Sports briefs 12/23/03

Baseball

Javy Lopez agreed to a $22.5 million, three-year deal with Baltimore on Monday, giving the Orioles a big hitter and another addition to their rebuilding program. The deal for the All-Star catcher is contingent on the free agent passing a team physical today. Lopez, 33, hit .328 last season for the Atlanta Braves, with 43 homers and 109 RBIs, both career highs..

Right-hander Jason Marquis agreed to a $525,000, one-year contract with the Cardinals. Marquis, acquired Dec. 13 as part of a five-player trade that sent outfielder J.D. Drew to Atlanta, had been eligible for arbitration. He can earn an additional $50,000 in performance bonuses.

A day before the deadline set by Texas to complete a trade of MVP shortstop Alex Rodriguez, the Boston Red Sox stood by their statement that the proposed deal is "dead." Rangers owner Tom Hicks set a 5 p.m. EST today deadline for the deal, which would send outfielder Manny Ramirez to Texas in a swap of baseball's only $20 million-a-year players. Hicks said that if there isn't a trade by then, the Rangers would plan for A-Rod to be remain their shortstop in 2004.

Basketball

Karl Malone will miss at least three games because of a sprained knee ligament, a rare injury for the Los Angeles Lakers' star forward. Malone, who has missed only 11 games in 18-plus NBA seasons, had an MRI examination Monday.

Scott Layden was fired as president of the New York Knicks and Isiah Thomas was hired to replace him. The move comes after New York missed the playoffs the past two seasons with a roster largely assembled by Layden. The Knicks are 10-18 this season.

College

Philip Rivers, the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, threw for Tangerine Bowl records of 475 yards and five touchdowns Monday night, leading North Carolina State to a 56-26 rout of Kansas. The Wolfpack (8-5) marched 64, 68 and 97 yards on their first three possessions to build a 21-7 lead. Rivers, the ACC's career passing and total offense leader, was 21-of-24 for 268 yards and three TDs in the first half alone. He finished 37-of-45 for his fifth 400-yard game this season, and seventh overall. Kansas (6-7) fell short in its bid to finish with its first winning record since 1995.

Oklahoma State forward Ivan McFarlin, who averaged a double-double in two wins last week, was named Big 12 player of the week Monday. The 6-foot-8 senior averaged 16 points and 11.5 rebounds in the Cowboys' victories over Southeastern Oklahoma State and Arkansas.

Tennis

Zina Garrison will replace Billie Jean King as captain of the United States Fed Cup team next season. Garrison, the 1990 Wimbledon runner-up, was appointed for one year by the president of the U.S. Tennis Association. Her hiring was to be announced officially today. Garrison becomes the country's first black Fed Cup captain in the event's 40-year history. King is stepping aside after leading the United States to three Fed Cup titles since 1995, but her tenure also was marked by conflicts with players. She will stay on as an assistant coach, the same position Garrison held since 1999.

-- From wire reports