Sports briefs 12/8/04

Basketball

• Latrell Sprewell was suspended for one game by the NBA on Tuesday for yelling a sexual vulgarity at a female fan during a game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves swingman's comment to a heckler was picked up by a courtside microphone and could be heard on broadcasts of the team's game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

Karl Malone has ruled out a return to the Los Angeles Lakers because of comments made by Kobe Bryant in a radio interview, Malone's agent said Tuesday.

"Karl is furious," agent Dwight Manley said. "He felt very disrespected and betrayed after personally being the first to stand up for Kobe over the last year throughout his rape charge and all he went through."

Manley said remarks made by Bryant on Monday, coupled with what the agent called "recent personal attacks made in private," led Malone to his decision.

Asked if Malone might play elsewhere, Manley replied: "This certainly opens up that possibility."

Colleges

• Two Southern Illinois University basketball players pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from a fist fight over the summer. In exchange for Monday's plea, prosecutors dropped felony charges of mob action and criminal trespass against Stetson Hairston and Mike Dale.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 3.

Alex Smith, the quarterback who led Utah to an undefeated season and Fiesta Bowl bid, was named Tuesday the college player of the year by The Sporting News.

The St. Louis-based magazine tapped Auburn's Tommy Tuberville the season's top coach, Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson the defensive player of the year. Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson was named the year's top freshman.

In leading the fifth-ranked Utes (11-0) into college football's elite as the first team from a mid-major conference to play in the Bowl Championship Series, Smith passed for 2,624 yards and 28 touchdowns, completing 66 percent of his passes and throwing just four interceptions. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback also ran for 563 yards and 10 TDs for the Mountain West Conference team.

Football

• Tom Brady, who has led the New England Patriots to two Super Bowl titles in three years, on Tuesday was named sportsman of the year by Sporting News.

Brady is 45-13 as a starting quarterback and won the MVP award for both Super Bowls.

-- From wire reports