Sports briefs 10/28/03

Baseball

Right-hander Bartolo Colon will test the free agent market after rejecting a three-year offer from the Chicago White Sox. Mitch Frankel said Monday that Colon hasn't ruled out returning to the White Sox.

Basketball

Chicago Bulls first-round pick Kirk Hinrich will start the season on the injured list because of a viral infection that has sidelined him for more than a week. The Bulls also placed Jay Williams and Linton Johnson on the injured list. Williams, the No. 2 pick in the 2002 draft, is recuperating from severe injuries he suffered in a June motorcycle crash, and won't play before next season, at the earliest.

Boxing

Former lightweight champion Paul Spadafora was arraigned on charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault for allegedly shooting his girlfriend after an argument over two flat tires. The 28-year-old boxer posted $50,000 bond and was released after spending most of the day in jail.

Colleges

Texas running back Cedric Benson will return to practice this week and will likely start against No. 12 Nebraska, Longhorns coach Mack Brown said. Benson didn't practice last week and didn't play in a 56-0 win over Baylor after he was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing. He was the team's leader rushing before that game. Quarterback Vince Young now leads No. 16 Texas with 550 yards.

Florida State moved to the top of the one-loss crowd, climbing to third in the Bowl Championship Series standings released Monday, trailing only undefeated Oklahoma and Miami in the race to play for the national championship.

Football

San Francisco safety Ronnie Heard will miss four to five weeks with a sprained left knee. Heard, the 49ers' top reserve defensive back and a key special teams player, was hurt in San Francisco 16-13 overtime loss to Arizona on Sunday.

Danny Wuerffel won't be rejoining the Washington Redskins, leaving coach Steve Spurrier in a bind if he needs to play a backup quarterback Sunday against Dallas. After releasing Rob Johnson last week, Spurrier wanted his former Heisman Trophy winner from Florida to return as the backup for Patrick Ramsey. Wuerffel said no, preferring to remain with his expectant wife.

Hockey

Goaltender Curtis Joseph was recalled from the minors by the Red Wings. Joseph made a rehabilitation start Friday for Grand Rapids of the AHL. He had 20 saves in his first minor league hockey game in eight seasons.

Tennis

Kim Clijsters returned to the No. 1 ranking in women's tennis, one week after surrendering the spot to Justine Henin-Hardenne. Juan Carlos Ferrero remained No. 1 in the ATP entry rankings. He withdrew before the start of last week's Swiss Indoors, citing groin and foot injuries.

CORRECTION

Notre Dame's boys soccer team will play at Jackson on Thursday. An incorrect day appeared in Monday's edition.

The Southeast Missourian regrets the error.-- Staff and wire reports

Olympics

Two executives who headed Salt Lake City's bid to host the 2002 Winter Olympics go on trial toda on charges of using bribery to help land the games. Prosecutors say bid leader Tom Welch and deputy Dave Johnson gave $1 million in inducements ranging from cash to medical care to scholarships to International Olympic Committee delegates who eventually selected Utah to host the games. The men don't dispute doling out the gifts, only the government's version of why they did it.