Sports briefs 7/13/04

Basketball

Making a last-ditch effort to retain Carlos Boozer, the Cleveland Cavaliers have offered him a one-year contract worth about $5 million amid reports he will part ways with his agent, The Associated Press has learned. The power forward's reputation has taken a beating over the past week after he stunned Cleveland by agreeing to a $68 million offer from the Utah Jazz. Days earlier, the Cavs declined to exercise a $695,000 option on Boozer's contract -- thereby making him a free agent -- in the belief he would accept a 6-year, $41 million deal to remain in Cleveland.

n In the wake of a report that Michael Jordan is interested in buying the Miami Heat, team owner Micky Arison said Monday the franchise is not for sale. Arison was out of town but responded to the report through a Heat spokesman. According to The Chicago Tribune, an unidentified source said Jordan has been in discussions with the Heat about joining the organization as an owner. Jordan's representatives at SFX did nothing to refute the report.

Antonio McDyess has accepted the Detroit Pistons' four-year, $23 million contract offer, a source told The Associated Press on Monday. The NBA champion Pistons will be able to sign the 6-foot-9 forward on Wednesday when a two-week player movement moratorium expires. McDyess has averaged 16.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks during his eight-year career, which has been plagued by injuries since the 2000-01 season. He played 42 games last season - 24 in Phoenix and 18 with New York - and averaged 6.9 points and 6.1 rebounds.

n With the Miami Heat on the verge of acquiring Shaquille O'Neal, the team signed coach Stan Van Gundy to a multiyear extension Monday. General manager Randy Pfund also received an extension. The trade for O'Neal could become official Wednesday when the NBA's two-week player movement moratorium ends.Hockey

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed forward Mike Sillinger, general manager Larry Pleau said Monday. Sillinger, 33, began last season in Phoenix and came to St. Louis in a trade for goalie Brent Johnson just prior to the trade deadline. In 16 games for the Blues, Sillinger had five goals and five assists. For the season, Sillinger had 13 goals and 11 assists. Sillinger has played 14 seasons, with 166 goals and 232 assists in 829 games. Sillinger recorded his first career hat trick with three goals in the Blues' 4-1 win on April 12 in Game 3 of the first-round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks. It was St. Louis' only win in the series.

Tennis

Andre Agassi will try to become the sixth player in ATP Tour history to reach 800 career wins tonight in the first round of the Mercedes Benz Cup. The first U.S. hardcourt event of the summer began Monday with Jeff Morrison, Glenn Weiner, Kenneth Carlsen, Karol Beck and Gilles Elseneer winning first-round matches. The top-seeded Agassi will face Alex Bogomolov Jr. in his first match since withdrawing from Wimbledon with a strained right hip.