Sunday FanFare 7/6/03

Briefly

Baseball

The Devil Rays will receive scouting information from the Yokohama Stars under a three-year agreement signed with the Japanese Central League team Saturday. As part of the agreement, which runs through the 2005 season, Yokohama will provide information on all levels of competition throughout Japan, including high school prospects and pro players. In return, the Devil Rays will help Yokohama acquire foreign players to play for the Bay Stars.

Kevin Brown will skip his scheduled start on Tuesday because of a lower abdominal strain, the latest setback for the Dodgers right-hander. Brown was injured Thursday night in the fourth inning of his 7-4 loss to San Diego while running from first to third on a double by Wilkin Ruan. He scored on an infield hit, then pitched one more inning before taking himself out. An MRI on Friday confirmed the diagnosis.

Jacque Jones, who has provided a spark at the top of the Twins' lineup, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. Jones, who suffered the injury during Monday's 10-3 loss at Chicago, is on the disabled list for the first time in his five-year carer. He is hitting .300 with 10 homers and 35 RBI in 72 games this season.

Basketball

The Timberwolves signed first-round pick Ndudi Ebi. Ebi, a former Westbury Christian High standout, was the 26th overall choice in last month's NBA Draft.

The Grizzlies signed first-round draft picks Troy Bell and Dahntay Jones. Bell, a 6-2 guard, and Jones, a 6-6 forward, were selected by the Celtics and traded to Memphis on draft day. Bell was the 16th overall pick and Jones went 20th. Terms of both deals were not announced. However, Bell is slated to receive a three-year deal worth a minimum of $3.45 million under the NBA's rookie salary scale. The Grizzlies have an option for a fourth year at approximately $1.5 million. Jones is set to receive a three-year deal worth at least $2.86 million. The team's fourth-year option is approximately $1.2 million.

Football

Chargers second-round draft pick Terrence Kiel was in stable condition in a Houston hospital, one day after being shot during an attempted carjacking. Kiel, a former safety at Texas A&M, was sitting in his car in a mall parking lot when he was shot in the abdomen and leg by an unidentified man, police said.

Hockey

Free agent winger Denis Hamel signed a multiyear contract with the Senators after spending part of last season with the Sabres. He had two goals and 17 penalty minutes in 25 games with the Sabres. Hamel played 48 games with Buffalo's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, and finished with 27 goals and 20 assists.

Motorsports

Scott Dixon won the pole for the Kansas Indy 300 and Tomas Scheckter was second, giving Chip Ganassi Racing both front-row spots for the race. Points leader Tony Kanaan, whose advantage over the second-place Dixon has dwindled to 27 points, will start in the fourth row for today's race on the 1 1/2-mile tri-oval.

Jon Wood was forced to start from the back but still earned his first victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, winning the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway.

Ralf Schumacher won the pole position for today's French Grand Prix, the third time in the last four races he has been on the pole. Juan Pablo Montoya, his Williams-BMW teammate, was second and brother Michael Schumacher of Ferrari was third.

Obituary

The Cubs observed a moment of silence before Friday's home game against the Cardinals in memory of longtime sportscaster Vince Lloyd. Lloyd, whose career broadcasting Cubs games for WGN-TV and WGN Radio spanned 38 years, died Thursday of stomach cancer at his home in the Tucson suburb of Green Valley, Ariz., family and colleagues said. He was 86.

Soccer

Mexico and Japan tied 2-2 Saturday in the first of a two-game series to determine who will earn the last berth for the Women's World Cup. The two teams play again next week in Japan. Yayoi Kobayashi and Tamomi Miyamoto scored for Japan, while Iris Mora and Marlene Sandoval scored for Mexico.

Verbatim

Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post, after the Mets traded second baseman Roberto Alomar to the White Sox: "I haven't seen a guy this happy to leave New York since Green Acres' was playing in prime time."