Mary Pierce, Father Reunite for Holidays

Mary Pierce and her father had an unexpected holiday reunion, their first meeting since he was banned from attending tennis tournaments in which his daughter was playing.

Jim Pierce told the New York Times he was not surprised when he opened the door of his Delray Beach, Fla., condominium early last week to see Mary and her brother, David.

“I figure she would come at Christmas to soothe her conscience,� Pierce said of his 18-year-old daughter. “She said, ‘Daddy, I love you and I always will.’

“I said, ‘Mary, I’ve never stopped loving you.’ �

Pierce, Mary’s primary coach through most of her career, was barred from WTA tournaments because of his vociferous behavior, and has been under a court order to stay away from his daughter.

Basketball

Bobby Hurley, spending Christmas with his family, is concerned about his recovery.

“It’s pretty frightening to me, because I’ve really never been injured in my career, so there a lot of unexpectedness ahead of me,� the Sacramento King rookie said an interview on NBC.

Hurley was hurt Dec. 12 when a car hit his light truck after he left Arco Arena following a King game against the Clippers.

“I’m just a little bit worried about how my knee is really going to end up doing. I’m going to have to get surgery on that, and also my shoulder, which was fractured in the collision.

“At this moment, basketball is definitely secondary in my mind. I’m sure, down the road, it’s something that I love to do, it’s something I’ve done my whole life and want to do again. Right now, I’m just thankful to be alive and to be spending Christmas here with all my family.�

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Michael Jordan is spending his first Christmas without his father. Jonathan Phillips, 7, wanted him to know that somebody understood.

In a letter to Jordan, Jonathan wrote:

“I’m sorry you quit playing basketball. I hope God’s taking care of your dad. I know what it feels like because my dad died in February, I felt like quitting too. I always watched you play and I want to play like you. If you ever need a friend to talk to, especially about your dad, call me.�

Ten days later, a box was delivered to Jonathan. It contained a letter from Jordan thanking him, an autographed photo, a Jordan video, a wrist band and a calendar.

Miscellany

Alexei Urmanov, considered a contender for a medal in February’s Winter Olympics, led 18 skaters in the technical program in the Russian figure skating championships at St. Petersburg.

Pittsburgh Penguin goalie Tom Barrasso, sidelined for more than five weeks because of a hip ailment, said that he is ready to play again.

Boxing

Former boxer Georgie Levine, a onetime contender for the welterweight championship of the world, died Saturday of congestive heart failure at 92.

The former Pacific Coast and California Lightweight champion during the mid-1920s, Levine fought Pete Latzo for the welterweight championship at the Polo Grounds in 1926. The fight ended in a controversial decision. Levine knocked Latzo down in the fourth round, but referees said Levine had thrown a low blow and disqualified him, giving the championship to Latzo. Levine would never get another title bout.

Levine is survived by two sons, Eugene and Steven, and a daughter, Arlette.