Sports briefs 11/18/03

Baseball

Stan Kasten left his job Monday as president of Atlanta's Braves, Hawks and Thrashers amid the decision by corporate owner Time Warner to sell the teams. Kasten said he might offer to return to management of the Hawks and Thrashers once a pending deal was approved. He said he decided to leave now because of major changes going on within the teams' organizations, including likely payroll cuts by the Braves.

Hideki Matsui may be going back to Japan next season -- and taking the rest of the New York Yankees with him. The baseball commissioner's office asked the American League champions to consider moving their 2004 season opener to Japan, where the outfielder won three Most Valuable Player awards with the Yomiuri Giants. While no public announcement was made, the talks were confirmed by two baseball officials who spoke on the condition they not be identified.

Basketball

Antonio McDyess will take the next step in his recovery from a fractured kneecap today when he scrimmages five-on-five with the New York Knicks. Coach Don Chaney ruled out having McDyess play Wednesday night against the Lakers, but he did not dismiss the possibility that McDyess might be available Friday against Detroi.

Colleges

Central Florida suspended freshman linebacker Chad Breeden for the remainder of the season for violating team rules. Breeden is the sixth UCF player suspended in the past two weeks. He had four tackles in eight games for UCF (3-7) after redshirting last season.

Football

Washington Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey has been playing all season with a broken bone in his right foot, an old fracture that's hampering his mobility. Coach Steve Spurrier revealed the injury Monday, a day after Ramsey had one of his worst games of the season in a 20-17 loss at Carolina.

Hockey

Hurricanes wing Jeff Daniels retired, ending a 12-season NHL career in which he was one of the most respected players in the Carolina locker room. Daniels scored just 17 career goals and spent most of his career as a penalty killer. He was a member of the 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins team that won the Stanley Cup, and he played in 23 games during Carolina's playoff run to the Cup finals in 2002.

Colorado forward Paul Kariya is out indefinitely with a wrist injury and center Peter Forsberg will miss tonight's game against Anaheim because of a groin injury. Kariya re-injured his right wrist in Colorado's 3-0 win over Dallas on Saturday. He didn't practice Monday and went to a hospital for tests. Forsberg last played on Oct. 26.

-- From wire reports