Sports briefs 9/27/05

Baseball

• Yankees star Derek Jeter received a threatening letter that reportedly warned he'd be "shot or set on fire" if he didn't stop dating white women.

The FBI is investigating "racially threatening letters to Jeter and others across the country," special agent Scott Wilson said Monday by phone from Cleveland. He declined to comment further.

Jeter downplayed what he called the "stupid letter," saying he did not perceive it as a specific threat.

The Daily News reported that the hate mail to the Yankees' 31-year-old captain called him a "traitor to his race" for dating white women. It warned him "to stop or he'll be shot or set on fire," the paper said in Monday editions, quoting an unidentified law enforcement source.

Similar threatening letters denouncing interracial relationships have been sent to other public figures in recent months, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Jason Taylor, and the parents of tennis star James Blake. The threats have been traced to the Cleveland area.

College

* Kansas State running back Parrish Fisher, Iowa State safety Steve Paris and Colorado kicker Mason Crosby were named Big 12 players of the week Monday.

Fisher became the first freshman at Kansas State to rush for more than 100 yards in a game. He had 169 yards on 21 carries in the Wildcats' 54-7 win over North Texas.

Paris, a senior, had two interceptions in the first quarter in a 28-21 win over Army.

Crosby, a junior, kicked a 58-yard field goal -- the longest in the nation this season -- for Colorado's only points in a 23-3 loss to Miami. Crosby kicked a 60-yarder last season.

Hockey

* The St. Louis Blues assigned five players to the minors on Monday, trimming their roster to 27 players.

Those assigned to Peoria of the AHL were defensemen Brendan Buckley and Doug Lynch, and forwards Mike Glumac, Peter Sejna and Trent Whitfield. The moves leave the Blues with 16 forwards, nine defensemen and two goalies.

The Blues are 2-1 on the preseason and play the Stars at home tonight.

* Pavel Datsyuk is back with the Detroit Red Wings, spurning the chance to go home to play in Russia.

Datsyuk signed a two-year contract on Monday that will pay him $3.9 million per season. He had a breakthrough season in 2003-04, finishing tied for the team lead with 30 goals and totaling 68 points.