SPORTS TODAY - The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)

Micheel, Maruyama tied for Nissan lead

PGA champion Shaun Micheel doesn't feel like a star, not withTiger Woods and Vijay Singh in the Nissan Open, and certainly not instar-crazed Los Angeles.

As long as he plays like one, that's fine with him.

Micheel put some putting practice to good use Thursday, holing a30-foot eagle putt and a couple of other long birdies for a 7-under64 at Riviera and a share of the first-round lead with ShigekiMaruyama.

'I don't know what it takes to be a star,' Micheel said. 'I don'tknow if I have that quality. I would like to become top 10 in theworld at some point, be a more consistent player.'

Micheel and Maruyama, who played in the same group, had a one-shot lead over Hank Kuehne. Ten players failed to finish beforedarkness.

Woods, meantime, continued to struggle at Riviera.

This is the only course on the PGA Tour he has played at leastfive times without winning, and Woods put himself in a hole with a 1-over 72, the first time he has been over par in the first round of aregular PGA Tour event since last year at Riviera.

Singh, whose streak of 12 top 10s ended last week at Torrey Pineswhen he missed the cut, shot a 71.

Brunell, Redskins agree to deal

Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunell agreed to a seven-year, $43million deal with the Washington Redskins, clearing the way for atrade next month.

Brunell will receive an $8.6 million signing bonus, according toagent Leigh Steinberg, who wrapped up negotiations with Redskinsowner Dan Snyder.

Brunell is expected to displace Patrick Ramsey as the starter,giving Joe Gibbs the veteran he sought in the coach's first seasonback in Washington after an 11-year retirement.

The deal cannot become official until the offseason tradingperiod begins March 3. A source said the Redskins have offered theJaguars a third-round draft pick for Brunell.

Ramsey's agent recently suggested Ramsey might request a trade ifBrunell were signed. Gibbs has said he has no intention to tradeRamsey.

Dodgers beat Gagne in arbitration

National League Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne lost his salaryarbitration case and will receive $5 million from the Los AngelesDodgers instead of $8 million.

Gagne was 2-3 with a 1.20 ERA and 55 saves in as many chanceslast season, and made $550,000.

Owners beat players 4-3 in the cases that went to hearings, theeighth straight year management has won a majority.

Shorthanded Bona takes care of UMass

A short-handed St. Bonaventure women's basketball team proved tobe too much for UMass, the Bonnies claiming an 82-76 overtimetriumph before 423 in the Reilly Center.

The Bonnies played the Atlantic 10 contest without junior forwardTory Vyborny and backup sophomore guards Shannon Bodamer and TamicaBarnett. All were suspended one game for violating team policy.

Lyndsey Maurer scored a game-high 26 points to lead Bona (8-16, 4-9), while Audrey Latendresse scored 20 points.

In men's basketball, Daemen beat visiting Malone, 87-72, in anonconference game. Kharmen Wingard (Bennett) scored a game-high 28points for the Wildcats (20-9), who clinched a berth in the NAIAnational tournament.

At the Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Championships in theFlickinger Aquatic Center, the St. Bonaventure men and women are insecond place after the first day of competition. The Bona men's 400-yard medley relay team of Morgan Hagerman, Seth Johnson, AdrianBlaszczak and Dan Freeland won in 3:26.04. Blaszczak also won the200 individual medley (1:52.30). In women's diving, Bona's MaureenTheis won the 3-meter event (397.90).

At the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Swimming Championshipsat Loyola, Md., Niagara's Traci Liberi won the 50 freestyle in24.47.

Unbeaten Stanford wins school-record 22nd straight

Stanford survived another threat to its perfect season.

Josh Childress scored a career-high 36 points and the top-rankedCardinal rallied from a 13-point first-half deficit to beat SouthernCalifornia, 76-67, for its school-record 22nd consecutive victory.

Stanford (13-0) clinched a share of its fourth Pacific-10 titlein six years with three weeks remaining in the regular season.

USC (10-13, 5-9) threatened until the final minutes afterStanford blew an 11-point lead in the second half.

In other games:

Salim Stoudamire had a career-high 37 points and No. 14 Arizona(17-6, 9-5) took a 100-87 win over Oregon (12-8, 7-6) in the Pacific-10.

Jarrett Jack scored 21 points and No. 18 Georgia Tech (19-6, 6-5Atlantic Coast Conference) ended a nine-game losing streak atMaryland (13-9, 4-7) with a 75-64 victory.

