FanFare 11/8/02

Baseball

Edgar Martinez will end his career with the Mariners, and both sides couldn't be happier. The Mariners signed Martinez to a one-year contract Thursday, a day after declining a $10 million option on their veteran designated hitter. Martinez will make about $4 million next season, plus the $1 million buyout from his previous deal.

Royals coach Tom Gamboa said he accepts the apology of a 15-year-old fan who attacked him on the field during a game and hopes the boy learns from his "tragic mistake." Gamboa said he would like to see the boy recieve probation and community service because he was already held for a month in juvenile detention after the attack at Comiskey Park.

According to a report, the Mets have contacted Atlanta's Tom Glavine's agent and are also in the midst of asking the Braves for permission to speak to pitching coach Leo Mazzone.

Basketball

After five weeks of injury woes, the 76ers got some good news about Allen Iverson. An MRI showed that Iverson's right thumb, feared broken in a 101-99 victory Wednesday night over the Clippers, is only sprained. Iverson is listed as day-to-day.

Colleges

Michigan punished its men basketball program, imposing a postseason ban for 2003 and forfeiting 117 victories from five season because of a scandal involving a former booster. Michigan will also remove four banners from Crisler Arena: the 1992 and 1993 Final Four, the 1997 National Invitation Tournament title and the 1998 Big Ten tournament title.

Boxing

Light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr. will move up to heavyweight to fight WBA champion John Ruiz in March, while Evander Holyfield will meet Chris Byrd next month. Holyfield, bidding for a fifth world heavyweight title, will face Byrd, the No. 1 challenger, for the vacant IBF championship Dec. 14 at Caesars Boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J. The Jones-Ruiz fight will be March 1 in Las Vegas.

Football

Although there has been no official announcement from the Bears, quarterback Jim Miller will be unable to start in the game Sunday against New England.

Golf

Angel Cabrera birdied his last four holes on the way to an 8-under-par 63 in his first round of the Volvo Masters at Valderrama. Cabrera has a four-shot lead over Phillip Price of Wales, five players are at 68.

Motorsports

Rick Crawford will try to overcome a 68-point championship deficit entering the next-to-final race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season when he starts Saturday's Chevy Silverado 150 race from the pole position.

Skating

Olympic figure skating champion Alexei Yagudin will not be forced to retire because of a hip injury. Yagudin withdrew from the first two events of the season, Skate America and Skate Canada.

Tennis

Eighth-seeded Jelena Dokic defeated Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 6-4 in just over an hour at the WTA Championships. Magdalena Maleeve surprised No. 7 Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 7-5 in another first round match. Serena Williams was to take on Anna Smashnova at night, followed by No. 3 Jennifer Capriati agaist Silvia Farina Elia.

-- From wire reports