Philbin leaves Packers to become new coach of Dolphins

MIAMI — A month of wrenching emotion for Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin took another turn Friday when he landed the Miami Dolphins' head coaching job.

The deal was sealed less than two weeks after Philbin's 21-year-old son drowned in an icy Wisconsin river. The Dolphins confirmed the hiring in a news release and plan a news conference Saturday.

Philbin, who has never been a head coach, first interviewed with Miami on Jan. 7. The body of son Michael, one of Philbin's six children, was recovered the next day in Oshkosh.

After spending a week away from the Packers, Philbin rejoined the team last Sunday for its divisional playoff loss to the New York Giants.

Philbin has been with Green Bay since 2003, serving as offensive coordinator since 2007. Coach Mike McCarthy called the plays, but Philbin put together the game plan for one of the NFL's most prolific offenses.

The Dolphins' top choice, Jeff Fisher, turned them down a week ago to become coach of the St. Louis Rams. Miami owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland then conducted a second round of interviews this week with Philbin, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and Todd Bowles, the Dolphins' interim coach at the end of the season.

"Joe has all the attributes that we were looking for when we started this process," Ross said in a statement. "Jeff Ireland and I felt Joe was the right choice to bring the Dolphins back to the success we enjoyed in the past."

The Dolphins are coming off a third consecutive losing season, their longest such stretch since the 1960s. Even so, Philbin called them "one of the premier franchises in professional sports."

"The Dolphins have a strong nucleus to build around," he said in a statement. "And working with everyone in the organization, I know that together we will return the team to its winning tradition."

Ross fired Tony Sparano last month with three games to go in his fourth year as the Dolphins' coach. When the search for a new coach began, Ross said he would like to give the franchise much-needed stability by hiring "a young Don Shula."

Instead he chose the 50-year-old Philbin, who has 28 years of coaching experience, including 19 years in college.

With Philbin's help, the Packers have ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in yardage each of the past five seasons, including third in 2011. A year ago they won the Super Bowl.

"A huge congratulations to Joe Philbin," Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley tweeted. "No one deserves it more than this guy. The Pack will miss him!"

The hiring might give the Dolphins an edge if they decide to pursue Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn, who becomes a free agent this offseason. Flynn set Packers records with 480 yards passing and six touchdowns in their regular-season finale. Philbin played a major role in the development of Flynn and Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

"Worked five years with Joe Philbin," former Packers executive Andrew Brandt tweeted. "Calm, cerebral, humble and a skilled offensive mind. His style will resonate with players."

Assistants becoming first-time NFL head coaches have had mixed results in recent years. The group includes the Ravens' John Harbaugh, the Saints' Sean Payton and the Steelers' Mike Tomlin, but also three coaches recently fired — Jim Caldwell by the Colts, Todd Haley by the Chiefs and Steve Spagnuolo by the Rams.

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Defensive stalwart Blackledge leaves Evessa

The Osaka Evessa have parted ways with versatile forward Lawrence Blackledge, The Japan Times has learned.

Blackledge is the bj-league's second-leading shot blocker (3.0 per game) and tied for ninth in rebounds (10.0). In 22 games, he averaged 9.4 points.

Blackledge's release wasn't official at press time on Tuesday. But sources confirmed he is no longer playing for the title-contending Evessa.

Osaka (17-5) has also cut forward Lavell Payne, a Central Florida product. In 21 games, Payne averaged 5.0 points.

Blackledge is on the verge of joining the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix in the coming days, according to a league insider.

The Evessa, meanwhile, plan to add former Oita and Sendai 89ers standout Mike Bell, a high-scoring forward, well-informed sources said.

Bell, a 206-cm veteran averaged 21.3 points and 12.4 rebounds for Oita in 2009-10, both averages in the top five in the league. Last season, the Florida Atlantic University product averaged 18.5 ppg for Sendai before the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake ended the 89ers' season. After that, he saw action for teams in Qatar and Bahrain to complete the season.

Also Tuesday, the Oita HeatDevils released center Zach Atkinson.

