Sports digest 10/24/01

TSN names Bonds player of the year

ST. LOUIS -- Home run king Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants has been named player of the year by The Sporting News, the publication announced Tuesday.

It marked the second time Bonds won the award. He also won in 1990 while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bonds hit a record 73 homers in 2001, topping Mark McGwire's three-year-old record of 70. Bonds also set records for slugging percentage (.863) and walks (177). Both records were previously held by Babe Ruth.

In voting by major league players, Bonds received 133 votes to finish well ahead of runner-up Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs, who received 57. Arizona's Luis Gonzalez was third with 48.

Trade gives Bucks room to sign Mason

The Milwaukee Bucks engineered a three-team trade that clears the way for them to sign free agent Anthony Mason, a move that could tilt the balance of power in the NBA's Eastern Conference.

Milwaukee traded Scott Williams and a first-round draft choice to Denver on Monday night for Aleksandar Radojevic and Kevin Willis. Willis was then traded to Houston for the Rockets' second-round draft pick in 2002.

The Bucks now have enough salary cap flexibility to give Mason, an All-Star last season for the Miami Heat, a substantial contract. Mason and his agent, Don Cronson, had been asking for a four-year deal worth about $20 million.

Mason, who averaged 16.1 points and 9.6 rebounds last season, played just one season in Miami after spending four seasons in Charlotte and five in New York. His strengths are rebounding, ballhandling, scoring and toughness.

-- From wire reports