Sports digest 2 10/19/01

Big 12 coaches pick KU, MU to finish 1-2

DALLAS -- Missouri junior Kareem Rush, the Big 12's top scorer last season, has been tabbed as the preseason player of the year by the league's coaches, who chose Kansas as the team to beat for the 2001-02 title.

With four starters and 10 lettermen back from last season, the Jayhawks received seven first-place votes in the coaches' preseason poll released Thursday.

The top six teams in the coaches' poll are the six Big 12 teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament last season.

After Kansas, Missouri was picked second with four first-place votes. Oklahoma State was picked third, followed by Oklahoma, Texas and two-time defending Big 12 champion Iowa State. Oklahoma received the other first-place vote.

The rest of the picks, in order of predicted finish, were Colorado, Kansas State, Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Nebraska.

Rush, a first-team All-Big 12 pick last season, and Oklahoma State senior guard Maurice Baker were the only players on all 11 possible coaches' ballots. Joining Rush and Baker on the all-league team are Texas senior forward Chris Owens and the Kansas junior forward duo of Nick Collison and Drew Gooden.

Oklahoma junior guard Ebi Ere, a transfer from Barton County Community College, was tabbed as the preseason newcomer of the year. He averaged 25.5 points and 7.6 rebounds a game last season at the Kansas junior college.

Jagr signs NHL's richest contract

WASHINGTON -- Jaromir Jagr signed a eight-year, $88 million contract with the Washington Capitals on Thursday, making him the NHL's highest-paid player.

Jagr and the Capitals previously had discussed a contract extension that would have started in two years, but the team instead decided to tear up his old deal.

The new contract takes effect immediately. It's guaranteed for seven years, plus one option year.

"When I came here I didn't know what to expect," Jagr said. "Then I heard the promise to win the Stanley Cup in five years -- maybe three years now."

The deal surpasses the 10-year, $87.5 million contract signed by Alexei Yashin with the New York Islanders this year.

Jagr, acquired in a July trade with Pittsburgh, was scheduled to earn $9.5 million this season and $10.25 million next season under his old Penguins contract.

Phillips awarded remainder of salary

An NFL arbitrator ruled Thursday that the Buffalo Bills must pay former coach Wade Phillips for the final year of his contract.

"Naturally, I'm disappointed in a ruling that awards money to Wade Phillips for his departure from the Bills," Bills owner Ralph Wilson said before the team's game in Jacksonville, Fla.

"Phillips claims he was fired. I reject that. He forced his dismissal with unreasonable behavior."

Phillips, who had one season left on his contract, was dismissed in January for refusing to fire special teams coach Ronnie Jones, who's unit finished ranked last in the league in four categories.

After being paid for two months, Phillips received a letter from the Bills indicating they would no longer pay him and had canceled his insurance benefits.

Phillips, who has failed to land another coaching job, was not immediately available for comment.

Coaching contracts are guaranteed in the NFL, and Phillips was scheduled to make a reported $750,000 this season.

Wilson said Phillips' refusal to fire Jones was tantamount to insubordination.

-- From wire reports