Around The Game

Pacers announce 2001-2002 schedule\nINDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Pacers announced a 2001-2002 regular season schedule that includes nine nationally televised games on TNT or TBS and NBC.\nThe Pacers start the season at New Jersey to face Jason Kidd and the Nets October 30 and then to Chicago on the 31st to square off against the Bulls before their first home game at Conseco Fieldhouse November 2 against Grant Hill and the Orlando Magic.\nOther highlighted match-ups will be at home on Thanksgiving against Washington, two contests with the defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers at home January 9 and in L.A. March 1 and a five games in eight days road trip Nov. 24 -- Dec. 2.\nMilwaukee, Orlando, New York and Philadelphia will visit the Fieldhouse twice each. The Pacers wrap-up regular season play against the Sixers at home April 17.\nFormer owner buys Indianapolis minor league hockey team\nINDIANAPOLIS -- Former team owner Horn Chen purchased the Indianapolis Ice minor league hockey club, Friday. Chen, who founded and owned the club from 1988 to 1999, purchased the team from a group of six owners, two of which will remain minority owners under Chen.\nThe Ice will remain in the 16-team Central Hockey League that begins October 18. \n"I had always hoped there would be an opportunity to re-acquire the team and I am glad I received the chance," Chen said in a press release. "I now look forward to working with an experienced front office to keep tickets affordable while maintaining a competitive team on the the ice."\nStar Garciaparra returns to Boston Red Sox\nBOSTON -- After a four-game rehabilitation stint with the minor league Pawtucket Pawsox in Indianapolis, Red Sox star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra returned to Major League action Sunday against the Chicago White Sox in Boston, leading Boston to a 4-3 victory.\nGarciaparra didn't get the smoothest of starts going 0-2 with an error in the first three innings, but in the sixth, Garciaparra hit a 405-foot solo homer to straightaway center field off Sean Lowe. In the seventh, Garciaparra struck again with a two-run single, giving the Red Sox the lead for good.\nLabonte passes Earnhardt Jr. for win at Pocono\nLONG POND, Pa. -- Bobby Labonte passed Dale Earnhardt Jr. with two laps remaining Sunday to win the Pennsylvania 500 for his first victory of the season. It was the third career victory at Pocono for Labonte, who swept onto the mountaintop in 1999. \nBoth Labonte and Earnhardt benefited when Jeff Gordon pitted to change a bad set of tires with 68 laps left. It was the second time in six weeks Gordon lost after dominating at Pocono, but he took sole possession of the lead in the Winston Cup standings because Dale Jarrett wrecked twice and wound up 41st.\nLabonte led only the final two laps, and his Pontiac beat Earnhardt's Chevrolet by 1.68 seconds.