Celtics back in NBA finals for 2nd time in 3 years

The Celtics were supposed to be too old, too hurt, too inconsistent.

Boston coach Doc Rivers knew better.

The team that muddled through its last 54 regular-season games with a 27-27 record is headed to the NBA finals after winning Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals over the Orlando Magic 96-84 Friday night.

"The first thing we said when we got in the locker room is this is where we thought we would be," Rivers said. "So don't be surprised. This is what we talked about before the season started."

An 86-77 win at Orlando on Christmas Day gave the Celtics a 23-5 record. Then injuries to Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce …

Marshall's Black is road ready, Herd's leading scorer sparks MU

ATHENS, Ohio - Maybe Marvin Black was playing possum.

Maybe that's why Marshall University's senior forward has beenmore "road kill" than "road warrior" this season.

There's no maybes about it, according to Ohio University.

The Bobcats were expecting Black to play like a critter in theheadlights here at The Convo Sunday, just as he has in so many otherroad games this season. Instead, it was Black who ran over Ohio,leading Marshall to a crucial 71-68 win in front of 6,627 fans.

"This was his best road game this year," said Marshall Coach RonJirsa, after watching Black score 15 points and grab a game-high ninerebounds. "I can't say enough about his level of …

Pulitzer-winning author Norman Mailer, who penned 'The Naked and the Dead,' dead at age 84

Norman Mailer, the macho prince of American letters who for decades reigned as the country's literary conscience and provocateur with such books as "The Naked and the Dead" and "The Executioner's Song" died Saturday, his literary executor said. He was 84.

Mailer died of acute renal failure at Mount Sinai Hospital, said J. Michael Lennon, who is also the author's biographer.

From his classic debut novel, "The Naked and the Dead," set in the South Pacific in World War II, to such masterworks of literary journalism as "The Armies of the Night," the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner always got credit for his insight, passion …

Quiet summer camp

A camp with record crowds couldn't have been any more quiet for the Bears, who closed up shop at Olivet Nazarene University on Thursday evening after a 22-day stay.

Jay Cutler was introduced to raving crowds, and after a short flare-up the day players arrived when he and Brian Urlacher professed their undying respect as teammates no matter what Bobby Wade said in Minnesota, it was the kind of camp every coach dreams about. Defensive tackle Marcus Harrison had to get in shape before he was cleared. Cornerback Zack Bowman went down with a pulled hamstring after a week, but not before turning heads. Free safety Danieal Manning reinjured his hamstring.

The biggest news dropped …

Distant thunder of trade war grows // But a loud silence from affected firms

The public silence coming from U.S. companies and pockets ofindustries that would be adversely affected by the Reaganadministration's proposed trade sanctions on Japan have been nearlydeafening.

Among major companies, only Honeywell Inc. and Honeywell Bull,the newly created company into which Honeywell folded its computerbusiness, have expressed anything approaching a complaint since 100percent tariffs on selected Japanese products were announced 10 daysago. Yet some U.S. firms have good reason to speak up loudly - atleast to government officials. Apparently they are talking toCommerce Department and U.S. trade officials and don't want toendanger a possible exclusion …

Titans Run by Jags 13-10

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Tennessee's running attack hardly missed Travis Henry in the season opener.

Chris Brown ran for 175 yards, Vince Young and LenDale White combined for another 88 on the ground and the Titans ran roughshod over the Jacksonville Jaguars in a 13-10 victory Sunday.

Henry, who ran for more than 1,200 yards last season, left Tennessee for Denver in the offseason. The Titans did just fine without him.

Brown found gapping holes in Jacksonville's vaunted defense, making the Jaguars look either out of shape or out of position on nearly every play. Most of his big runs came up the middle as Tennessee's offensive line manhandled Pro Bowl tackles Marcus …

DNA test: Argentine fathered 7 kids with daughter

Officials say DNA tests prove that an Argentine man accused of incest fathered seven children with his daughter.

Lawmaker Ricardo Puga is head of a rights commission in the Mendoza province legislature. He says 67-year-old Armando Lucero fathered his daughter's seven children during decades of incest starting when she was 8.

The name of …