Sports briefs 4/23/04

Baseball

Mets third baseman Ty Wigginton was hospitalized after fainting at home and feeling dizzy at the ballpark. He was in NYU Medical Center after complaining during Wednesday night's game against Montreal. He is expected to miss the road trip to Chicago, Los Angeles and San Diego, and he probably will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Basketball

Portland Trail Blazers forward Zach Randolph won the NBA Most Improved Player award after more than doubling his averages for points, rebounds and assists. Randolph, who became a starter in his third season, averaged 20.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the Blazers. Last season, his second in the league, Randolph averaged 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists.

Chris Mullin was promoted to executive VP of basketball operations by the Golden State Warriors, who are looking for leadership from one of the most popular players in team history. Garry St. Jean was stripped of his title as general manager and will get another job with the Warriors. Mullin has been groomed as a special assistant to St. Jean for two seasons since retiring as a player.

Golf

Charlie Sifford broke another barrier Thursday. Sifford, who cracked the PGA Tour's Caucasian-only clause in 1961 and was the first black member to win on tour, is the first black chosen for the World Golf Hall of Fame. Sifford will be inducted Nov. 15, along with 1992 U.S. Open champion Tom Kite, Japanese star Isao Aoki and Canadian amateur Marlene Stewart Streit.

Rod Pampling was first on the course Thursday and wound up first on the leaderboard. He shot a 6-under 66 and held a one-stroke lead over Chris Riley after the opening round of a wind-swept Shell Houston Open.

Hockey

Jacques Martin was fired as coach of the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, two days after his team was eliminated by Toronto in the first round of the playoffs. Martin had been behind Ottawa's bench for 8 1/2 seasons, making him the league's longest-serving coach. The Game 7 loss Tuesday marked the fourth time in five seasons the Senators have been ousted by the Maple Leafs.

-- From wire reports