NEW YORK — The NBA finals games were the six highest-rated and most-watched programs so far in June, the first time that has happened in seven years.

Boston’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers averaged a 9.3 rating for the series, up 50 percent over the 6.2 for San Antonio’s sweep of Cleveland last year. The Celtics’ Game 6 clincher on Tuesday earned a 10.7 rating on ABC, averaging 16.9 million viewers over the course of the game.

Game 5, two nights earlier, averaged 17.4 million viewers.

The last time the finals swept the top spots was in 2001, when the Lakers beat Philadelphia in five games.

The Belmont Stakes, with 13.1 million viewers, was the most-watched program thus far in June besides the NBA finals.

GOLF

Four share PGAlead

CROMWELL, Conn. — Johnson Wagner says he could shoot a 61 while playing the TPC River Highlands on his old Sega Genesis video game as a kid.

The actual course didn’t give Wagner much more of a challenge in the Travelers Championship when he shot a 6-under 64 to match Steve Lowery, Brad Adamonis and Englishman Brian Davis for the first-round lead.

With temperatures hovering in the low 70s and soft greens from rain Wednesday night, conditions set up nicely for the field. Seven players were a shot back at 65, and another 16 shot 66s. Of the 156 players, 104 shot under par.

Miyazato has happy birthday

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Japan’s Ai Miyazato, celebrating her 23rd birthday, shot a 4-under 68 to join Cristie Kerr and five South Korean players atop the crowded leaderboard at the Wegmans LPGA.

Jeong Jang, Inbee Park, Song-Hee Kim, Jimin Jeong and Soo-Yun Kang, who holed a 9-wood shot for an ace on the 165-yard seventh hole, also shot 68s. Morgan Pressel, Becky Lucidi, Sweden’s Helen Alfredsson and South Korea’s Hee-Won Han, Na On Min, Kyeong Bae and Young-A Yang opened with 69s.

Defending champion Lorena Ochoa, the No. 1 player in women’s golf, carded an even-par 72 in cool, blustery conditions at the tight, tree-lined Locust Hill course, one better than Annika Sorenstam. Michelle Wie, who is ranked 200th in the world and received a sponsor exemption, shot a 71.

BASEBALL

College series delayed

OMAHA, Neb. — The College World Series game Thursday night between North Carolina and LSU was suspended because of rain and will be resumed this evening.

North Carolina led 2-0 with one out in the top of the first inning when rain and lightning moved into the area and play was stopped at 6:27.

After a delay of 3 hours, 5 minutes, the decision was made to resume Friday evening.

Games originally scheduled for today — Georgia against Stanford and Fresno State against the winner of the North Carolina-LSU game — will be moved to Saturday.

Schilling done for season

BOSTON — Curt Schilling says he’s out for the season, and his career may be over.

The 41-year-old Boston Red Sox right-hander said today on radio station WEEI he will have shoulder surgery next week.

“My season is over and there is a pretty decent chance I have thrown my last pitch forever,” he said.

Schilling’s physician, Dr. Craig Morgan, confirmed to The Associated Press the surgery will be done Monday in Wilmington, Del.

“If you use a scale of 1-10 and 10 is pitching in the big leagues, I’m at about 3 right now,” Schilling said.

He added: “I’m going in to make it not hurt anymore.”

A team spokesman did not immediately return a call.

FOOTBALL

Bears give Harris extension

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears signed defensive tackle Tommie Harris to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2012 season.

The team declined to release financial terms of the deal, but Harris planned to speak about the new deal during a news conference this morning.

The 25-year-old Harris is a three-time Pro Bowl selection. He started 56 of his 60 career NFL games and recorded 208 tackles during his four seasons with the Bears.

Martin Stadium upgrade planned

PULLMAN, Wash. — That grainy electronic scoreboard at Washington State University’s football stadium will be a thing of the past.

A new video, scoring and sound system will be erected at Martin Stadium in time for the Sept. 6 home opener against California, the school said Thursday.

The system features a Daktronics video screen that measures 53 feet wide by 25 feet high, double the size of the current screen.

The work is part of a major upgrade of the 35,000-seat on-campus stadium, smallest in the league. The work, to be completed by the start of this season, also includes new restrooms and concessions stands, new ticket office and wider sidewalks.

HOCKEY

NEW YORK — The NHL is threatening to kick the owners of the New York Rangers out of the league or force them to sell the team as punishment for accusing league officials of violating antitrust laws.

The NHL filed court papers Wednesday that included a draft letter from commissioner Gary Bettman proposing discipline against Madison Square Garden, L.P., that could lead to suspension or termination of its ownership of the Rangers. The Garden responded by accusing the NHL of using “bullying tactics.”

In its court filing, the NHL asked a judge to agree Madison Square Garden breached its contract by challenging league rules.

Madison Square Garden sued the NHL in September, saying it violated antitrust laws by monopolizing control of team promotions. A judge ruled in November that the league seemed within its rights to take control of the team’s Web site.