Eagles Lodge set to host Silver Gloves

The H-Town Eagles Boxing Club will host the Montana State Silver Gloves this Saturday at The Eagles Lodge located at 801 Fee Street in Helena. Opening bell is at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Kids eight and under are free.

Volleyball coach interviews at Northern

HAVRE (AP) -- Havre High volleyball coach Bill Huebsch interviewed for the same position at Montana State-Northern and activities director Mark Samson has said he probably won't be bringing any more candidates to campus.

''I've talked to other applicants, I've done some informal interviews and phone interviews and I've talked to people about those applicants,'' Samson said Tuesday. ''We've had this job open the entire time since Greg Ryan left, so as far as we're concerned, Bill Huebsch is the best man for the job.''

Samson said he expected a hiring announcement soon, because the new coach will need to begin scheduling, recruiting and preparing for spring practice.

Northern's volleyball team has posted a 14-55 record over the past three seasons, two under Greg Ryan and one under interim coach Steve Leggitt.

Search continues for new Rays' stadium

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- A greyhound racing track and a former landfill are among seven suggested sites for a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark.

Each possible location is on the St. Petersburg side of the Tampa Bay. The current Tropicana Field area made the list, as did Progress Energy Park, a downtown spring-training stadium the team had hoped to develop into a major league stadium.

The new park is considered key to the long-term success of the Rays, who just made a shocking World Series run but have struggled drawing fans.

Other sites considered include an industrial park, a sod farm and a golf course near the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport.

K-State QB expected to enter NFL draft

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman was expected to announce that he's skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

A person with knowledge of Freeman's decision told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, on Thursday the school planned to make a formal announcement Friday.

Freeman, a 6-foot-6 junior, broke most of Kansas State's career passing records.

Dakar Rally restarts in South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Moved from Africa due to the threat of terrorism, the Dakar Rally starts Friday with a symbolic drive in Argentina's capital before heading out on an adventure that will cover nearly 6,000 miles.

The rally crosses the Pampas, heads into Patagonia, arrives at the Andes next Thursday, drives into Chile the following day, cruises alongside the Pacific Ocean for five days and finally heads back to Buenos Aires on Jan. 18.

''The drivers will discover a new territory, another landscape, but they are imbued with the same spirit of competition and adventure,'' rally director Etienne Levigne said.

The 2008 race was canceled because of security fears after four French tourists and three Mauritanian soldiers were killed before the start. The French government warned of a terrorist threat, and the race was called off for the first time in its 30-year history.

Browns still looking for GM, coach

CLEVELAND (AP) -- As the Cleveland Browns' courtship with Scott Pioli continues, one of his closest football friends said it would be foolish for anyone to speculate about the New England executive's plans.

Pioli, who has spent the past nine years helping build the Patriots into a powerhouse, met Wednesday with Browns owner Randy Lerner in New York about Cleveland's vacancy at general manager. It is not known if Lerner, who also is conducting coaching interviews this week, offered Pioli the job.

Contradictory reports surfaced on Thursday regarding the 37-year-old Pioli's interest in the Browns, who went 4-12 this season and have lost at least 10 games in five of the past six seasons. Pioli may also interview with the Kansas City Chiefs.