Sports briefs 1/25/06

Baseball

• Barry Bonds decided he is unwilling to risk his health in the World Baseball Classic.

If he's going to get hurt, the slugger will do so in a San Francisco uniform.

Bonds, no stranger to changing his mind, withdrew from the 16-nation tournament Monday because he wants to avoid the chance of an injury that might jeopardize what could be his final season with the Giants.

"When my name was first announced for the WBC, my gut reaction was that I wanted to play. After much thought and discussion with my family I have decided to remove myself from the upcoming World Baseball Classic roster," Bonds wrote on his Web site, www.barrybonds.com.

The seven-time NL MVP had three operations on his troublesome right knee last year and missed most of the 2005 season before returning Sept. 12 and playing in 14 games. He announced in late November that he planned to play for the United States and was included on the preliminary U.S. roster for the inaugural World Baseball Classic, scheduled for March 3-20.

Colleges

• Freshman forward Micah Downs has quit the basketball team at Kansas and is leaving school because of personal issues.

"It is unfortunate that Micah's tenure as a Kansas basketball player only lasted one semester," coach Bill Self said in a written statement released Tuesday afternoon. "Micah has decided to go home to resolve some personal issues. We wish Micah and his family the best."

The 6-foot-8 Downs, a McDonald's All-American in high school, averaged 4.3 points in 13 games.

He was a highly-touted recruit out of Juanita High School in Kirkland, Wash. But after reaching double figures three times in Kansas' first eight games, his production -- and playing time -- dwindled.

Downs played in only two of the Jayhawks' first four Big 12 games.

* Memphis indefinitely suspended freshman center Kareem Cooper following his arrest on misdemeanor drug charges after police found marijuana in his truck during a traffic stop.

Coach John Calipari met with Cooper Monday night, and the school issued a statement in which Calipari said he was suspending the freshman until further notice. Further sanctions will be handled internally.

The freshman has started one game and played in 14 for the Tigers, averaging 10.9 minutes and 4.6 points per game.

Olympics

• The U.S. Olympic Committee will not allow Tim Nardiello to coach the American skeleton team at next month's Turin Games, despite his reinstatement by the sport's national governing body after an arbitrator found no evidence to support claims he sexually harassed two team members.

The USOC said its investigation found that Nardiello failed to exercise appropriate judgment with his athletes, violated ethical codes and the USOC Code of Conduct. It also said the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation initially planned to fire Nardiello after the Olympics, citing that as another factor.

-- From wire reports