Fanfare 10/8

Baseball

Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry quietly took the next step in his managerial search Sunday by meeting with Buck Showalter in St. Louis, according to major-league sources.

It was Hendry's first interview in a managerial search that might not last as long as previously anticipated.

Several teams reportedly are interested in Showalter, the former Yankees and Diamondbacks manager. The Mets have set up an interview, likely for early this week, according to Newsday. Milwaukee and Texas also have him high on their wish list.

So while sources say that Hendry won't be pushed into extending an offer to anyone before he's ready, Showalter might try to seek a timely resolution.

The only other candidate known to interest the Cubs is Oakland bench coach Ken Macha, whom Hendry plans to interview this week.

Basketball

Three men were acquitted Monday of trying to kill Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce in a nightclub attack two years ago. Two of the defendants were convicted on lesser charges.

William Ragland, 30, Trevor Watson, 35, and Anthony Hurston, 33, were found innocent of armed assault with intent to murder in the Sept. 25, 2000, attack in Boston's theater district.

Ragland was convicted of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a knife), and assault and battery. Watson was found guilty of assault and battery. Hurston was acquitted on all charges.

Pierce, not in court Monday, couldn't identify any of the three men when he testified during the trial. He was stabbed eight times, hit in the head with a bottle and had a collapsed lung, but managed to play in the 2000-01 NBA season

Ragland faces up to 10 years in prison for the assault with a dangerous weapon conviction and another 2 1/2 years for the assault and battery. Watson faces 2 1/2 years in prison.

College

Quarterbacks Kliff Kingsbury of Texas Tech and Dustin Long of Texas A&M, Texas cornerback Rod Babers and Tech wide receiver/kick returner Wes Welker were named Monday as Big 12 co-offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week.

Meg Banahan, leading scorer for Texas A&M, has decided to leave the team because of injury problems.

Banahan, a senior forward who averaged 11.2 points per game last year, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee as a sophomore.

"In looking to my future, I still wanted to be able to walk," Banahan said. "More importantly, I don't want any more surgeries. This is a tough decision and it didn't come easy. "

Banahan started in 28 of the 29 games she played in last year and set career marks in nearly every statistical category.

Football

Michael Vick's sprained right shoulder hurt so much Monday that he struggled to get dressed.

"I can't put socks on," Vick said. "I really can't do anything with it. It's just that sore and it's just that stiff. I feel like I'm handicapped right now."

Vick fell on his non-throwing shoulder, spraining his AC joint when he sacked by Simeon Rice. Vick underwent several treatments Monday.

If Vick can't play, the Falcons (1-3) will start Doug Johnson against the Giants (3-2).

Hockey

The NHL wants to give fans the shirt off a player's back -- for a price.

The league and The MeiGray Group, a distributor of game-worn hockey jerseys, said Monday they reached a multiyear agreement to sell jerseys worn during games this season.

It's the first time a major pro sports league has done it. And the NHL plans to turn a profit.

Fans can buy the shirts on the Internet or by telephone, with prices ranging from $250 for lesser-known players to $12,500 for one of 12 jerseys used by New York Rangers captain Mark Messier.

Patrick Roy's jersey will cost $7,500, Jaromir Jagr's $6,000, and Pavel Bure's $5,000.

Fans of Mario Lemieux shouldn't bother logging on or calling -- the Pittsburgh Penguins are among the nine of the NHL's 30 teams that opted not to participate in the new program.

-- From wire reports