Monday FanFare 6/30/03.2b

Briefly

Baseball

Kevin Young, once the cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Pirates' rebuilding efforts in the post-Barry Bonds era, has been released by the team for the second time in his career.

Young, who spent most of 10 seasons in Pittsburgh but never played on a winning team after playing a few games in 1992, was told of the move minutes after the Pirates' 5-4 loss to Colorado late Saturday night.

Fighting back tears as he talked with reporters, Young said he understood the move but promised to land with another team before the season ends.

The Pirates released the 34-year-old first baseman in the final year of his $24 million, four-year contract that, when he signed it, was the richest in club history. Bothered by persistent knee problems, his power numbers declined every season after he signed the deal.

The Cincinnati Reds placed left-hander Kent Mercker on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained back following their interleague game in Cleveland late Saturday night.

The move was retroactive to June 25. Mercker was 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 36 relief appearances for the Reds this season.

Also, the team said Austin Kearns is day to day after leaving Saturday's game with a bruised left quadriceps. He injured his leg when he slammed into the outfield wall while making a catch in the seventh. He was to be re-evaluated Sunday.

The Chicago Cubs optioned reliever Todd Wellemeyer to Triple-A Iowa after Sunday's game with the White Sox to make room on the roster for first baseman Hee Seop Choi.

Choi is expected to be activated from the disabled list today. He's been on the disabled list with a concussion since June 8. He was injured when he collided with Kerry Wood chasing a pop up.

Wellemeyer was 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in 10 appearances with the Cubs.

The Toronto Blue Jays placed closer Cliff Politte on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained right shoulder.

The Blue Jays also announced that right-hander Juan Acevedo has been temporarily removed from the 25-man roster for bereavement leave to attend the funeral of his grandmother in Chicago. Acevedo could return in three to seven days.

Politte had a 6.42 ERA and 11 saves.

Basketball

Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl has decided not to sell the team to Michael Jordan.

Kohl said Sunday that he had extensive negotiations with Jordan but that he doesn't want to part with the team right now.

"On balance, I simply decided that I am not yet prepared to sell the team at this time," the senator said in a statement released by the team.

Kohl, D-Wis. said he would continue to own the team, "improve them, and commit them to remaining in Wisconsin."

Previously, Kohl had said he was willing to sell the team he bought for $18 million in 1985, with the stipulation that any new owner must agree to keep the team in Milwaukee.

Colleges

After a seven-week courtship, one unresolved courtroom battle and last-ditch offers from the league that has them and the league that wants them, an answer is finally near to Miami's million-dollar question: Will the Hurricanes stay in the Big East or accept an invitation to join the Atlantic Coast Conference?

Miami president Donna Shalala was expected to announce the school's decision today, the last day university officials can buy their way out of the Big East by paying a $1 million penalty. If Miami makes its plans known Tuesday or later, it could face a $2 million buyout.

Shalala and athletic director Paul Dee continued negotiations with both Big East and ACC officials through the weekend.

Syracuse chancellor Kenneth Shaw and athletic director Jake Crouthamel have been in regular contact with Miami's leaders over the weekend, Syracuse spokesman Kevin Morrow said Sunday.

"Phone lines have been burning up around the Big East the past several days," Morrow said. "There's been a lot of conversations among the Big East presidents with the intentions of putting together a very strong proposal to keep Miami."

Morrow said he had received no indications of what Miami's decision may be.

Soccer

With Marc-Vivien Foe's death on the minds of players and fans, Thierry Henry ended a somber final of the Confederations Cup when he scored seven minutes into overtime Sunday to give defending champion France a 1-0 victory over grieving Cameroon in Saint-Denis, France.

There was a subdued mood at Stade de France throughout the game and little enthusiasm for the eight-nation, 12-day tournament's finale, which came three days after the Cameroon midfielder collapsed and died.

France's players celebrated briefly after Henry's fourth goal of the tournament ended a dull game with few scoring chances, then hugged their opponents.