Sports briefs 12/4/03

Baseball

The Chicago Cubs signed reliever LaTroy Hawkins to a three-year deal worth $11 million. Hawkins was 9-3 with a 1.86 ERA last season with Minnesota.

The Phillies acquired left-hander Eric Milton from the Twins for reliever Carlos Silva and utility infielder Nick Punto. Milton, who won 41 games from 2000-02, started just three games last season after having surgery on his left knee during spring training

Basketball

Volatile forward Bonzi Wells was traded by the Trail Blazers to the Grizzlies for guard Wesley Person and a 2004 first-round draft pick.

Colleges

Junior college transfer Randy Pulley has been cleared to play for No. 4 Missouri and will join the Tigers' lineup after this semester. Pulley, a 6-foot-2 point guard, had been sidelined while Missouri officials reviewed his credits last year from Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kan. Pulley started 26 games last season for Barton County, averaging 13 points and a team-leading six assists.

Virginia Tech running back Kevin Jones, a Doak Walker Award finalist, will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. Jones rushed for a school-record 1,494 yards with 20 touchdowns this season and is projected as a first-round draft pick.

Football

Referee Tom White was fined $2,600 for failing to restart the clock at the end of the Seattle-Baltimore game, a mistake that contributed to the Seahawks' 44-41 overtime loss. The fine represented half of White's game check. The entire crew was reprimanded.

Hockey

Curtis Joseph was put on waivers by the Red Wings, who have tried for months to find a new home for the veteran goaltender. If a team claims Joseph by noon EST Friday, it will assume the remainder of his two-year, $16-million contract. If Joseph is not claimed, the Red Wings will continue to have a messy situation in goal.

-- From wire reports