1.   And Charles Oakley, their best defensive forward and locker-room leader, hopes to return this month from toe surgery.

2.   Cornerback Deion Sanders could return from his toe surgery in two weeks.

3.   Detroit Pistons forward Grant Hill will miss the rest of the preseason after undergoing minor toe surgery yesterday.

4.   Prime Time ballet Ever wonder why cornerback Deion Sanders went to Dr. Bill Hamilton for his toe surgery?

5.   Riley said that forward Charles Oakley, who has missed most of the season because of toe surgery, will be checked by a doctor Friday.

6.   Sanders is still hurting from a hamstring injury, and this off-season he had toe surgery.

7.   The Cardinals chose not to send any passes to the left side to challenge Sanders, playing in his first game since offseason toe surgery.

8.   The Cowboys never looked at Sanders as option because his lengthy absence and rehabilitation from April toe surgery prevented him from working with the offense.

9.   The play of Charles Oakley, inconsistent since he returned from toe surgery, might make this a closer series than the Knicks would like.

10.   The unavailability of Sanders, still recovering from toe surgery, was a game-time decision, and he could play as soon as next week against Atlanta.