Nuggets, Wrestlers Still Locked in Arena Dispute

World Wrestling Entertainment thrives on outlandish story lines and characters, but the company finds itself embroiled in a real-life controversy with the Denver Nuggets. And WWE's bombastic owner is making the most of it.

The plot: Who has rights to Denver's Pepsi Center on Monday -- the Nuggets, hosting their first Western Conference final since 1985, or the WWE's traveling TV soap opera?

WWE chairman Vince McMahon, the promoter who helped transform professional wrestling into prime-time television entertainment, fired the first salvo Monday. In interviews with ESPN, he loudly called out Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke and challenged him to a steel-cage match.

WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman said the company reserved the Pepsi Center on Aug. 15 and had already sold more than 10,000 tickets for its Monday Night Raw event.

-- SUNS: Shaquille O'Neal is in training for his next career.

The 7-foot-1 center is taking a course at Syracuse University known as Sportscaster U, a crash course designed to teach athletes about the broadcasting industry.

-- 76ERS: Philadelphia interviewed Dallas assistant and former Timberwolves coach Dwane Casey for its coaching vacancy.

The Sixers have interviewed former Wizards coach Eddie Jordan and plan to talk to Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau.

-- From News Services