FanFare 10/18/02

Briefly

Baseball

Lou Piniella doesn't know where he'll manage next, but it won't be Boston. Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said the team has not asked for permission to talk to the Mariners manager and doesn't plan to do so.

Basketball

Yao Ming is closer to joining the Rockets after receiving his visa from the Chinese government and signing allegiance to his country's basketball association. Yao now needs to obtain final clearance from FIBA to travel to the Rockets' camp.

Kings forward Gerald Wallace will miss the rest of the preseason with a sprained knee, but should be healthy in time to start the regular season. An MRI exam revealed no ligament damage, and Wallace is expected to return for the Kings' season-opener at home against Cleveland on Oct. 29.

Tim Hardaway will suit up for ESPN during the upcoming NBA season, working as a studio analyst for the network's Friday-night doubleheaders.

The Grizzlies waived free agents Cory Bradford and Tang Hamilton, reducing their active training camp roster to 16 players.

Colleges

Former Nebraska running back Thunder Collins will get a job to care for his younger brother and train for a shot with an NFL team. The running back said he quit school and the team to take care of his 17-year-old brother. Collins said his decision was prompted by a cut from $404 to $199 in his monthly scholarship payments after being suspended for violating undisclosed NCAA rules.

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said he'll consider a number of measures, including instant replay, to help football officials do their job. Delany's remarks came in response to mounting criticism of league officials touched off by Penn State coach Joe Paterno.

Football

Terrell Owens was fined $5,000 by the NFL for an untucked shirttail. Owens wasn't punished for pulling a pen from his sock to sign the football after a touchdown catch in the 49ers' victory Monday.

Oakland cornerback Charles Woodson was upgraded to questionable for the Raiders' upcoming game against San Diego.

Falcons coach Dan Reeves upgraded Michael Vick from questionable to probable after the quarterback practiced without pain.

Golf

Jeff Sluman shot a bogey-free 9-under par 63 to grab a three-way share of the lead after the first round at the Disney World Classic. Hidemichi Tanaka made 10 birdies to tie Sluman and Bob Burns, who is 118th on the money list and needs a good week to secure his PGA Tour card for next year.

Colin Montgomerie defeated Fred Funk 3 and 2 in their 36-hole first-round match at the World Match Play Championship. In the day's other matches, Padraig Harrington defeated Mike Weir 4 and 3 and will face Sergio Garcia in the quarterfinals. Vijay Singh won 1 up over Justin Rose.

Nick Price shot a 5-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead in the Macau Open.

Hockey

The NHL plans to stop selling team hats known as "Sniper Caps" because of the deadly shootings in the Washington, D.C., area. In hockey lingo, a "sniper" refers to a team's top goal scorer.

Motorsports

Jamie McMurray will honor a commitment to run a Busch Series race in Memphis and Winston Cup's newest winner will be replaced by Mike Bliss in Sunday's Old Dominion 500.

Obituaries

Jimmy Disbrow, past president of the U.S. Figure Skating Association and co-founder of the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant chain, has died at 54.

Bob Gregg, known as "Bullet Bob the Barefoot Boy" because of his penchant for racing shoeless, has died at 82.

Tennis

Andre Agassi needed three sets to defeat Spaniard Feliciano Lopez on and reach the quarterfinals of the inaugural Madrid Masters. Agassi won 7-6 (6), 6-7 (8), 7-5.

Alexandra Stevenson smacked 16 aces to knock off fifth-seeded Jelena Dokic 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-5 to reach the Swisscom Challenge quarterfinals.

World No. 4 Amelie Mauresmo pulled out of the Swisscom Challenge with a sore knee.

-- From wire reports