FanFare 11/20/02

Briefly

Baseball

Wayne Hagin, the voice of the Colorado Rockies since 1993, is leaving Denver to succeed longtime Cardinals broadcaster and Hall of Famer Jack Buck on KMOX, the station announced Tuesday. Buck, who began broadcasting the Cardinals in 1954, died in June at the age of 77 after being hospitalized for five months with lung cancer and other complications. Hagin, 46, has been a major league broadcaster for 21 years, working with the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics.

The Colorado Rockies put together their second big trade within a week, agreeing to a tentative deal that would send Larry Walker to Arizona for Matt Williams and three other players. Arizona also would send first baseman Erubiel Durazo, outfielder David Dellucci and reliever Bret Prinz to Colorado for the 1997 National League MVP.

The Montreal Expos would open their new part-time home in Puerto Rico on April 11 against the New York Mets under plans to be presented to baseball owners today, several baseball officials said on the condition they not be identified.

Free agent first baseman Jim Thome and his agent, Pat Rooney, are expected to meet with Cubs officials this week at Wrigley Field, although the visit could be more of a courtesy call than a bargaining session. Thome, who is from Peoria, Ill., grew up rooting for the Cubs and requested the meeting.

Basketball

The woman accused of extortion by Michael Jordan responded with her own lawsuit, saying he offered her $5 million to keep quiet about their relationship. Karla Knafel asked the court to force Jordan to pay her the money because he was in breach of contract.

The WNBA All-Star game will return to New York City in July. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Val Ackerman, president of the WNBA, announced the 2003 game will be at Madison Square Garden on July 12 and televised by ABC.

Colleges

Florida offensive lineman Bobby Williams was hit in the head at practice and taken by ambulance to a hospital. Williams had CT scans on his head and neck and all tests came up normal, Florida sports information director Steve McClain said. Williams stayed in the hospital overnight for observation.

Tennessee receiver Kelley Washington had surgery on his neck, a procedure doctors believe will allow him to continue playing football. Dr. Drew Dossett, a Dallas orthopedist, planned surgery to fuse two vertebrae in Washington's neck area.

Football coach Mike Taylor was fired after 11 years at Newberry, and the school's 1-10 finish also led to the dismissal of his staff. Taylor was 47-73 with the Indians.

Football

A judge ordered Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Chris Terry arrested after he failed to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge of assaulting his wife.

Hockey

The NHL is entering the final stage of identifying the Buffalo Sabres' new owner after a second -- and likely final -- group formally entered the running this week to buy the financially troubled team. Rochester billionaire B. Thomas Golisano ended months of discussions with the league by submitting a written offer to the NHL, Larry Quinn told The Associated Press.

The NHL and Lego seem to fit just right, so the companies announced a multiyear partnership and marketing alliance that will result in the production of hockey-themed toys. Lego is expected to introduce the toys, aimed at children from ages 5-to-12, at the NHL All-Star game early next year.

Motorsports

Paul Tracy will join Patrick Carpentier on the Player's racing team for the 2003 CART season. The two Canadian drivers have agreed to two-year deals but only the first is with Player's -- the second is with team chief Gerald Forsythe.

Obituary

Ben Plucknett, whose nearly two-decade-old United States record in the discus still stands, died Sunday at his home in Sikeston, Mo. He was 48. The cause of death was not available. A native of Beatrice, Neb., Plucknett set the world discus record of 237 feet, 4 inches during a July 7, 1981, event in Stockholm, Sweden, according to USA Track & Field, governing body for the sport in the U.S. His showing in Stockholm broke Plucknett's first world record, a throw of 233 feet, seven inches set in Modesto, Calif., on May 16, 1981.

Area digest

Eagle Ridge basketball teams lose openers

Eagle Ridge Christian Academy of Cape Girardeau opened its basketball season Tuesday in Cape Girardeau, splitting the boys and girls varsity games against Grace Christian School.

The girls won the opener 34-14. Rachel Carbaugh led the way with 14, and Savanna Irizzarry had 10.

The boys lost 66-37. Eagle Ridge's Andrew Mellies scored 19 points and had 15 rebounds.

-- From staff, wire reports