briefs.sept21

Gwynn to become coach at San Diego St.

SAN DIEGO -- Starting June 1, he'll be known as coach Tony Gwynn.

When his first San Diego State team takes the field in February 2003, he'll be coaching at a stadium that bears his name. His center fielder will be his son, Anthony.

"This is the dream gig for me," Gwynn said Thursday, when he was hired by his alma mater to replace baseball coach Jim Dietz following the 2002 season.

Gwynn, who has 16 games left in his current career with the San Diego Padres, will serve as an unpaid volunteer coach next season to begin learning the nuances -- and difficulties -- of the job from Dietz, who will be in his 31st season.

Gwynn will be given a three-year contract that begins June 1, and he'll make a base salary of $100,000 -- half of the current major league minimum, and 1-20th of his base salary with the Padres this year.

Zanardi brought out of induced comaBERLIN -- Two-time CART champion Alex Zanardi came out of an induced coma Thursday, signaling a faster-than-expected recovery from a gruesome crash that forced the amputation of both legs.

"It's encouraging the way he's getting better," Dr. Walter Schaffartzik said. "He was pulled out of the induced coma in phases."

Zanardi began emerging from the coma slowly Wednesday night after doctors reduced drugs that induced the state to cut the chances of organ failure. He regained full consciousness on Thursday when the sedatives wore off, doctors said.

"We're all very, very happy," Honda spokesman Dan Layton said. "By noon he was chatting with (wife) Daniela."

The 34-year-old Italian, one of CART's most popular drivers, faces another routine exploratory operation today to check his progress.

NFL, players donate to relief fund

NEW YORK -- The NFL and its players association will contribute a minimum of $5 million each to organizations aiding victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The minimum contribution of $10 million, announced Thursday, will be placed in a special NFL-NFLPA Disaster Relief Fund and will be administered by a joint board co-chaired by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and NFL Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw.

Major league baseball and its players association made a similar $10 million pledge on Wednesday.

NBA players are contributing over $2 million to provide disaster relief to victims of the terrorist attacks.

Individual players continued making sizable donations.

The Mark McGwire Foundation for Children pledged $250,000 to support the victims' children, $150,000 to the children of fallen firefighters and $100,000 to the children of police officers.

Barry Bonds announced that he would donate $10,000 for each home run he hits to the United Way for the relief fund, starting with Thursday's homer against Houston.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Carlos Delgado donated $25,000 to The September 11 Fund and $25,000 to the New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund.

IOC president given emergency powers

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- IOC president Jacques Rogge was granted emergency powers Thursday to make urgent decisions on the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, including the ability to cancel the games.

He reiterated, however, that he wants the Feb. 8-24 games to go on as scheduled.

Asked whether he could envision a war cancellation for Salt Lake City, Rogge said: "I'd say today, definitely not. I'm not a man given to speculate on what ifs and things that no one can predict."

Rogge said the decisions could cover financial issues, scheduling of events and "many other aspects."

-- From wire reports