NEW YORK — NBA Commissioner David Stern said Friday he thinks eliminating teams will be on the table during collective bargaining as a way to solve the league's financial woes.

CBSSports.com first reported Thursday that the league would "continue to be open to contraction," after Stern said he wanted player costs reduced by $700-800 million.

That set off predictable panic in some small-market cities whose teams have struggled on the court and at the gate. For now, Stern is more interested in making teams in smaller markets competitive and profitable than he is in taking them away.

The players likely would fight contraction because of the loss of jobs it would entail.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee released a Sept. 9 letter from athletic director Mike Hamilton informing basketball coach Bruce Pearl his contract would be terminated because he knowingly violated NCAA rules.The letter states Pearl told men's basketball recruits and their families that a visit to his home for a team cookout would be an NCAA violation. He also told the recruits and their families he would not tell anyone about the violation and asked that they not tell anyone.After Pearl acknowledged misleading NCAA investigators, Hamilton docked his salary by $1.5 million over four seasons and banned him from off-campus recruiting for a year.

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Brian McBride will play his final game Saturday for the Chicago Fire against Chivas USA, ending a career that's spanned 17 years, two continents, three World Cups, some gruesome injuries and more than 150 goals.The 38-year-old striker's goal-scoring ability and tenacity helped make the U.S. more competitive in the world's favorite game, and paved the way for the next generation of players.McBride was the first American to score at two World Cups, and finished with 30 goals in a U.S. uniform. Only Landon Donovan (45) and Eric Wynalda (34) have more.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Seneca Valley graduate Don Barclay, an offensive tackle on the West Virginia University football team, was named a fourth-team All-American on Phil Steele's 2010 Midseason team.Steele also named Barclay to the Midseason All-Big East first team.

FRANKLIN — The Pennsylvania Game Commission released ring-necked pheasants throughout the 10-county Northwest Region, which includes Butler, during the week in preparation for the season opener Oct. 23.Hunters are reminded that pheasant harvest is restricted by sex in the various Wildlife Management Units. Please check the seasons and corresponding WMUs at www.pgc.state.pa.us.Pheasants are stocked on State Game Lands and other lands open to public hunting with suitable pheasant habitat.Regular pheasant season begins Oct. 23 and concludes Nov. 27.The late season pheasant hunting dates are Dec. 13 to 23, and Dec. 27 to Feb. 5.

SUMMIT TWP — The foursome of Greg Loverick, Frank Rice, Craig Hladik and Ralph Deabrunzzo won the Butler Football Hometown Hero golf outing last weekend at Hiland Golf Course.The quartet carded a 12-under 58 to win the event for the third consecutive year.