Sports briefs 5/22/04

Baseball

Pedro Martinez talked David Ortiz into staying with Boston. Now the Red Sox can only hope the three-time Cy Young winner follows his own advice. Martinez helped convince Ortiz to sign a $12.5 million, two-year contract extension on Friday. The first baseman-designated hitter said he didn't want to leave the Boston clubhouse and the fans who have made him a cult hero. Martinez is one of four key Red Sox players eligible for free agency after the year along with shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Derek Lowe.

Angels slugger Troy Glaus had surgery on his right shoulder Friday, an operation that might sideline him for the rest of the season. Glaus' arm will be in a sling for the next 10-to-14 days before he's examined by team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum, who performed the operation. The three-time All-Star third baseman and 2002 World Series MVP is scheduled to begin physical therapy after that. Anaheim said no timetable has been set for his return, but if there is one this season, it almost surely won't happen before September.

Reggie Jackson might be best known as the brash slugger who clashed with George Steinbrenner and Billy Martin and forever became "Mr. October" with three World Series home runs at Yankee Stadium. But Jackson rose to prominence in Oakland and had his biggest success with the Athletics, who will finally retire his No. 9 today - 11 years after New York gave him the honor by retiring his No. 44. The 58-year-old Jackson played his first nine seasons with the A's and also finished his career in Oakland in 1987.

With one swing, Alex Rodriguez silenced the booing fans who greeted his return to Texas. Rodriguez lined a 2-1 pitch into the left-field seats for a two-run homer Friday night in his first at-bat in Arlington since he was traded to the New York Yankees. The drive stunned the Rangers fans who'd turned against him and delighted the few who stuck with him. Silence turned to mild cheers as Rodriguez rounded the bases. When he cleared third base, he cocked his right fist and softly pumped his arm.

Basketball

Mike Montgomery left Stanford to take the coaching job with the Golden State Warriors on Friday. Montgomery, 57, replaced Eric Musselman, who was fired Wednesday night after two seasons. His deal is reportedly a four-year, multimillion-dollar contract. It was the first major hire by Chris Mullin, who became the Warriors executive vice president of basketball operations a month ago. Montgomery has been one of the most successful college coaches during his 18 years at Stanford, but has no NBA experience. He led the Cardinal to their third No. 1 NCAA tournament seed in five years this season, but Stanford was upset in the second round by Alabama.

A housekeeper was stabbed to death Friday at a suburban Houston home owned by Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal, and the woman's son was charged with murder. Alice Williams, 37, and her son were cleaning the home when they began fighting, police said. Tristan Williams, 18, stabbed his mother several times with kitchen knives, investigators said. Arnetta Yardbourgh, who lives at the home, saw the stabbing and called authorities, said police spokeswoman Pat Whitty. Yardbourgh and O'Neal have a 7-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. O'Neal's agent, Michael Parris, said the girl wasn't at the home.

Football

The New York Giants had two days of their offseason program taken away Friday for violating the NFL's collective bargaining agreement under new coach Tom Coughlin. After receiving several recent complaints from players, Harold Henderson, the league's executive vice president for labor relations, and NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw determined that the Giants violated rules on the length of workouts and the scheduling of classroom sessions in the offseason. Players are allowed to be at locations for weight training and meetings a total of 4 hours on offseason workout days

-- From wire reports