FanFare 9/17/02

Baseball

Joe Torre expects to use Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who's nearing the end of his third stint this season on the disabled list, in just the ninth inning of games once the playoffs begin, the New York Post reported Monday.

Basketball

Patrick Ewing has called a news conference for 11 a.m. today and the former Knicks all-star is expected to announce the end of what likey will be a Hall of Fame basketball career, the Boston Globe reported.

Public prosecutors in Tahiti opened a murder investigation into the disappearance of former NBA player Bison Dele and two of his companions.

Sheryl Swoopes scored 20 points as the United States beat Lithuania 105-48 Monday and advanced to the second round of the Women's World Basketball Championship.

Colleges

Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum isn't saying if he'll change starting quarterbacks when the No. 19 Aggies play seventh-ranked Virginia Tech on Saturday. The Aggies (2-0) had an extra week to prepare for Virginia Tech with last weekend's open date. Slocum said Monday that senior Mark Farris, sophomore Dustin Long and freshman Reggie McNeal will all split snaps in practice this week.

Nebraska offensive lineman Richie Incognito will have to sit out the first half of the Iowa State game on Sept. 28 for getting ejected from a game last week for fighting.

Kentucky, off to a 3-0 start, will find out today whether it will be eligible to play in a bowl game this season. Kentucky was banned from postseason participation in February as part of the NCAA's sanctions against the school for dozens of violations discovered in its football program under former coach Hal Mumme.

Football

Tennessee running back Eddie George went to an emergency room with pain in his left foot a few hours after Sunday's loss to Dallas. He was put in a walking boot and scheduled for more tests Monday afternoon. Further tests revealed no damage.

Pro Bowl offensive tackle Walter Jones signed a one-year tender offer for $4.92 million with the Seahawks.

Rodney Peete can stop looking over his shoulder - his best outing in 10 years has officially given him job security as Carolina's starting quarterback.

-- From wire reports