SPORTS LOG - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

Hockey

First poll has UNH, BC at even strength

Little has changed in the Hockey East men's hierarchy since theend of last season. Reigning regular-season champion New Hampshireand second-place finisher Boston College received the same number ofpoints (84) and first-place votes (five) in the Hockey East Coaches'Poll released yesterday to share the top preseason ranking. BostonUniversity (77 points) was third, followed by Maine (61),Massachusetts and Vermont (54), Northeastern (43), Providence (39),UMass-Lowell (25), and Merrimack (19) ... Buffalo Sabres defensemanTeppo Numminen is expected to be released from a Cleveland hospitalwithin days following open heart surgery last week. Numminen said hecould return to the Sabres by December ... Former BC goalie CorySchneider was reassigned by the Vancouver Canucks to Manitoba of theAHL. Another ex-Eagle was sent to the AHL, center Jeff Giuliano goingfrom the Los Angeles Kings to Manchester, N.H.

Baseball

Huntington appointed new Pirates GM

Neal Huntington, a former Cleveland Indians assistant generalmanager who was moved to a mostly scouting role two years ago, washired as the Pittsburgh Pirates' general manager. The 37-year-oldHuntington replaces Dave Littlefield, who was fired earlier thismonth after failing to produce a winning season since being hired inJuly 2001. Huntington, a graduate of Amherst who also has a master'sdegree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts, wasconsidered a surprise pick of new Pirates president Frank Coonelly.'Neal is extremely intelligent, analytical, and driven to succeed,'Coonelly said ... Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, who is third in theNational League with 40 home runs, will undergo arthroscopic surgerytoday to clean out his right knee ... Orlando Hernandez threw a pain-free bullpen session at Shea Stadium that left him very encouragedabout his injured right foot. Hernandez is scheduled to pitch asimulated game tomorrow, but it's unclear if he will pitch in aregular-season game ... Orioles reliever Danys Baez will undergoelbow ligament replacement surgery and will probably miss the 2008season. Baez, who last pitched Sept. 12, was a huge disappointment inhis first season with Baltimore after signing a three-year, $19million contract in November. He finished 0-6 with a 6.44 ERA andthree saves ... Phillies GM Pat Gillick said he plans to retire afterhis contract runs out after next season ... China will enter a teamin the upcoming Arizona Fall League, and it will be coached by formerRed Sox pitcher Bruce Hurst and ex-major leaguer Jim Lefebvre.

Basketball

Thomas, Dolan take witness stand

New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas climbed onto the witness standin US District Court in Manhattan, charming a federal jury andrecalling his storied basketball career as he defended himselfagainst sex discrimination charges brought by a fired team executive.His testimony came soon after Madison Square Garden chairman JamesDolan told jurors he fired Anucha Browne Sanders, a former MSG vicepresident, upon learning she tried to get her subordinates to helpbuild her case against Thomas. Dolan said he was also told before theJanuary 2006 firing that Browne Sanders was demanding $6 million notto lodge a harassment complaint ... Corliss Williamson, who playedfor Sacramento last season, his 12th in the NBA, said he is retiringto become an assistant coach at Arkansas Baptist College ... BrianChase signed with the Miami Heat, giving the team four point guardsheading into training camp ... Former Milwaukee Bucks assistant coachMike Sanders was hired to replace Dell Curry, who stepped down as anassistant with the Charlotte Bobcats. Curry will remain with the teamto work in community relations.

College football

Buckeyes' backup QB is arrested

Ohio State's third-team quarterback, redshirt freshman AntonioHenton, was arrested Monday night on a charge of soliciting aprostitute in Columbus, Ohio. Henton, who entered a not guilty plea,will not travel with the team to Minnesota for Saturday's game ...Iowa wide receiver Andy Brodell is likely to miss the rest of theseason after tearing his hamstring during Saturday's loss toWisconsin. Brodell also was the Hawkeyes' primary punt returner ...Texas Christian star defensive end Tommy Blake will miss at least twogames on medical leave, the second time this season he's beensidelined for undisclosed reasons ... Oklahoma senior defensive endJohn Williams had surgery to repair a torn Achilles' and will missthe rest of the season ... Florida State coach Bobby Bowdenreinstated linebacker Geno Hayes following his suspension for beingarrested for an altercation with police last week, but also demotedHayes to the second-team unit and ordered him to get behavioralcounseling.

Miscellany

Garrahan a finalist for NCAA award

Amherst senior Shauneen Garrahan, who competes in cross-countryand indoor and outdoor track for the Lord Jeffs, was among ninefinalists selected for the NCAA's annual Woman of the Year award. Thewinner will be announced Oct. 27 ... NASCAR driver Tony Raines wasfined $15,000 and docked 25 Busch Series points for throwing hishelmet at Robby Gordon. Raines was angry after Gordon knocked him outof last Saturday's race at Dover (Del.) International Raceway, and hewaited on the track for Gordon to pass by under caution. He thenhurled his helmet at Gordon ... Top-seeded Venus Williams cruisedinto the second round of the Korea Open in Seoul, defeating AbigailSpears, 6-2, 6-3. No. 5 Eleni Daniilidou began her title defense bybeating Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4, 6-4 ... Wimbledon finalist MarionBartoli beat defending champion Alona Bondarenko, 6-3, 6-2, in thefirst round of the Fortis Championships in Luxembourg. The fifth-seeded Bartoli will face Sybille Bammer, who beat Tamira Paszek, 6-0, 6-2. American Meilen Tu advanced but countrywoman MeghanShaughnessy lost ... Third-ranked Novak Djokovic (back) withdrew fromthe Thailand Open in Nonthaburi, and will be fined $40,000 for thelate withdrawal. Andy Roddick, at No. 5, is the highest-ranked playerleft in the draw. His first match is tonight ... Portland, Ore., willhost the Davis Cup final between the US and defending champion Russiafrom Nov. 30 to Dec. 2.