Walker was not at practice but walked into the Raiders locker room using a pair of crutches and wearing a high protective boot on his left foot.

"I'm done for the season," Walker said. "They've got to put some screws in."

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

PRAIRIE VIEW -- Texas A&M System Chancellor Mike McKinney plans to watch one of the system's top football programs on Saturday -- Prairie View.

The Panthers, which had an 80-game losing streak in the 1990s, have an 8-1 record going into the season finale with Alcorn State. A win would give Prairie View its best record since a 9-0 mark in 1964.

"They are our winningest team, along with West Texas A&M," McKinney said.

"Prairie View's head coach, Henry Frazier, has worked miracles," McKinney told Houston television station KRIV. "He has leadership on his team and I give him credit for finding it and developing it.

"There are going to be people after him and we want to keep him."

McKinney plans to use the visit to the 6,000-seat Blackshear Stadium, which opened in 1960, to talk about ideas for funding improvements.

NBA

NEW YORK -- The NBA fined Sacramento Kings coach Reggie Theus $25,000 Thursday for comments he made about the officiating following a loss to Detroit.

The league also penalized the Kings $25,000 for Theus' actions.

Theus said it was "ridiculous" that the Pistons took 36 fouls shots to just 17 for the Kings in Detroit's 100-92 victory in Sacramento on Tuesday.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

SEATTLE -- Seven interviews in four, whirlwind days. Early breakfast meetings, power lunches, late-dinner talks and reference calls. All that has apparently whittled the Mariners' search for a new manager down to three final candidates and one or two possible wild cards.

Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said he probably has three men he prefers over the other four and will likely bring them back for a second interview.

Zduriencik interviewed Boston third-base coach DeMarlo Hale in the morning. Before that, Zduriencik and Mariners team president Chuck Armstrong met with San Diego Triple-A manager Randy Ready, Oakland bench coach Don Wakamatsu, Boston bench coach Brad Mills, Chicago White Sox bench coach and former Mariners infielder Joey Cora, and Arizona third-base coach Chip Hale.

SOCCER

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Chad Marshall and Eddie Gaven led Columbus to its first MLS Cup appearance, scoring second-half goals in the Crew's 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Thursday night in the Eastern Conference final.

In the Nov. 23 final at Carson, Calif., Columbus will face the winner of the Western Conference final Saturday between New York at Real Salt Lake.

Brian McBride, who played eight seasons for the Crew before leaving for the English Premier League in 2003, scored for the Fire in his first MLS game as a visiting player in Crew Stadium. McBride headed Justin Mapp's crossing pass just past goalkeeper William Hesmer's outstretched arms in the 29th minute.

Marshall tied it in the 50th minute, leaping over McBride to score on a header off Guillermo Barros Schelotto's free kick.

Five minutes later, Schelotto headed a pass to Alejandro Moreno, who in turn headed to Gaven in front of the Fire goal. Gaven took one touch to settle the ball before lacing a right-footed strike into the back of the net.

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Diego Maradona will remain Argentina coach after denying speculation that he planned to resign because of a dispute over his assistants with his boss.

"I'm still the coach. There's been no changes, no resignations, nothing," Maradona told journalists Thursday in Mar del Plata, where he was visiting the Argentina tennis team preparing for next week's Davis Cup final against Spain.

Officially appointed coach only last week, Maradona reportedly said he would quit before or after his first match in charge next Wednesday, a friendly at Scotland, because of a dispute with Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona over the freedom to appoint the rest of his coaching staff.

AUTO RACING

MIAMI -- Race car driver Helio Castroneves' attorneys and employer asked a judge to delay his March trial on tax evasion charges until next November so he can continue racing, according to court documents filed Thursday.

Penske Racing, Inc. said if the trial is held between March and October, it will have to change drivers now to avoid the risk that Castroneves will be unavailable for the 2009 IndyCar series, which runs from April to October.

The U.S. Attorney's office said it would respond to the motion in court.

-- Wire reports

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