Sports digest 12/14/01

Hospital releases Buck following cancer surgery

ST. LOUIS -- Longtime St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck is home after spending a week in the hospital following surgery for lung cancer.

Buck, 77, was released Wednesday night from Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a hospital spokesman said.

During the surgery last Wednesday, doctors removed a small, cancerous tumor from Buck's right lung. His son -- fellow radio sports broadcaster Joe Buck -- has said doctors said the cancer had not spread.

Doctors discovered the tumor in November when the elder Buck had a routine chest X-ray after the batteries in his pacemaker were changed.

Buck already manages several medical problems, including Parkinson's disease and diabetes.

Buck has broadcast Cardinals games since 1954 and was the voice of the NFL's Monday night game for 16 seasons. He also did the play-by-play for CBS of the famous "Ice Bowl" NFL championship game in 1967, as well as the 1970 Super Bowl, three baseball All-Star Games and two World Series.

Pettini to join Cardinals' staff

ST. LOUIS -- Joe Pettini will join a veteran staff on the St. Louis Cardinals bench next season, replacing Mark DeJohn as the club's bench coach.

Manager Tony La Russa's decision to replace DeJohn is the only change made to his coaching roster for the 2002 season. Longtime La Russa colleague Dave Duncan will return as pitching coach, as will Dave McKay (first base), Jose Oquendo (third base), Marty Mason (bullpen) and Mitchell Page (hitting).

Pettini managed for eight seasons in the Cardinals minor league system before working as the club's minor league field coordinator for the past five years.

The Cardinals said DeJohn, who had coached with the Cardinals at the major league level since joining the team in 1996, has been reassigned within the organization.

Former Olympian Hayes in critical conditionJACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Olympian and former NFL star Bob Hayes, who fought back from a life-threatening illness earlier this year, has been hospitalized with flulike symptoms.

The 58-year-old Hayes, who entered Shands Jacksonville hospital Tuesday, was in critical condition Thursday.

The only man to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl, Hayes was treated earlier this year for heart, liver and kidney ailments as well as prostate cancer. He underwent surgery to remove his prostate on Feb. 27 and spent a month in rehab at the Eartha White Center before returning home on April 20.

Mets complete trade for Roberto Alomar

CLEVELAND -- The New York Mets sent pitcher Billy Traber and first baseman Earl Snyder to the Cleveland Indians on Thursday to complete the trade for All-Star second baseman Roberto Alomar.

Cleveland got the pair of minor leaguers -- they were originally listed as players to be named -- along with outfielder Matt Lawton, outfield prospect Alex Escobar and pitcher Jerrod Riggan this week for Alomar, pitcher Mike Bacsik and outfielder-first baseman Danny Peoples.

Traber, 22, was the Mets' first-round pick in 2000. He was 10-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 27 starts this season, mostly at the Class A level.

Snyder, 25, hit 20 home runs and 35 doubles at Double-A Binghamton.

The teams couldn't reveal Traber and Snyder as the players to be named until after Thursday's Rule 5 draft.

Lindros sidelined with knee injury

NEW YORK -- New York Rangers center Eric Lindros will miss one week with a sprained ligament in his right knee.

Lindros was injured with 7.2 seconds remaining in the second period of the Rangers' 4-2 loss to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday night. He had an MRI test Thursday and was examined by the team doctor.

Lindros scored both of New York's goals against Nashville and is second in the league in scoring with 18 goals and 19 assists in 34 games.

-- From wire reports