Sports briefs 11/30/03

Baseball

Now that their hated rivals from Boston have traded for Curt Schilling, it might not be long before the Yankees strike back in a big way. Free agent Gary Sheffield will be in pinstripes soon, Newsday and the Record (Bergen County, N.J.) reported in their Saturday editions. According to the newspapers, the Yankees have reached an agreement in principle with the seven-time All-Star rightfielder. Sources told Newsday the three-year agreement will pay Sheffiel between $38 million and $40 million and features a team option for a fourth year.

It appears the Diamondbacks will be getting the slugger they have coveted. According to ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago, the Diamondbacks have agreed to a five-player trade with the Brewers that will bring power-hitting first baseman Richie Sexson to Arizona. After clearing room on the payroll by shipping high-priced righthander Curt Schilling to Boston on Friday, Arizona would send second baseman Junior Spivey, first baseman Lyle Overbay, versatile infielder Craig Counsell and lefthander Chris Capuano to the Brewers. The trade is expected to be completed Monday after the players complete physicals, the radio station reported.

Basketball

Chicago and Toronto have agreed to a six-player trade that will send Jalen Rose to the Raptors for Antonio Davis, Bulls general manager John Paxson said. The deal is pending league approval Monday. The Bulls will also ship Lonny Baxter and Donyell Marshall to the Raptors and get Toronto's Jerome Williams and Chris Jeffries.

Colleges

Mike Stoops, the younger brother of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, was introduced Saturday as the new head coach at Arizona and promised a return to the glory days of bowl games and all-out defense. The younger Stoops, the top-ranked Sooners' co-defensive coordinator, inherits a team that went 2-10 and finished last in the Pac-10 for the first time.

Miami defensive backs coach Mark Stoops is leaving the Hurricanes and joining his brother's coaching staff at the University of Arizona, a radio station reported. Mark Stoops' final game with the Hurricanes was Saturday night at Pittsburgh, according to Miami radio station WQAM.

Football

Bears running back Anthony Thomas, the team's leading rusher, will miss today's game against Arizona because of viral pneumonia. Thomas was treated late Friday and did not make a significant improvement, so he was ruled inactive for the game at Soldier Field. The Bears said Thomas, in his third year out of Michigan, is expected to make a full recovery by next week. Rookie Brock Forsey will likely start in Thomas' place against the Cardinals.

Hockey

Stars defenseman Philippe Boucher had surgery to repair his left eye socket, which was broken when he was hit by a puck. The Stars said Boucher is out indefinitely. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

-- From wire reports