Fanfare 2/28

Briefly

Baseball

Baseball took its first move toward banning ephedra by prohibiting players with minor league contracts from taking the substance, which was linked to the death of Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler. The commissioner's office is powerless to extend the ban to major leaguers, who are covered by the collective bargaining agreement with the players' association.

Texas reliever Rudy Seanez was struck above the left eye socket while taking a throw in the Rangers' exhibition opener against Kansas City on Thursday. X-rays taken at a hospital were negative.

Basketball

Lakers coach Phil Jackson missed his second game since having a kidney stone removed and will be absent for at least one more game before returning to the bench.

Vin Baker was suspended indefinitely by the Celtics after meeting with team officials, reportedly to discuss problems with alcohol.

Boxing

The manager of WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz was taken to a hospital Thursday after passing out following a brawl at the weigh-in for Ruiz's fight with Roy Jones Jr. Norman Stone was cut on the lip during the brawl, which started as he and Jones' trainer, Alton Merkerson, argued about fight gloves just before the weigh-in.

Colleges

Kansas forward Wayne Simien, who missed 11 games this season with a dislocated right shoulder, is out for rest of the season, coach Roy Williams said.

The Miami Hurricanes' baseball program was placed on two years' probation by the NCAA and faces three years of scholarship reductions for violations discovered during a 22-month investigation. They are eligible for postseason play this season.

Football

Quarterback Trent Green signed a seven-year, $50 million contract with Kansas City that will enable the Chiefs to save salary cap money and shore up their league-worst defense. Green's agent, Jim Steiner, said the signing bonus will be $11.25 million.

Golf

Tiger Woods played a flawless round on a wet and sloppy golf course and was never challenged in a 4-and-3 victory over K.J. Choi. Defending champion Kevin Sutherland made a par on the 18th hole by playing down the first fairway, but still beat Justin Rose.

Dicky Pride shot a 7-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley after the first round of the Chrysler Classic.

Hockey

Billionaire B. Thomas Golisano has reached what the team's former president termed a "conceptual agreement" to buy the bankrupt Sabres.

Tennis

Serena Williams withdrew from the State Farm Women's Tennis Classic because of tendinitis in her left knee.

Verbatim

Elliott Harris of the Chicago Sun-Times: "Nobody wants to say the Bengals have been a poorly run franchise, but until recently they thought the NFL combine was a piece of farm machinery."

Bill Scheft of Sports Illustrated, on a certain NBA coach's referee-bashing: "I'm starting to worry about Pat Riley. Now he's complaining about the officiating on 'The Bachelorette.'"

On the air

BoxingFriday Ahunanya (17-1-0) vs. Terrance Lewis (31-12-0), 8:30 p.m., ESPN2

Golf

Accenture Match Play Championship, 1 p.m., ESPN

Chrysler Classic, same-day tape, 5 p.m., USA

Jacob's Creek Open Championship, 7 p.m., GOLF

High school boys basketballNotre Dame vs. Dexter, 7:30 p.m., KAPE-1550

High school girls basketballNotre Dame vs. Dexter, 5:45 p.m., KAPE-1550

Motorsports

Sam's Town 300 qualifying, 3:30 p.m., SPEED

UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 qualifying, 5 p.m., FOX-Midwest

NBA

Orlando at New York, 7 p.m., ESPN

L.A. Clippers at Portland, 9:30 p.m., ESPN

SailingAmerica's Cup finals, 6 p.m., ESPN2

n CHARTER CABLE SPORTS KEY --CNBC (ch. 53), ESPN (42), ESPN2 (43), Lifetime (49)Fox-Midwest (45), Fox-Central (352), Fox-Pacific (353), Fox-Sunshine (351), Fox-World (350), FX(50), Golf Channel (46), MSNBC (55), Outdoors (38), Outdoor Life Network (74), Oxygen (75), Speed Channel (44), TNT (48). Listings and times are provided by the networks and individual stations and are subject to change.

Area events

College indoor trackOhio Valley Conference Meet, Charleston, Ill.

High school boys basketballClass 4, District 1 Tournament, Notre Dame: championship, Notre Dame vs. Dexter, 7:45 p.m.

St. Vincent at Valle, 7:30 p.m.

Leopold at Advance, 7:30 p.m.

Scott County Central at Delta, 8 p.m.

Eagle Ridge Christian, New Salem Baptist at Missouri Christian State Tournament, Joplin

High school girls basketballClass 4, District 1 Tournament, Notre Dame: championship, Notre Dame vs. Dexter, 6 p.m.

Eagle Ridge Christian, New Salem Baptist at Missouri Christian State Tournament, Joplin