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.

Compiled from News and wire service reports.