Sports briefs 1/17/04

Baseball

The Houston Astros on Friday signed veteran outfielder Orlando Palmeiro to a one-year contract. Palmeiro, who turns 35 Monday, hit .271 in 317 at-bats with the Cardinals last season.

Kerry Wood agreed to a $9.75 million, one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, who hope to work out a multiyear deal. Wood filed for arbitration Thursday. By signing the 26-year-old right-hander to the one-year deal now, the Cubs avoid having to exchange salary figures Tuesday in arbitration. "We feel we'll have a multiyear deal done before spring training," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. Wood was 14-11 with a 3.20 ERA last season and led the majors with 266 strikeouts.

The Chicago Cubs hired Grady Little as a scouting consultant and assistant to general manager Jim Hendry. He'll scout, help evaluate trades and the Cubs' minor league system, and assist with coaching duties during spring training. Little managed the Red Sox the last two seasons, but he was dismissed in October, two weeks after Boston unraveled in the AL championship series.

College

University of Missouri system president Elson Floyd said he does not know when the NCAA will complete its investigation into Missouri's basketball program. "It is completely in their hands, and we are hopeful that they will make a decision as quickly as possible," Floyd said in an interview Friday with The Associated Press. The university and the NCAA have spent months investigating allegations surrounding former guard Ricky Clemons, including assertions by Clemons' ex-girlfriend, Jessica Bunge, that he received cash from assistant coaches and improper help with school work. Missouri coach Quin Snyder has denied the allegations.

Football

The Green Bay Packers fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell and tight ends coach Jeff Jagodzinski. The Packers lost 20-17 in overtime in the second round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The Eagles converted on fourth-and-26 late in the fourth quarter, with Donovan McNabb passing to Freddie Mitchell to set up a game-tying field goal.

Hockey

Thrashers star Dany Heatley was back on the ice with his teammates, moving effortlessly through a 45-minute workout hours before Atlanta played the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. Thrashers coach Bob Hartley said the session was just a step in Heatley's rehabilitation from knee surgery. His appearance with the team was his first since the car wreck in September that killed teammate Dan Snyder, a crash that left Heatley with a broken jaw and torn knee ligaments. Heatley was charged with vehicular homicide after Snyder died from head injuries.

The Florida Panthers signed free-agent forward Donald Audette, the same day the team learned star rookie Nathan Horton will have season-ending surgery. The 34-year-old Audette had three goals and five assists in 23 games with the Montreal Canadiens this season before having his contract bought out Jan. 2. He was an All-Star as recently as 2001, when he played for the Atlanta Thrashers.

Motorsports

Mauritania's customs chief handed over a $17,800 refund to the Dakar Rally, restoring illicit payments that local customs officials took from hundreds of racers as they crossed into the West African nation. Motorcycle, car and truck racers spoke of armed forces surrounding each vehicle to demand a $50 payment as the legendary race crossed over from Morocco on Jan. 6. Embarrassed national authorities blamed "zealous" customs workers for the payments, which were captured for international television by French news helicopters hovering overhead. Mauritanian authorities said the payments had been taken from 356 vehicles and called the move illegal. The 6,920.4-mile race, which goes through seven countries and the Sahara Desert, ends on Sunday.

Soccer

In a move that surprised no one, 14-year-old soccer phenom Freddy Adu was selected by D.C. United as the first pick in the Major League Soccer draft. D.C. United took just more than three minutes to make a selection that had been predetermined. Adu will try to win a starting spot with United when their season starts in the spring. Adu signed with Major League Soccer in November and was assigned by the league to the Washington team.

Tennis

Lindsay Davenport withdrew from the Adidas International semifinals because of an injured right arm, casting doubt over her status for next week's Australian Open. Davenport was to play top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne, but pulled out. Davenport, seeded fifth for the Australian Open and the 2000 champion, strained chest and arm muscles in her quarterfinal win over Elena Dementieva. Later Thursday, she left a doubles semifinal as it was in progress.-- From wire reports