Sports digest 11/9/01

Former manager Oates to battle brain tumor

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Former Texas manager Johnny Oates has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and will undergo surgery later this month.

Oates began to experience some weakness in his left side in late October and was forced to cut short a telephone interview due to weakness and slurred speech. He underwent tests and was told of the diagnosis Monday.

The 55-year-old Oates, who lives in Matoaca, Va., was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most aggressive form of primary brain tumors. The average survival rate is about a year. The surgery will be in Richmond, Va.

Oates, who managed the Rangers to their only three AL West titles (1996, '98 and '99), resigned under pressure May 4 after an 11-17 start. He was the AL Manager of the Year in 1996.

Vikings sign Pro Bowl cornerback Carter

MINNEAPOLIS -- Dale Carter, a four-time Pro Bowl cornerback who recently completed an 18-month suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday.

Carter hopes to suit up Sunday when the Vikings play at Philadelphia, his agent said. He's also getting a chance to play with his half-brother, wide receiver Jake Reed.

Carter, 31, made four trips to the Pro Bowl while with the Chiefs from 1992-98 and signed with Denver in 1999. He had been suspended from the NFL since April 2000 for refusing to take drug tests and was waived by the Broncos after being reinstated this week by the league.

Woods to team up with Nicklaus

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus will team up in a prime-time television exhibition next summer, taking on Sergio Garcia and Lee Trevino in the third edition of the Battle at Bighorn.

Woods and Nicklaus have played together only once, the first two rounds of the 2000 PGA Championship that Woods won for his third straight major.

They will play a best-ball match July 29 -- a Monday night -- at Bighorn Golf Club, with the event televised by ABC Sports.

It will be the fourth straight year of prime-time TV for Woods.

He defeated David Duval at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., in 1999, then lost to Garcia at Bighorn the following year. This summer, Woods and Annika Sorenstam won in an alternate-shot match against Duval and Karrie Webb.

The winners of "Battle at Bighorn III" will split $1.2 million, the losers share $500,000 and $300,000 will go to charity.

Nicklaus was voted the greatest male golfer of the 20th century with 18 major championships.

Trevino beat Nicklaus in a playoff at the 1971 U.S. Open, then ended his bid for the Grand Slam a year later by winning the British Open by one stroke over Nicklaus.

Henry cards ace at Jaycee Municipal

Steve Henry carded a hole in one Wednesday at Jaycee Municipal Golf Course.

Henry used a 4-iron to ace No. 18, a par 3 playing 177 yards.

-- From staff, wire reports