1.  Any reservations he had about being unable to continue throwing in his unconventional fashion _ rather than setting and throwing _ evaporated long before Tuesdaynight, he said.

2.  Defensively, the Sonics slowed the Nuggets' transition game long enough for Payton to eventually put the Sonics ahead 96-89 with a short running jumper.

3.  Denver Combs, service officer for the Montgomery County Veterans' Service Center, said the bill was "long overdue."

4.  Cuba has long accepted leftist guerrilla groups engaged in hostage taking.

5.  Cuban-Americans will help Elian best by encouraging peaceful change, even if they have to endure their bearded nemesis for a few years longer.

6.  Dermatologists have long assumed that as with men, hair loss in women is precipitated by androgens, the so-called male sex hormones that include testosterone.

7.  Deion Sanders, for all his self-proclaimed show-business instincts, had let the song go on too long.

8.  Delaney also said Long would not have condoned any abusive behavior by his counselors.

9.  DeRosario, named the MVP, created the goal himself by separating from Califf long enough to get his shot off.

10.  Derrick and Carl have been teamed for so long, and he is hopeful that they can take the next step together."