FanFare 3/14/03

Briefly

Baseball

The diet supplement ephedra was partly to blame for the heatstroke death of Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler last month, a medical examiner said Thursday. Toxicology tests confirmed that "significant" amounts of an over-the-counter supplement containing the herb contributed to the heatstroke, Broward County medical examiner Dr. Joshua Perper said.

Kenny Rogers passed his physical, and the Twins finalized his $2 million, one-year contract. Rogers threw in the bullpen to All-Star catcher A.J. Pierzynski before Minnesota's split-squad game against the Tigers.

Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa shouldn't count on a chance to hit homers at the Athens Olympics. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig all but ruled out participation of major leaguers in the 2004 Games.

Alex Rodriguez returned to Texas for tests on his left shoulder. Rodriguez complained of stiffness and fatigue in the shoulder after playing the past two days.

Football

Kordell Stewart needed a team and the Bears needed a quarterback. On Thursday, they agreed to terms on a two-year, $5 million contract.

The Ravens signed right tackle Ethan Brooks to a two-year deal. Brooks joined the Ravens during training camp last season and started 13 of the last 14 games, missing just one due to injury.

Former Redskins running back Stephen Davis has agreed to a five-year contract with the Carolina Panthers, his agent said.

After a long trip out of salary cap purgatory, the Jaguars signed former Colts linebacker Mike Peterson to a $20.4 million contract.

Golf

Jeff Brehaut shot a 9-under 63 at the Country Club at Mirasol, giving him a share of the Honda Classic lead with Justin Leonard and Notah Begay III when play was suspended because of lightning.

Lorie Kane fired a nine-under 61 to take the lead after the opening round of the Welch's/Fry's Championship.

Hockey

Billionaire B. Thomas Golisano has agreed to buy the bankrupt Sabres, all but securing the team's future in Buffalo after eight months of uncertainty, a league source said. Golisano must seek final approval from U.S. Bankruptcy Court. His offer was to be presented to Judge Michael Kaplan today.

Miscellaneous

CBS has had discussions with ESPN about switching the NCAA men's basketball tournament to the cable network if the United States goes to war with Iraq. CBS is planning to dedicate itself entirely to news coverage during the beginning of a war, prompting the contingency plans for the NCAA tournament.

A Norwegian firefighter won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, enduring extreme wind and cold toward the finish of the grueling, 1,100-mile trek. Robert Sorlie completed the race in just more than 9 1/2 days.

On the air

College men's basketballBig Ten Conference, Wisconsin vs. Ohio State, 11 a.m., ESPN

Big Ten Conference, Michigan State vs. Purdue, at Chicago, 1 p.m., ESPN

Atlantic Coast Conference, N.C. State vs. Georgia Tech, 1 p.m, ESPN

Patriot League, American vs. Holy Cross, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Southland Conference, Stephen F. Austin at Sam Houston State., 3:30 p.m, ESPN2

Big East Conference, Pittsburgh vs. Boston College, 6 p.m., ESPN

Atlantic Coast Conference, quarterfinal 3, Maryland vs. North Carolina, 6 p.m., ESPN2

Big East Conference, game TBA, 8 p.m., ESPN

Atlantic Coast Conference, Duke vs. Virginia, 8 p.m., ESPN2

Pac-10 Conference, game TBA, 8 p.m., FOX-Midwest

Pac-10 Conference, game TBA, 10:30 p.m., FOX-Midwest

Mountain West Conference, game TBA, 11 p.m., ESPN

Golf

Qatar Masters, same-day tape, 8 a.m., GOLF

Welch's/Fry's Championship, 1 p.m, GOLF

The Honda Classic, 3 p.m., USA

SBC Classic, 4 p.m., GOLF

High school girls basketballNotre Dame vs. Carthage, 12:25 p.m., KAPE-1550

Jackson vs. Kickapoo, 7:40 p.m., KREZ-104.7

Motorsports

Carolina Dodge 400 qualifying, 1:30 p.m., FOX-Midwest

Craftsman 200, 3 p.m., SPEED

Tennis

Pacific Life Open, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2

CHARTER CABLE SPORTS KEY --CNBC (ch. 53), ESPN (42), ESPN2 (43), Lifetime (49)Fox-Midwest (45), Fox-Central (352), Fox-Pacific (353), Fox-Sunshine (351), Fox-World (350), FX(50), Golf Channel (46), MSNBC (55), Outdoors (38), Outdoor Life Network (74), Oxygen (75), Speed Channel (44), TNT (48). Listings and times are provided by the networks and individual stations and are subject to change.

Area events

College gymnasticsSoutheast at Kentucky Triangular, 6:30 p.m.

College softballSoutheast at Winthrop Tournament: vs. Toledo, 2 p.m.; vs. UNC-Greensboro, 8 p.m.

High school girls' basketballClass 4 semifinal, Columbia: Notre Dame vs. Carthage, 12:25 p.m.

Class 5 semifinal, Columbia: Jackson vs. Springfield Kickapoo, 7:55 p.m.

High school girls' swimmingCentral, Notre Dame at Marquette Relays

Correction

THE SCORE FROM CHARLESTON'S BOYS BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST DONIPHAN WAS INCORRECTLY REPORTED IN THURSDAY'S EDITIONS. CHARLESTON WON 80-60. THE SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN REGRETS THE ERROR.