Henin-Hardenne withdraws in Belgium

Top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne withdrew from the Diamond Gamesbecause she is sick, letting officials know just hours before shewas scheduled to play her first match in Antwerp, Belgium.

The tournament said the Belgian has had a sore throat for a fewdays.

Henin-Hardenne said she isn't sure whether she will defend hertitle in Dubai next week.

Angelo in 13th place in PBA event in Dallas

PBA Tour points leader Brad Angelo of Lockport bowled a nine-game total of 2,026 to stand in 13th place after the first round ofqualifying for the PBA Days Inn Open in Dallas. Angelo averaged224.11 as he tried to advance to match play for the 14th time in 16Tour events this season.

Robert Smith of Thousand Oaks, Calif, last week's winner inTucson, Ariz., was the qualifying leader with 2,177.

None of the other Western New Yorks pros were among the 64bowlers who will advance to the second round of qualifying today.

Jack Jurek of Lackawanna just missed making the next round. Hewas 65th with 1,896. Tom Baker of Buffalo continued to struggle. Hewas in a tie for 72nd with 1,881. Joe Ciccone of Buffalo was 111thwith 1,802.

Around & about

John Tavares of the Buffalo Bandits has been named NationalLacrosse League Player of the Week. Tavares had five goals and sevenassists in two games last week.

LSU's Nick Saban has signed a seven-year contract that guaranteesat least $2.3 million this year, making him the highest-paid collegefootball coach.

Sports Today / News, notes & quotes - The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)

Tejada's frustration builds

The ire of Miguel Tejada is hotter than ever. The BaltimoreOrioles star shortstop reiterated his request to play elsewhere in2006, backing away from recent comments that seemed to have put manyfans' worries at ease.

'Next year, I want to be somewhere where they want to win,' hesaid Thursday before playing in a Dominican League game.

'I don't want to say anything bad that can hurt my teammates, butlook at Toronto, they have strengthened themselves and we haven'tdone anything,' said Tejada, who hit .305 last season with 26 homersand 98 RBIs.

On Dec. 8, Tejada said that 'the best thing will be a change ofscenery.' He said Thursday night that while he was prepared to betraded when he made those remarks, he thought his comments mightencourage Orioles management to make some necessary moves to bolsterthe lineup.

If he isn't traded by the Orioles, Tejada said he would 'respectthe game as I have always done.'

***

Dotel joins Yankees

Reliever Octavio Dotel agreed to a one-year, $2 million contractwith the New York Yankees. Dotel, a 32-year-old free agent, wasplaced on the disabled list May 19 and underwent Tommy John surgeryon his right elbow. Elsewhere in baseball:

Joe Randa, the third baseman on the only Pirates team in 13 yearsto contend for a division title (1997), is returning to Pittsburgh,pending the results of a physical. The Pirates and Randa were closeto agreement on a $4 million, one-year contract.

Kevin Millwood signed his $60 million, five-year contract, givingthe Rangers their legitimate No. 1 starter.

Right-handers Ramon Ortiz and Tony Armas Jr. agreed to one-yeardeals with the Washington Nationals.

***

UMass-Lowell tops Canisius

Despite taking a 3-2 lead into the third period, the Canisiusmen's hockey team suffered a 5-4 loss to UMass-Lowell at the DodgeHoliday Classic hosted by Minnesota.

Lowell tied the game at 3-3, then went up, 4-3. The GoldenGriffins tied the game again, 4-4, on a goal by Bret Norris with10:19 left to play. But two minutes later, Lowell scored the game-winning goal when Jason Tejchma knocked in a loose puck pastCanisius goalie Max Buetow.

Michael Cohen, Fred Coccimiglio and Chris Angelo also scored forthe Griffs (5-11-1).

In basketball action, both Daemen teams suffered losses. Thewomen had a 72-66 setback to Bluefield (W.Va.) State despite a 22-point, 15-rebound effort by Allison Depp (Lockport). The men droppedto 10-6 with a 78-62 loss to Gannon. Joe Olsen scored 32 points forthe Wildcats.

James McNeil scored nine points for Medaille's men in a 109-36loss to Division I Robert Morris.

***

Bowler dies after 300

Ed Lorenz, 69, bowled his third 300 Wednesday in his first leaguegame of the night at Airway Lanes in Portage, Mich. When the retireegot up to bowl in the fifth frame of his second game, he clutchedhis chest and fell over, and efforts to revive him failed. The causeof death wasn't immediately known.

'If he could have written a way to go out, this would be it,'said bowling partner Johnny D. Masters.

