Sports briefs 2/13/04

Basketball

Scottie Pippen's sore left knee has landed him on the injured list again. Pippen went on the injured list for the second time this season Thursday because of knee problems. Pippen, 38, is averaging 5.9 points, three rebounds per game.

The Los Angeles Lakers suspended negotiations to extend coach Phil Jackson's contract until after the season. The five-year, $30 million contract Jackson signed in June 1999 expires at the end of the season.

Football

Drew Henson threw passes for representatives of 20 NFL teams Thursday, an audition that opened his transformation from New York Yankees prospect to pro quarterback. The Houston Texans own the NFL rights to Henson, who played quarterback at Michigan, and hope to trade them to another team before April's draft. Scouts took notes while Henson made about 75 tosses to four receivers inside the Texans' practice bubble near Reliant Stadium.

Former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams is quitting his job as Grambling State's football coach to work in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' front office. Williams will work in the scouting department under director of pro personnel Mark Dominik. Williams leaves his alma mater with a 52-18 record in six seasons.

Golf

Kevin Stadler, the son of former Masters champion Craig Stadler, shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday in the first round of the Buick Invitational Stadler finished with a birdie and an eagle on Torrey Pines' North course for a one-shot lead over Jesper Parnevik and Ted Purdy.

Laura Davies became the first woman to play in an event sanctioned by the European and Australasian tours, opening the ANZ Championship with a minus-1 total under the modified Stableford scoring system. Davies was 19 points behind leader Nick O'Hern and tied for 124th in the 156-player field.

Hockey

The NHL's 30 teams lost a combined $273 million during the 2002-03 season, according to a report issued on behalf of the league Thursday. The report said 19 of the 30 teams had operating losses last season. In addition, the league said it spent 75 percent of its revenue on player costs.

Red Wings goalie Curtis Joseph will miss at least a week with a sprained right ankle and was put on injured reserve Thursday. Detroit replaced him on the roster by calling up Marc Lamothe.

Motorsports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Elliott Sadler won the twin 125-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500, solidifying their status as favorites. Earnhardt earned the third spot on the 43-car Sunday grid. Sadler started from the pole in the second qualifier.

-- From wire reports