Sports briefs 9/2/04

Baseball

Jerry Colangelo resigned as chief executive officer of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, four months ahead of schedule. Colangelo, who agreed last month to leave on Dec. 31, will remain as chairman through the 2005 season and then serve as emeritus team executive, the club said. He also will have duties as a liaison between the team and major league baseball. Colangelo was forced out on Aug. 6 by four businessmen who became majority owners two years ago. In the same power move, player agent Jeff Moorad was hired as Colangelo's replacement.

The Chicago Cubs purchased infielder Neifi Perez's contract from Triple-A Iowa, and newly acquired outfielder Ben Grieve also joined the team in Montreal. Perez, who was released by San Francisco on Aug. 17, hit .206 with one double and three RBIs in 10 games with Iowa after signing with Chicago as a minor league free agent Aug. 19.

Basketball

Darius Miles is happy to be staying in Portland. The restricted free agent signed a six-year, $48 million contract with the Trail Blazers, who hope the 6-foot-9 forward will realize the potential that made the Clippers take him with the third overall pick in the 2000 draft.

Colleges

Coach George O'Leary will miss Central Florida's opener against Wisconsin this weekend to attend the funeral of his 83-year-old mother, who died Wednesday in New York. Margaret O'Leary died after a brief illness, according to a school release.

Football

Chad Pennington agreed to a $64 million, seven-year contract extension with the New York Jets on Wednesday that includes $23 million in guaranteed money. A source familiar with the negotiations, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Pennington will average $9.172 million a year.

Wide receiver Marc Boerigter, who injured his knee on a non-contact play, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday by the Chiefs. Boerigter was hurt Saturday night in the first quarter of the Chiefs' exhibition game against Cleveland. After a good training camp, he was entrenched as the team's third receiver.

The Miami Dolphins signed veteran defensive end Chidi Ahanotu on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Ahanotu played in all 16 games with the San Francisco 49ers last season, starting one game and recording 30 tackles and four sacks. Ahanotu has spent 11 years in the NFL with Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Buffalo and San Francisco.

Hockey

The NHL and its players' association met for nine hours Wednesday, but refused comment on whether progress was made toward a new collective bargaining agreement. The sides, who met for 16 hours over two days, scheduled another meeting Thursday in Montreal. The league and union decided for the second straight day to reserve comment until the round of meetings is over. The NHLPA continued its queries regarding the operations and business practices of the league's 30 teams.