Sports briefs 8/12/04

Baseball

Jason Giambi expects to make a full recovery from health problems that have slowed him this summer and is confident he will return to the New York Yankees' lineup before the end of the season. The five-time All-Star declined Wednesday to discuss details of his condition or the benign tumor found in an undisclosed spot in his body last month, but did say it was not related to an intestinal parasite the Yankees diagnosed earlier in the year.

Giambi was cleared medically to resume baseball activities on Tuesday, when he arrived in Tampa to begin working himself back into playing shape. The slugger spent about 90 minutes in the weight room Wednesday before meeting with reporters, and he plans to begin swinging a bat early next week.

Mets catcher Mike Piazza was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because of inflammation in his left knee, leaving New York without its best hitter as the team tries to stay on the edge of the NL playoff race. The move was made retroactive to Aug. 7. Piazza had an MRI exam Tuesday and received a shot in his knee.

College

Two Colorado football players suspended this winter will be allowed to play in the season opener against Colorado State after all. Colorado coach Gary Barnett on Tuesday rescinded the suspensions of linebacker Chris Hollis and offensive lineman Brian Daniels, saying he had "overreacted." They were among four players suspended in February, when the football program was being investigated for allegedly using sex and alcohol to lure recruits to the school.

Football

Kurt Warner will start ahead of Eli Manning in the New York Giants exhibition opener Friday night against Kansas City at Giants Stadium. Coach Tom Coughlin made that announcement Wednesday, but added that the competition for the starting job between the two-time MVP and the No. 1 pick in last April's draft remains tight. Warner will play into the second quarter, with Manning running the offense until at least the middle of the third quarter. Jesse Palmer will finish.

Jim Mora has yet to serve as a head coach in an NFL game, yet he's already displayed the intellect and preparedness necessary to ensure a long career on the sideline with the Atlanta Falcons. Mora will play Michael Vick for only one series in tonight's preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. A year ago, Vick scrambled out of the pocket early in a preseason game against the Ravens and was met head-on by linebacker Adalius Thomas. The resulting collision left Vick with a broken right leg and ruined the season for the Falcons, who said farewell to head coach Dan Reeves and brought in Mora, a longtime assistant with the San Francisco 49ers.

Olympics

U.S. sprinter Torri Edwards was suspended for two years for taking a banned stimulant, making her ineligible for the Athens Olympics, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Wednesday. Edwards was a medal contender in the 100 and 200 meters at the games. She is the reigning world champion in the 100 and finished second in that event at the U.S. Olympic trials last month. Edwards has appealed to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, whose decision is final, USADA said. The CAS has set up a tribunal in Athens during the Olympics and is expected to rule on her appeal before track and field events start next week. Unless the suspension is overturned, her Olympic spot in the 100 will be offered to Gail Devers, who finished fourth at the U.S. trials. Edwards' spot in the 200 will be offered to LaShauntéa Moore, who was fourth at the U.S. trials in that event.

Serena Williams pulled out of the Summer Olympics just hours before she was to travel to Greece with the U.S. tennis squad, joining Jennifer Capriati on the sideline. In New York to catch the team's flight, the six-time Grand Slam singles champion saw a doctor and was told not to compete in Athens because of lingering pain in her left knee, U.S. Tennis Association spokesman Randy Walker said. Williams' withdrawal came a day after 1992 singles gold medalist Capriati announced she wouldn't play because of a hamstring injury. Capriati's spot in the Athens singles event was taken by 40th-ranked Lisa Raymond, who's also playing doubles with Martina Navratilova.

--From wire reports