fanfare 12/12/02

Baseball

Jeff Kent is interested in returning to the Giants, and general manager Brian Sabean said there's a 50-50 chance of it happening. Sabean spoke Tuesday with the star second baseman, who has been offered arbitration by the club. Kent is discussing a long-term deal with the Giants and several other teams, his agent, Jeff Klein, said Wednesday night.

Shortstop Royce Clayton and the Brewers agreed Wednesday to a one-year contract that guarantees him $1.75 million, with a club option for 2004.

The Royals announced a large expansion of the club's television presence, including plans to broadcast 100 regular season game in 2003 on Time Warner Cable systems in five states.

The Cubs locked up one catcher, signing Damian Miller to a two-year, $5.7 million deal. The All-Star catcher was acquired last month in a trade with the Diamondbacks. Eligible for arbitration, he could have gotten a raise from the $2.7 million he made last year.

Basketball

Knicks center Kurt Thomas was fined $5,000 by the NBA for shoving Seattle forward Vladimir Radmanovic.

Colleges

Luke Walton's senior season already was off to a frustrating start. Now the preseason All-American reinjured his right ankle, and he probably will miss top-ranked Arizona's game Sunday against No. 8 Texas. Walton was hurt in practice Monday when freshman redshirt Chris Dunn accidentally stepped on his foot. The diagnosis was sprained ligaments and strained tendons, and the forward is listed as doubtful for the home game against the Longhorns.

Southern California offensive coordinator Norm Chow is the winner of the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in college football.

Temple basketball coach John Chaney was released from the hospital after spending several days recovering from a mild case of pneumonia. He also remains questionable for Saturday's game at No. 15 Illinois.

Utah hired Bowling Green's Urban Meyer to replace the fired Ron McBride as its football coach.

Hockey

The Rangers' rash of injuries has now reached captain Mark Messier, who missed his first game of the season Wednesday because of a stiff neck.

The Blackhawks claimed Blues center Mike Eastwood off waivers, Chicago general manager Mike Smith said.

Football

Kansas City defensive coordinator Greg Robinson is a candidate to become head coach at UCLA, Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said.

Jim Miller's season of pain is finally over. The Bears quarterback will miss the final three games with a sprained ligament and bone bruise in his left knee.

The NFL extended its agreement with DirecTV for five years, giving the satellite service exclusive rights to the league's subscription package in a deal worth $2 billion.

People

If the phone doesn't ring, it's me

With the wife of Rams quarterback Kurt Warner causing a flap in St. Louis last week by calling a radio talk show and claiming it was she -- not coach Mike Martz -- who ordered her husband to get his hand X-rayed, CBS's Jim Nantz asked Dan Marino if his wife ever did such a thing when Marino was playing for the Miami Dolphins.

"My wife doesn't even call me," Marino said. "There's no way she'd be calling a radio station."

Verbatim

Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey, appearing on "The Best Damn Sports Show Period," said he wouldn't mind sharing the Heisman Trophy with his teammate, running back Willis McGahee "just as long as I get the top half with the arm," Dorsey said. "Willis can have the legs."

Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle: "We hear ESPN's next movie will be about the Portland Trail Blazers. The working title is: "The Injunction Boys.'"

-- From wire reports