Friends said Lorenz started bowling in 1957 and ended last seasonwith a 223 average. He rolled his first two 300 games over a one-week period in 2004.

WANTED: BUDGET SOLUTION CRISIS MANAGEMENT IS NOT THE ANSWER FOR BOSTON ATHLETICS - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

No matter how the Boston budget fiasco turns out this year, thereis no question that a long-term solution to the annual question ofathletic funding must be attempted.

In the past 15 years, Boston's school budget has skyrocketednearly $220 million, yet the athletic/physical education budget inthe city has remained virtually the same. In good years, it goes up$200,000 or so, and in bad years, like this, $100,000 is trimmed.When you consider that Boston's coaches have received salaryincreases amounting to 49.5 percent this decade, it's easy to seehow much the programs have been downgraded.

Boston's school administrative leadership has never treatedathletics and physical education with respect. They've always beensomething to lean on when budget cuts were needed and they'vealways been viewed as a necessity rather than a priority.

In criticizing superintendent Laval Wilson's proposed $500,000cuts in school sports, Mayor Flynn cited a 1986 national studyamong urban school systems that found Boston had the highestadministrative costs per pupil of 13 comparably sized systems. Thatyear, Boston was 72 percent higher than the average system and 46percent higher than Pittsburgh, the next highest in the study.

While the city's Court Street school headquarters has beenoverflowing with administrators, the staff for athletics andphysical education has been reduced.

What was a 13-person department in 1978 is down to one, andall internal matters in the school once handled by athleticcoordinators will be handled by an unpaid designee of the school'sheadmaster.

In 1982, UMass-Boston athletic director Charlie Titus and thelate Frank Power worked to create a master plan for improvingphysical education and athletics.

Most of their plan was implemented in 1983, but it has sincecollapsed because the over-administered Boston School Departmentkept chipping away at the sports budget and its people.

Wilson's school sports proposal met with opposition fromSchool Committee members last week. They cited all the rightreasons school sports are necessary -- the incentive to keep kidsin school, scholarship opportunity, etc.

But the committee and Flynn, the most vocal proponent of highschool sports, are guilty of supporting school sports by rhetoricrather than by performance.

It's baffling that school sports and physical education, whichuse up less than one-half of 1 percent of the $360 million schoolbudget, dominated the news last week.

There were many other cuts in Wilson's $2.6 million reductionproposal, but the media and public focused on the school sportsproblem. It happens all the time. Propose cuts and start off withschool sports. It's sure to provoke reaction and indignation.

During the past year, we experienced the usual 'we're going tocut school sports' threats all over the suburbs, and as Septembernears, almost everything is neatly back in place. When will thepoliticians learn that their act is becoming increasingly boring?

Solutions galore have been forthcoming from all over,including one that proposed asking Boston's sports teams and itspro athletes to donate hefty sums.

Fund-raising and other temporary measures are not thesolutions.

Boston must establish a physical education and athleticcommittee that will recommend and guarantee that the city'sathletes have safe fields, proper medical attention, cleanuniforms, good coaching and solid administrative support.

An opportunity will be lost if this crisis merely becomesanother crisis in a year or two.

BACK TO HAMILTON; EX-RAIDER TO SEE HER NUMBER RETIRED.(Sports) - The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)

Byline: Matt Michael Staff writer

Former Colgate University soccer star Jennifer Hughes did not wear uniform No. 2 because that's the number worn by New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

'I had it first,' Hughes said, laughing. 'He took my number.'

Indeed, Hughes took uniform No. 2 in her freshman year at Colgate in 1993 because her favorite number, 13, was already taken. Jeter starting wearing No. 2 in 1996, his rookie year with the Yankees.

In the end, No. 2 will never be worn again by another Yankee or another Colgate women's soccer player. The Yankees will surely retire Jeter's number one day, and Colgate will retire Hughes' number during a ceremony before Friday's 7 p.m. game between the Raiders and Navy at Van Doren Field.

'It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and certainly an honor,' said Hughes, a Minoa native who is attending graduate school at the University of Massachusetts.

Not a superstitious sort, Hughes wore No. 13 at East Syracuse-Minoa High School, where she led the Spartans to three Section 3 championships and was a scholastic All-American. She wanted No. 13 at Colgate, but it was already worn by a junior player. So Hughes took No. 2, one of only two numbers remaining when it came time for her to pick.

Hughes, the Raiders' all-time leading scorer with 106 points (40 goals and 26 assists), is just the second player in the 21-year history of the Colgate's women's soccer program to have her number retired. The other is Jessica Tuthill, a first-team All-American who wore No. 17 and graduated in 1995 - one year ahead of Hughes.

