won't derail MLS expansion bid

Despite economic turmoil that has kept Merritt Paulson's father on the front pages of newspapers, the Portland Timbers owner said he stands by his pledge to cover the $40 million Major League Soccer expansion fee --should Portland be awarded a team.

"We're prepared to move forward despite the economic conditions," he said.

Portland is among six locations seeking one of two expansion franchises in 2011.

Paulson said he might add "a strategic investor or two" but doesn't feel the need to include an athlete in the mix. Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns is backing a Vancouver, B.C., bid, and St. Louis recently added baseball standout Albert Pujols to its roster of investors.

"Our ownership group stacks up very favorably," Paulson said.

Paulson's business partner is his father, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

-- Boaz Herzog

In Metro:

Task force will look at proposals to upgrade PGE Park and build a baseball stadium | C1

OF NOTE

Wizards (1-10) fire Eddie Jordan

After opening 1-10 to match the worst start in team history, the Washington Wizards fired coach Eddie Jordan and top assistant Mike O'Koren on Monday and gave director of player development Ed Tapscott his first NBA head coaching job.

"That's an unacceptable record, obviously," team president Ernie Grunfeld said. "We thought the change needed to be made. We needed to do things a little bit different."

Grunfeld phoned Jordan and delivered the news --after the coach had spent the morning distributing turkeys during a team charity event. Grunfeld then informed Tapscott.

Jordan, the Eastern Conference's coach at the 2007 All-Star Game, was in his sixth season with the Wizards.

Randolph to debut with Clippers at Rose Garden: A delay in last week's Los Angeles Clippers-New York Knicks trade means Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins won't be able to play for the Clippers until Friday at Portland, where Randolph played his first six NBA seasons before spending last season with the Knicks.

Ginobili back in action: Manu Ginobili returned from his offseason left ankle surgery, and the San Antonio Spurs celebrated in Memphis, Tenn. Ginobili scored 12 points to help the Spurs beat the Grizzlies 94-81. NBA summaries, standings on E5.

Tebow nominated for another Maxwell: Tim Tebow will get a chance to repeat as winner of the Maxwell Award, given to college football's top player. The Florida quarterback was one of three announced finalists, along with quarterbacks Graham Harrell of Texas Tech and Colt McCoy of Texas. The Maxwell and eight other awards will be presented Dec. 11 on ESPN. . . .

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, once considered a possible replacement for Washington's Tyrone Willingham, said he has agreed to a new contract with the Tigers.

Judge drops three charges against Bonds: Three charges against Barry Bonds were dismissed by a federal judge in San Francisco who left intact most of the indictment alleging Bonds lied to a grand jury when he denied knowingly taking performance-enhancing drugs. Bonds, baseball's home run king, is scheduled for a March 2 trial.

Another Roy son suspended: Frederick Roy, son of hockey great Patrick Roy, was suspended for 15 games by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for high-sticking during the Quebec Remparts' game against the Montreal Juniors last week. Patrick Roy is the Remparts' coach. The suspension comes eight months after Frederick's brother, Jonathan, was suspended for seven QMJHL games for participating in an on-ice fight. NHL scores, standings in Scoreboard, E3.

Contador has nasal surgery: Alberto Contador, the 2007 Tour de France champion, underwent surgery for a deviated septum in Madrid, Spain. The Spanish rider, 25, was injured in a crash at the Giro d'Italia in May.

-- From wire reports