Briefly 12/23/02

Baseball

All-Star reliever Ugueth Urbina signed a one-year deal Sunday with the Texas Rangers, who need a closer.

Urbina went 1-6 with 40 saves and a 3.00 ERA for Boston last season. He became a free agent when the Red Sox did not offer him arbitration.

The Rangers had been negotiating with him for nearly two months.

Urbina was an All-Star last season for the second time, helped by a streak of 19 straight saves from April 12-July 3. He tied for third in the AL in saves, converting 40 of 46 and holding batters to a .202 average, sixth-lowest in the league.

The Hall of Fame already has started contacting its 58 living members, hoping to set up a meeting for them with commissioner Bud Selig next month to discuss Pete Rose's possible reinstatement.

The target date for the meeting is Jan. 17 in Los Angeles, provided most of the Hall of Famers can make it.

Rose and Selig are negotiating a possible end to the permanent ban the career hits leader agreed to in 1989 after an investigation of his gambling. Because he's banned, Rose cannot appear on the Hall ballot.

Basketball

Golden State forward Chris Mills was suspended for three games without pay by the NBA Sunday for fighting with Portland's Bonzi Wells after Friday's game, going after him in the locker room and even blocking the Trail Blazers' bus.

Mills' suspension began with Sunday night's game at Sacramento. He'll also miss games against Toronto and the L.A. Clippers and will be eligible to return Dec. 30 against Philadelphia.

Wells was suspended two games on Saturday by the league for throwing a punch at Mills after Friday's game

Football

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn't hire or fire anyone Sunday and might not for another week.

Jones said Dave Campo likely will remain the team's coach through the season finale Sunday in Washington. He made no promises beyond that, except to say a decision "is going to be very quick."

Jones apparently began interviewing potential replacements last week when he spent five hours with Bill Parcells.

Deion Sanders is discussing coming out of retirement to join the Oakland Raiders for the playoffs.

"I may come back to a playoff team," he said Sunday on CBS Sports' "NFL Today," where he's a studio host.

-- From wire reports