'She's the best player to go through Colgate soccer,' Hughes said of Tuthill. 'To be mentioned with her as the two people to have their number retired is pretty special.'

Hughes helped Colgate capture three consecutive Patriot League titles from 1994-96, and three Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association championships in 1993, 1995 and 1996. In her senior season she won several awards, including Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, NCAA Division I Soccer Buzz All-American and Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

'People don't always associate Colgate and soccer,' Hughes said. 'For the team to be so successful my four years at Colgate, I can't think of any other word than special to adequately describe it.'

Following Colgate, Hughes played for the New York Magic of the United States Independent Soccer League in 1998 and a professional team in Sweden in 1999. She returned to Colgate as an assistant coach for the women's soccer team in 2000-01, and she's now pursuing a dual graduate degree (MBA and sports management) at UMass.

Hughes, 27, does not have any classes on Fridays, so she'll be free to travel to Hamilton for Friday night's ceremony. She'll be joined by her parents, Robert and Judith Hughes of Fayetteville, other family members and friends from East Syracuse-Minoa High School.

'Going to Colgate was such a special experience. I wouldn't change a thing,' Hughes said. 'To have your number retired is simply icing on the cake.'

CAPTION(S):

PHOTO

File photo/Jim Commentucci, 1996

OFF THE ICE WITH PETE GIACOMINI.(SPORTS) - The Capital Times

Byline: Todd Milewski

When the goals and assists get tallied at University of Wisconsin men's hockey home games, that's Pete Giacomini at work. Giacomini is in his sixth season as the Kohl Center's official scorer. He's also the chief operating officer of AgSource Cooperative Services, a Verona-based company that specializes in dairy information management, and is an assistant coach for the Madison Metro Lynx, a cooperative high school girls hockey program.

In baseball, the official scorer has all sorts of data to report to the league after a game. What kind of information do you have to turn in?

It's very much a team effort on the stats crew even though mine is the only name on the score sheet. My responsibility is awarding points after a goal is scored. In addition, we have a five- to six-person crew under the direction of hockey (sports information director) Paul Capobianco. This group charts shots, counts saves, records penalties and plus-minuses, and enters everything as it happens into the computer system that feeds the scoreboard shot totals, online stats, between-period summaries and the official score sheet.

When you're behind the bench for the Metro Lynx, do you ever find yourself watching plays for potential assists like you might during a UW game?

No, if anything it can happen in reverse at a Badger game. I coach goaltenders and still play in nets with the old guys -- at least I try to -- so I like to watch a game as a fan from the goalie's perspective. My wife, who knows the game pretty well, hates to watch a game with me because she'll ask what happened on a certain play and I'll have been watching the goalkeeper. When I first started working UW games I had to break those habits to keep focused on the puck. It's not a good job if you're distracted easily.

If there's a questionable call on an assist, would you rather give a player the point or not?

It was a surprise when I first started doing this that there was a lot more subjectivity and judgment than I expected. You try to do what is right by the rules, but benevolence wins out in a close call. You err on the side of the player. These guys work hard for what they do and if a second assist is the reward, so be it.

Your first game as scorer was the Badgers' 9-6 win over Massachusetts to start the 2000-01 season. What kind of experience was that in trying to keep up with all the goals?

Six years ago and still the most total goals in any game I've ever worked! The replay system didn't work the first period. No one told me I could overrule the referee on who got a goal. On one Badger goal the UMass defenseman cleared the puck from the corner, hit his partner in the low slot and deflected it into his own net. Rule says the last player to touch the puck gets the goal with no assists. The ref awarded it to a guy who never touched it. Being my first game with no training, no replay and little experience, I assumed I missed something and awarded assists to the other two forwards. After the game, when (Dany) Heatley was asked what the strangest thing about that goal was, he said it was the fact we gave two assists. I saw coaches (Jeff) Sauer and (Mark) Johnson after the game and asked them what they had gotten me into.

Have you ever had to make any particularly controversial decisions in regard to who gets a goal?

My most controversial decision was getting Luke Kohtala his only save in his Badger career -- it was legit. Nothing serious with goals. Third-period game-winners when media is on deadline are important to get right as quickly as possible. It can change how they write about the game. Goals are pretty obvious most of the time -- player reactions will tell you even if you miss it. It's the helpers that get tricky. Luckily for me, most people pay less attention to them. My objective is to have scoring decisions be non-controversial, and the scorer be as anonymous as possible.