The 206-cm Atkinson averaged 6.7 points in 24 games (seven starts). On Christmas Day, Atkinson had his best game of the season, finishing with 15 points, 20 rebounds and three assists in a blowout loss to the Ryukyu Golden Kings.

Oita has the league's second-worst record (5-19).

League accolade: Rookie forward Justin Burrell helped the Yokohama B-Corsairs sweep the Saitama Broncos last weekend. He is the Lawson/Ponta Player of the Week, the bj-league announced on Tuesday.

Burrell, the Big East Conference's Sixth Man of the Year winner last season, had 20 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a two-point triumph over Saitama on Friday. A day later, he scored 33 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

The 23-year-old Burrell is averaging a team-high 19.3 points per game for expansion club Yokohama, which is 11-13 at the All-Star break.

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India leaves door open for pacemen

MELBOURNE, Australia — India is expected to wait until just before Monday's toss to name its team for the first test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, giving injury-prone pace bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma a chance to prove their fitness.

Waiting game: India's Sachin Tendulkar takes part in a training session in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday. AP

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Khan and Sharma "are shaping up well, hopefully they would all be available for selection" for the first match of the four-test series. The visitors have not won a test series in 64 years of touring Australia.

Batsman Sachin Tendulkar will renew his quest for his 100th international century in the first test, having been stuck on 99 since March. Dhoni said Tendulkar's main emotion when he finally reaches the milestone will be relief.

"He will get it at some point in time, whether it's this series or the next series," Dhoni said. "I don't think there's any added pressure on him. But of course if he gets it soon he will feel a bit relieved. The whole of cricket, all over the world, people will really cherish the moment when he gets his hundredth done."

On Sunday, both teams held light batting sessions and the Australians had a family Christmas luncheon.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who took his son with him to the luncheon, says Australia has put its embarrassing loss to New Zealand in the Hobart test behind them. Australia lost eight wickets for 74 on the final day in a seven-run loss to the No. 8-ranked Kiwis two weeks ago — the visitors' first test win in Australia since 1985.

"We're in a very good space at the moment," Haddin said. "Boxing Day, it's a great occasion to walk out onto the MCG. As as sportsman, it's a highlight to be able to come out in front of 60,000 or 70,000 to watch a test match."

Australia left out uncapped allrounder Dan Christian and pace bowler Mitchell Starc from its 13-man squad when its team was named Saturday.

Swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus won a recall after recovering from knee tendinitis while Shaun Marsh returns to bat at No. 3 after overcoming a back injury which kept him out of the two-test New Zealand series.

Clarke said it was a gamble to leave out No. 6 batsman Christian, especially with fellow allrounder Shane Watson declared unfit as he recovers from hamstring and calf strains. But Clarke said he could call on himself and other part-timers Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting and David Warner to bowl a few overs.

Australia will take just four genuine bowlers into the test — Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon and James Pattinson, who has taken two five-wickets hauls in his first two tests.

Tasmania's Ed Cowan, 29, will become the 10th Australia player to make his test debut in 2011. Cowan will open the batting with David Warner against No.2-ranked India.

Haddin said the possibility of Tendulkar achieving the historic 100-century mark was a bonus for the fans.

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Lee leaves Saiki behind for victory

Chiba — South Korea's Lee Ji Hee pulled away from joint overnight leader Miki Saiki to capture her first title of the season at the Nichirei Ladies on Sunday.

Saiki made a costly bogey on the 16th at Sodegaura Country and Lee capitalized with birdies on her final two holes to claim a two shot victory, a week after finishing tied for second at the Suntory Ladies Open.

Victory was the 14th of Lee's career on the Japan LPGA Tour and earned her ?14.4 million from the ?80 million purse.

Lee, who set a course record with a flawless 64 to lead at the midway point at last week's tournament, made seven birdies in all against a pair of bogeys to close on 12-under 204.

"I really, really wanted to win the title and was really tense from the morning. I have never cried so much," said Lee, whose last win came at the NEC Karuizawa 72 last August.

"I want to get four or five wins this year and aim for the money title," she said.

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