NEW YORK, N. Zach Sudfeld .Y. - Metta World Peaces dream homecoming lasted less than a season, with the New York Knicks waiving the veteran forward and Beno Udrih on Monday after buying out their contracts. World Peace finally got his wish to play for the Knicks when he signed last summer, but he never gained a place in Mike Woodsons rotation and appeared in just 29 games before asking for his release. "It was a childhood dream of mine to play basketball professionally in New York City, and it has truly been a blessing for that dream to have come true. However, under current circumstances, my agent and I have agreed that being bought out would be the best option for me professionally," the New York native said in a statement. "I would like everyone to know that whether I was on the court or off, I could not have been happier playing for and cheering on this amazing city, my city." The moves were announced Monday before the Knicks hosted the Dallas Mavericks. By getting waived this week, both veterans will be able to sign with another team and be eligible for the playoffs. World Peace, who grew up in Queensbridge and starred at St. Johns when he was still Ron Artest, missed nearly all of January due to a procedure on his left knee. He played seven minutes Friday in a loss at Orlando, and then wrote on his Twitter page on Saturday that his agent was working on a buyout. Udrih, who also signed last summer, had 12 starts among his 31 appearances. "We are disappointed that it did not work out for Beno and Metta here in New York," Knicks general manager Steve Mills said. "We thank them for their contributions this season and wish them well." Woodson said he and Mills would talk Tuesday about adding players. Woodson said he thought the Knicks needed a guard to defend on the perimeter, and another big man with Andrea Bargnani and Kenyon Martin injured. DBrickashaw Ferguson . Not to be outdone, hobbling six-foot point guard Kyle Lowry dropped a lovely sky hook over 6-11 giant and future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett. The final minutes of the Toronto Raptors 87-79 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday could define this young team and their season -- fighting to the end, finding a way to win. Jeff Cumberland .S. Open champion Rory McIlroy shot a 3-under 69 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Shanghai Masters.NEWARK, N.J. - Peyton Manning is not interested in talking about where his career stands in football history. Not right now, anyway. Not when hes still playing. And certainly not less than a week from playing in the Super Bowl for the Denver Broncos. As collected and measured as he is while standing in a pocket, Manning coasted through the circus that is Media Day, opining on his familys favourite beer, politely evading silly questions about reality TV — and avoiding any wild pronouncements. Reporters repeatedly brought up the word "legacy" as the 37-year-old Manning, a four-time NFL MVP who broke records by throwing for 55 touchdowns and 5,477 yards this season, sat through his hour-long session Tuesday. Hardly surprising that he never took the bait. "Ive been being asked about my legacy since I was about 25 years old. Im not sure you can have a legacy when youre 25 years old. Even 37," Manning said in response to the first succh query.Alex Green. "Id like to have to be, like, 70 to have a legacy. Im not even 100 per cent sure what the word even means." Then, in about the closest thing to a stumble, Manning continued: "Im still in the middle of my career." At least one of the dozens of assembled media members gasped, "middle?!" Realizing his miscue, Manning chuckled and went on. "Let me rephrase that," he resumed. "Im down the homestretch of my career, but Im still in it. Its not over yet. And so its still playing out. This has been the second chapter of my career." Sundays game against the Seattle Seahawks will be Mannings third appearance in a Super Bowl. The other two came with the Indianapolis Colts. He helped that franchise win the NFL championship game in 2007, then lost in the 2010 Super Bowl. ___ Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org ' ' '