CAPTION(S):

MICHELLE STOCKER/THE CAPITAL TIMES

CHANEY HAS REACHED POINT OF NO RETURN.(Sports) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: BRIAN ETTKIN

They slapped John Chaney on the wrist with a boa, sent him to bed without milk and cookies, and ground him for three basketball games.

A kid has a fractured arm, his basketball career over because Chaney lost his temper and crossed a line that coaches must never transgress. Yet, Chaney will return 'to lead' his team in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. He's embarrassed Temple before, and since no one is inclined to stop him, why wouldn't Chaney do something 'reprehensible' - that's how Chaney described his actions - again?

We give legends leeway. That's how Bob Knight coached Indiana long after his bullying and abusive behavior would've gotten lesser coaches fired.

We give legends a second chance at a second chance.

But Chaney has exhausted his.

Which is why Temple president David Adamany should've thanked Chaney for all he's done, then asked for his resignation.

Saint Joseph's John Bryant can't suit up to play on Senior Day. He won't be able to play in his final Atlantic 10 Tournament and the NCAAs or NIT, either. He'll watch it all because Chaney became so angered by how the referees officiated a game his team would lose that Chaney told 6-foot-8, 250-pound Nehemiah Ingram to become an elbow-throwing, body-shoving vigilante, to foul and befoul the night.

Chaney risked injury to young men for the sake of plaintively making known his displeasure. He didn't instruct Ingram to injure anyone. He did know that might happen anyway.

And you can't pardon Chaney's lapse in judgment because it occurred in 'the heat of the moment.' This was premeditated mayhem. In a conference call the day before, Chaney went Charles Bronson on Saint Joe's, Chaney complained about what he considered illegal screens set by the Hawks and told reporters he would insert 'one of my goons and have him run through one of those guys and chop him in the neck or something.'

Can you imagine your outrage if a coach did that against your son's team, and your son lay on a hospital bed because someone wanted to make a point?

The only thing Chaney proved was, at the age of 73, after more than 700 wins and a plaque in the Basketball Hall of Fame, he no longer should be coaching his team.

Now, supporters of coaches such as Chaney and Knight argue that their ugly public outbursts are outweighed by the greater good they've done. These coaches graduate players and instill values such as commitment and perseverance. That's true. In a sport in which coaches may take ethical shortcuts, these two don't cheat anyone.

But here's the rub: They demand self-discipline from players but won't control themselves. I don't recall Dean Smith or John Wooden wrestling with that.

Whereas in Chaney's third game coaching Temple he had to be pried off Stanford coach Tom Davis, just as Chaney's fingers had to be loosened from George Washington coach Gerry Gimelstob's trachea, in 1984. Chaney once went into the stands after fans. And everyone remembers his charging then-UMass coach John Calipari, who was seated on a podium during a news conference, and threatening, 'I'll kill you.'

Now this.

Chaney has three games to reevaluate his behavior and try to curb the anger that fuels him.

But change?

It's Temple that ought to make one.

Brian Ettkin can be reached at 454-5457 or by e-mail at bettkin@timesunion.com.

CAPTION(S):

PHOTO

Rams' Nicosia picks Colgate; Talented Amsterdam star decides against UAlbany.(Sports) - Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)

Byline: JAMES ALLEN - Staff writer

AMSTERDAM - For some time, Vinnie Nicosia thought he'd be playing football next season for Bob Ford's University at Albany team.

But a recent trip to Colgate University in Hamilton changed everything for Nicosia, who is as talented on the offensive side of the ball as he is on the defensive side.

In a 2:30 p.m. ceremony today at Amsterdam High, the senior will sign a letter of intent to play for the Red Raiders. Coach Dick Biddle's team went 7-4 in 2007.

'I'm pretty relieved,' Nicosia said.

Nicosia, a standout receiver, defensive back and special teams performer for the Rugged Rams, visited the Colgate campus on an official visit Jan. 19-20, and then some Colgate coaches came to Nicosia's home Jan. 22.

'That was the hardest part,' Nicosia said regarding his ultimate decision to pick Colgate. 'I thought I was going to UAlbany.'

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Nicosia earned first-team All-Area Large School honors from the Times Union in 2006 (defensive back) and 2007 (wide receiver). He will play safety at Colgate. Nicosia helped Amsterdam capture the state Class A title in 2005.

'I'm glad for Vinnie, as long as he is happy,' Amsterdam coach Pat Liverio said. 'I feel bad for Bob. Once Vinnie made the trip to Colgate, he just fell in love with everything.'

Among the other schools interested in Nicosia were Maine, UMass and Holy Cross.