Sports briefs 2/10/04

Baseball

Drew Henson became a baseball free agent Monday when he cleared waivers without being claimed. The third baseman, who intends to pursue a career as an NFL quarterback, agreed last week to give up the $12 million remaining in the $17 million, six-year contract he agreed to with the Yankees in 2001. His NFL rights are held by the Houston Texans, who plan to showcase him for other teams during a workout Thursday.

Basketball

Toronto Raptors guard Jalen Rose has a fractured bone in his left hand and will consult with a hand specialist before it is known how long he will be out. Rose is averaging 14.4 points and 4.7 assists this season.

College

Ricky Minard of Morehead State was named Ohio Valley Conference player of the week. Minard, a senior forward/guard, averaged 29 points and 11.5 rebounds in wins over Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State. Emily Christian of Tennessee Tech and Gerlonda Hardin of Austin Peay were named the female co-players of the week. Christian, a sophomore forward, averaged 16 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4 assists in three victories. Hardin, a senior forward/center, averaged 17.5 points and 11 rebounds in two wins.

Oklahoma State's John Lucas averaged 24 points in two road victories last week to earn Big 12 player of the week honors for the second time this season. In the Cowboys' 91-79 win at Texas A&M, Lucas tied his career high with 27 points. He also scored 21 points in the Cowboys' 88-67 win at Iowa State. The junior guard ranks second in the league in scoring, at 17.5 points per game in Big 12 contests.

Hockey

The Blues acquired veteran defenseman Eric Weinrich from the Philadelphia Flyers. In exchange, the Flyers will get a fifth-round pick in the 2004 draft. Weinrich, a 16-year veteran in his third season with the Flyers, scored two goals and had seven assists in 54 games this season. He had 32 penalty minutes and was tied for fourth on the Flyers with a plus-11 rating. He is expected to join the Blues when they host Colorado Thursday.

Rick Dudley gave up his job as Florida Panthers' coach to focus on his duties as general manager. Assistant John Torchetti will coach the team the rest of the season. Torchetti becomes the Panthers' third coach this season and their fifth since 2000.

The Philadelphia Flyers acquired three-time All-Star goalie Sean Burke and two forwards from the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday for promising young center Mike Comrie. In addition to Burke, the Flyers acquired right wing Branko Radivojevic and the rights to left wing Ben Eager, an unsigned minor leaguer selected 23rd overall in the 2002 draft.

Miscellaneous

Kroenke Sports Enterprises LLC, owner of the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets, is starting its own regional cable TV network. The company's television contract with Fox Sports Net expires after the current NBA and NHL seasons. Kroenke Sports co-owner Stan Kroenke, of Columbia, Mo., last week rejected an offer to broadcast Nuggets and Avalanche games that Fox Sports Net officials termed final. .

Tennis

Goran Ivanisevic will make a comeback at the Milan Indoors after missing much of last year because of injury. The 2001 Wimbledon champion received a wild card and has drawn Bohdan Ulihrach for his first-round match today. The 32-year-old Ivanisevic has hardly played since he beat Pat Rafter in the Wimbledon final three years ago, undergoing shoulder surgery and recovering from elbow and knee injuries.

-- From wire reports