FanFare 2/4/03

Briefly

Baseball

Left fielder Pat Burrell and the Phillies have agreed on a $50 million, six-year contract, in the latest big move by the team this offseason. Coming off a 14th losing season in 16 years, the Phillies have been one of the most aggressive teams, signing first baseman Jim Thome and third baseman David Bell and trading for pitcher Kevin Millwood.

Basketball

Pacers coach Isiah Thomas doesn't think the NBA is targeting his team for their recent combative behavior. However, he does wonder if the league is treating their outburst unfairly. Thomas said he didn't agree with the NBA's decision to suspended him for two games for escalating an on-court altercation and not acting as a peacemaker during a fight with the Raptors.

Colleges

Connecticut men's coach Jim Calhoun has prostate cancer and is leaving the team for up to a month for surgery and treatment. The 60-year-old coach will take a three- to four-week medical leave, with assistant George Blaney taking over on an interim basis. Surgery was scheduled for Thursday.

A former Alabama quarterback and a son of Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden are among seven people indicted in an alleged securities fraud conspiracy that cost investors $10 million. The federal grand jury indictment contends that unregistered securities were sold to 14 residents of Alabama, Florida and Tennessee in a scheme called the Millennium Fund. Brian Burgdorf, a quarterback and captain at Alabama as a senior in 1995, and R. Stephen Bowden are accused of being salesmen of the fund.

Kansas retired the jerseys of former women's basketball standouts Tamecka Dixon and Angela Aycock during halftime of the Missouri-Kansas men's game. Dixon and Aycock joined Lynette Woodard as the only women whose jerseys the Jayhawks have retired.

Football

The agent for Barret Robbins confirmed Monday that the Oakland Raiders' All-Pro center has bipolar disorder, and that he expressed "remorse and deep sadness" for missing the Super Bowl. Robbins remains hospitalized because of his condition, agent Drew Pittman said in a statement to ESPN.

Hockey

An MRI exam of Blues center Doug Weight's left ankle showed no break, the Blues said. Weight, injured in the third period of Sunday's NHL All-Star game in Sunrise, Fla., will be out seven to 10 days with a deep bone bruise, general manager Larry Pleau said.

Buffalo businessman Mark Hamister suspended his bid to purchase the bankrupt Sabres and might withdraw completely now that his partner has pulled out. Hamister's decision places the team's future in jeopardy beyond the end of this season.

Motorsports

Matt Kenseth signed a long-term deal with Roush Racing, preventing what was expected to be a competitive free-agency chase. Roush also inked Kurt Busch to a new deal, hours after it was announced that his brother, Kyle, would not sign with the company as planned when he turns 18 in May.

Verbatim

Kansas coach Roy Williams, to the Kansas City Star, on the Arizona basketball team's biggest weakness: "They don't have that one 7-foot monster with one eye in the middle of his head and smelly armpits."

James Duthie of The Sports Network, on Calgary Flames mascot Harvey the Hound having his tongue surgically reattached: "He is in the lineup tonight, but he might have to wear one of those cones so he doesn't lick himself."

Catcher Mike Piazza, to Newsday, on the benefits of the New York Mets' new orange batting-practice jerseys: "On your days off, if anyone goes hunting and wears these, you probably won't get shot."

On the air

College men's basketballProvidence at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m., ESPN2

Florida at Kentucky, 8 p.m., ESPN

Southeast at Eastern Illinois, 6:30 p.m., KEZS-102.9

High school basketballNotre Dame vs. Central, 7:15, p.m., KAPE-1550

Charleston at Jackson, 7:10 p.m., KREZ-104.7, KBHI-107.1

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 men's basketballSoutheast at Eastern Illinois, 7:10 p.m.

High school boys' basketballCentral vs. Notre Dame at the Show Me Center, 7:30 p.m.

Charleston at Jackson, 7:30 p.m.

Windsor at Perryville, 7:30 p.m.

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

Advance at Bloomfield, 7:30 p.m.

Eagle Ridge Christian at New Salem Baptist, 7:30 p.m.

Bell City at Scott City, 8 p.m.

Woodland at Delta, 8 p.m.

Oran at Scott County Central, 8 p.m.

Mississippi Valley Conference Tournament, Meadow Heights: Oak Ridge vs. Chaffee, 5:30 p.m.; Zalma vs. Marquand, 8:30 p.m.

High school boys' swimmingCentral at Parkway Central, 5 p.m.

High school girls' basketballCentral vs. Notre Dame at Show Me Center, 6 p.m.

Eagle Ridge Christian at New Salem Baptist, 6 p.m.

Jackson vs. Cor Jesu, Fischer Pro-Line Tournament, Maryville University, 6 p.m.

High school wrestling

Jackson at Farmington, 6 p.m. JV