Briefly

Baseball

The Cardinals have declined to exercise their option on pitcher Sterling Hitchcock, and the 32-year-old left-hander has filed to become a free agent, Cardinals spokesman Brian Bartow said Friday. Hitchcock, who was due to make $7 million in 2004, was acquired Aug. 22 in a trade with the Yankees.

Manny Ramirez was not claimed on waivers before Friday's deadline, leaving the moody outfielder and his $101.5 million contract with the Red Sox. Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and owner John Henry declined to comment on Ramirez, citing a baseball rule against discussing whether players were put on waivers.

The contract of Royals manager Tony Pena was extended two years through 2006 by Kansas City. General manager Allard Baird's contract also was extended through 2006.

Sammy Sosa will keep on doing his home run hops for the Cubs. Sosa announced he will not pursue free agency and will keep the last two seasons of his four-year contract. He will earn $33 million over the remainder of the deal.

Basketball

Shaquille O'Neal ended his media boycott, saying he and Kobe Bryant need each other and he's put the well-documented feud with his Lakers teammate behind him. "It happens, it's over with, we just have to move on," O'Neal said before the Lakers flew to Phoenix for a game on Saturday night. "He's boisterous. I'm boisterous. I don't take anything personally."

The Bulls honored Jerry Krause for his work in helping build the dominant NBA team of the 1990s. With Krause as general manger, the Bulls won six NBA championships. Michael Jordan was the key behind the titles, but Krause helped build Jordan's supporting cast. He was general manager for the Bulls from 1985-2002 and retired late last season, citing health problems.

Golf

Retief Goosen had a 5-under 66 in increasingly blustery conditions and held a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Chrysler Championship. Jose Coceres (68) and J.J. Henry (67) were tied for second at 6-under 136 after 36 holes at Innisbrook.

Heavy rain and strong wind forced play to be called off at the Volvo Masters, the European tour's season-ending tournament. Organizers hope to start the second round today with the 57 players put into groups of threes off the first and 10th tees.

Ahn Shi-hyun tied the course record with a 7-under 65, giving her a one-stroke lead in the first round of an LPGA tournament. Se Ri Pak, who set the record last year on the resort island, shot a 69 at the CJ Nine Bridges Classic.

Hockey

The Chicago Blackhawks signed free agent defenseman Bryan Berard to a one-year deal on Friday. The former Calder Trophy winner as NHL rookie of the year will earn $2.01 million this season. The 26-year-old Berard was the first overall pick by the Ottawa Senators in 1995. He played in 80 games last season for the Boston Bruins, scoring 10 goals and assisting on 28 others.

Motorsports

Ryan Newman won his 10th pole of the season Friday, putting his Penske Racing South Dodge at the front of the field for Sunday's event at Phoenix International Raceway.

Newman's fast lap in qualifying for the Checker Auto Parts 500 was 133.675 mph.

CORRECTION

THE JACKSON FOOTBALL TEAM HAS MADE THREE STATE PLAYOFF APPEARANCES SINCE MOVING TO CLASS 5. INCORRECT INFORMATION APPEARED IN FRIDAY'S EDITION. THE SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN REGRETS THE ERROR.

-- Staff and wire reports