Safin rips into Agassi

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Briefs

No replay for Ireland

There will be no rematch.

Ireland's hopes for a replay of its World Cup qualifier against France ended Friday after both FIFA and the French Football Federation rejected requests for another game.

Navratilova lumps Agassi with Clemens

Martina Navratilova drew a parallel Thursday between Andre Agassi and Roger Clemens, saying she's shocked the eight-time Grand Slam champion lied about drug use.

Agassi's upcoming autobiography contains an admission he used crystal meth in 1997 and failed a drug test -- a result he says was thrown out after he lied by saying he "unwittingly" took the substance.

"Shocking," Navratilova said Thursday from Sarasota, Fla., in a phone interview. "Not as much shock that he did it as shock he lied about it and didn't own up to it. He's up there with Roger Clemens, as far as I'm concerned. He owned up to it (in the book), but it doesn't help now."

Sports Briefs: Bobcats no match for Celtics in Boston

Kevin Garnett scored 10 points with seven rebounds over 26 easy minutes in his return to the Boston parquet on Wednesday night and the Celtics held Charlotte to a franchise-low in scoring and coasted to a 92-59 victory in their home opener.

Ray Allen scored 18 points and was the only Boston starter to play in the fourth quarter as the Celtics followed their opening-night victory over Cleveland with a blowout of the Bobcats. Paul Pierce scored 15, Rajon Rondo scored 10 with 11 assists and Rasheed Wallace came off the bench with three 3-pointers.

Former Duke star Shelden Williams had 12 points and nine rebounds as a reserve.

Warriors suspend unhappy Jackson

The Golden State Warriors suspended Stephen Jackson for two exhibition games Saturday after the unhappy captain left the bench during an exhibition contest in Los Angeles.

The veteran swingman picked up five fouls and a technical in less than 10 minutes Friday night while playing against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Forum. After an apparently testy exchange with coach Don Nelson when Jackson's frustration was evident on the bench, Jackson went to the locker room and never returned.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Jackson was sent to the locker room or went on his own. The Warriors only said Jackson was suspended for "conduct detrimental to the team."

Rafa & Serena will try to defend titles in Oz

The first Grand Slam tennis event of this newest decade will get underway next week in Melbourne, where former world No. 1 superstar Rafael Nadal and reigning top-ranked women's superstar Serena Williams will set out to defend their titles at the Australian Open.

Last year, Nadal outlasted his chief rival Roger Federer in a five-set finale at Rod Laver Arena, while Serena dispatched Russian Dinara Safina in straight sets.

Rafa's title marked his first-ever Down Under championship, while Serena's victory gave her Oz title number four, as she won in every odd year, with the exception of 2001, in the 2000s (2009, 2007, 2005, 2003). Serena would go on to capture an 11th overall major title at Wimbledon last summer, while Nadal's 2009 season would wind up being interrupted by knee and abdominal injuries.