(Eds: SUBS BKN-SANDOMIR-NETS for BKN-NETS-PROKOHOROV, moves item to commentary sted features) Attn Sports Editors: Sports stories from The New York Times News Service for Saturday, May 8. COMMENTARY VECSEY-COLUMN -- When the Phoenix Suns wore the name Los Suns on their jerseys Wednesday night, it was construed by many of their fans as a political statement against the new Arizona law regarding illegal immigrants. But as Phoenix Coach Alvin Gentry noted, the Suns had worn Los Suns twice during the season before the law was passed -- and now have won all three games in the jerseys. Still it was refreshing to hear reaction to current events from sports figures. It is easy to take pot shots at athletes and team officials for living in a bubble, isolated by money and fame. When athletes care about something, conservative or liberal, it is a sign they are alive. By George Vecsey. BKN-SANDOMIR-NETS -- The Mikhail D. Prokhorov era should start next week for the Brooklyn-bound New Jersey Nets. On Tuesday, nearly eight months after Prokhorov came to the fiscal rescue of the Nets' owner, Bruce Ratner, the NBA board of governors is expected to give him its approval to become an owner. The following day, the Russian billionaire's $200 million deal to buy 80 percent of the worst team in the league and 45 percent of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn is likely to close. By Richard Sandomir. FEATURES TEN-MCENROE-CAMP -- When John McEnroe considers the future of tennis, he can see a 21st-century version of himself, challenging the orthodoxy, combating the world, emerging from a laboratory that is named after him. On Thursday, McEnroe plans to announce the September start of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Randalls Island. McEnroe intends to model the enterprise on the Port Washington, N.Y., club he grew up in -- and he hopes to widen the search for the next great player from New York to less traditional tennis-playing communities. By Harvey Araton. With photo. GLF-PLAYERS (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) -- Golf has been all abuzz about a youth movement again, especially this week after the fuzzy-cheeked duo of Ryo Ishikawa, 18, of Japan and Rory McIlroy, 21, of Northern Ireland shot record-low rounds to win on the Japan PGA and PGA Tour last week. But at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, it usually helps to have a few more miles on the odometer. Enter Lee Westwood of England, the broad-backed 37-year-old leader after two rounds. Europe's best player based on current form -- and the best player in the world without a major championship -- Westwood has diligently worked his way back up to No. 4 in the official World Golf Rankings with his runner-up finish at the Masters. By Larry Dorman. GLF-PLAYERS-WOODS (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) -- Tiger Woods shot his second straight subpar round at the Players Championship on Friday, a one-under 71 to go with his opening 70, but it was not without the type of misadventures that have been marring his scorecards since his return to competition at the Masters last month. Woods had five birdies, but also two bogeys and a double bogey at the 14th hole set up by a tee shot that was so far right it wound up in the pond in front of the 12th tee. By Larry Dorman. CYC-RIDER-BARRED -- When the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's three Grand Tours, begins Saturday, there will be a glaring absence at the starting line. One of the race favorites, the Italian cyclist Franco Pellizotti, will be nowhere in sight. Pellizotti, the Liquigas rider who finished third at the 2009 Giro and won the climber's jersey at the 2009 Tour de France, was barred this week from the Giro for an alleged violation of antidoping rules. By Juliet Macur. BBO-DRUG-TESTS -- The top official for Major League Baseball in charge overhauling its operations in the Dominican Republic said on Friday that baseball would now require top prospects as young as 15 to provide fingerprints and undergo testing for performance-enhancing drugs before they can sign with teams. The official, Sandy Alderson, said that baseball would also expand its educational programs for performance-enhancing drugs in the Dominican Republic to unsigned players. By Michael S. Schmidt. RAC-PREAKNESS -- Slowly, the gates are beginning to fill for the 135th running of the Preakness Stakes on May 15, and it appears that the Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver is going to have some formidable company, including a colt who finished in front of him the last time they met, Schoolyard Dreams. By Joe Drape. BBA-YANKEES-PETTITTE (Boston) -- From the Yankees' perspective, their decision to skip Andy Pettitte's next start came easily. When a 37-year-old pitcher complains of elbow tightness 27 games into what they hope is another championship season, they see no reason to take unnecessary risks. 'Yeah,' Pettitte said, when asked whether he understood the Yankees' thought process with some of their older players. 'I guess so.' But as Pettitte continued speaking, it was clear that he disagreed. Talking mostly in short, clipped sentences, Pettitte expressed his displeasure that the decision was made for him. By Ben Shpigel. LAX-PRINCETON (Princeton, N.J.) -- New first-year men's lacrosse coach Chris Bates keeps Princeton winning but with more laughs. By Kevin Armstrong. With photo. For information and repeats call the News Service at (888) 346-9867 or (212) 556-1927. 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