NHL Players Stay United

The NHL Players' Association and its core group emerged united following a four-hour meeting Tuesday, seemingly as committed as ever to fight a salary cap. Even if it takes a long time.

"If a cap is all the league wants, we're prepared to go as long as it takes to fight it," said Vincent Damphousse, a member of the players' executive committee. "I'm 36 going on 37 (in December). I may not play again because of this.

"But I made a lot of money because of the sacrifices from guys under the last deal. So I'm not going to be selfish. I'm going to do what's right for the membership."

• Manitoba Moose defenceman Nolan Baumgartner is the latest player to say he'd accept a salary cap to end the NHL lockout. "It's hard for me to answer, but if that (cap) is what it takes, obviously we want to get back playing,'' Baumgartner told the Vancouver Province on Monday. ''And that looks like what it's going to take."
• The NBA regular season kicked off Tuesday night with three games. Defending champion Detroit Pistons 87-79. The LA Lakers got by Denver 89-78 and Dallas dumped Sacramento 107-98.
• The Kelowna Rockets begin a four game road trip tonight in Red Deer. The Rockets will play four games over the next five nights.