Sports briefs

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 25, 2003

Baseball

CUBS SIGN WALKER: The Chicago Cubs got another left-handed hitter, agreeing to a $1.75 million, one-year contract with free-agent infielder Todd Walker, a former Buzz player.

Walker, 30, played second base for the Boston Red Sox this year, hitting .283 in 144 games. He said he is not going to try to replace Cubs second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, who agreed to a one-year deal Dec. 7 that guarantees him $2.75 million.

DUQUETTE'S BACK: Former Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette is ready for another crack at baseball -- with a summer college league.

Duquette told the Berkshire Eagle he's received preliminary approval from the New England Collegiate Baseball League to move the Thread City Tides of Willimantic, Conn., to the Dan Duquette Sports Academy in Hinsdale.

Hockey

YASHIN OUT: New York Islanders center Alexei Yashin will miss 10 to 12 weeks after having surgery to repair a deep cut to his right arm sustained in last night's 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Yashin had two tendons in his wrist partially severed and had a nerve severed when he was cut by the skate blade of Philadelphia's Michael Handzus while setting up a play in front of the net. That play set up Arron Asham's game-tying goal in the third period.

Yashin had his arm operated on by team orthopedist Kenneth Montgomery at Lenox Hill Hospital and will have to wear a cast for four weeks before beginning rehabilitation. The team said the injury isn't career threatening, and Yashin is expected to make a full recovery.

Yashin has 12 goals and 12 assists this season, tying Mariusz Czerkawski for the team's scoring lead.

"The injury actually could have been worse. Still, it's a big disappointment for our team and our fans," Islanders General Manager Mike Milbury said in a statement.

Yashin led the Islanders in points in each of the last two seasons. He's had at least 65 points in each of the last six seasons he's played and has 288 goals and 367 assists in 10 seasons with the Ottawa Senators and Islanders.

New York (15-15-2-1) is third in the National Hockey League's Atlantic Division, 14 points behind the first-place Flyers.

Football

BRONCOS OUT: Running back Clinton Portis and two other starters won't play this week as the playoff-bound Denver Broncos wind up their regular season in Green Bay.

Portis, who has a sprained right ankle, will be joined on the sidelines by offensive guard Dan Neil and cornerback Kelly Herndon. Neil has a sprained ankle and Herndon has two broken bones in his left hand.

All three players were listed as doubtful on the Broncos' injury report Wednesday, but coach Mike Shanahan was hopeful they could all play in the playoff game the following week.

Portis, the No. 2 rusher in the AFC with 1,591 yards, missed last week's 31-17 win at Indianapolis. In his absence, Quentin Griffin and Mike Anderson ran for 136 and 56 yards, respectively.

Also, the Broncos placed safety Nick Ferguson on injured reserve and signed Patrick Chukwurah to help their depleted linebacker corps.

The team also waived linebacker Louis Green from the practice squad Wednesday and brought back fullback Kyle Johnson.

Ferguson became the 10th Broncos' player to be lost for the season after breaking his left arm in Denver's win at Indianapolis on Sunday. The fourth-year safety out of Georgia Tech had played in all 15 games, starting 10, and is third on the team with 72 tackles.

Injuries also ended the seasons of linebackers John Mobley, Ian Gold and Terry Pierce, forcing Denver to sign Johnny Rutledge and now Chukwurah, who was waived by Houston in training camp.

In two seasons with Minnesota, Chukwurah played in 27 career games and made 23 tackles. He was a three-year starter at Wyoming.

The 25-year-old Johnson returns to the Broncos for his third stint on the team's practice squad this season.

Denver closes out its regular season at Green Bay on Sunday.

NO PRACTICE FOR McNAIR: Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair didn't make an appearance Wednesday during a 90-minute walkthrough, instead staying inside and receiving more treatment on his sore left ankle.

Coach Jeff Fisher said there was very little chance that McNair will practice before the Titans (11-4) play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) on Sunday.

"That would mean McNair will have missed practice for the final three weeks of the regular season. Last season, he missed the final five weeks because of injuries.

Fisher said McNair's right calf is better than a week ago, but the quarterback still has pain in his sprained left ankle because of a broken bone spur. McNair led the Titans to a 27-24 victory over Houston last weekend despite playing with an ankle brace.

Basketball

KOBE TOPS LIST: Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, currently facing sexual assault charges in Colorado, heads ESPN's list of 100 sports personalities, moments, trends, games and stories that mattered in 2003.

"He is finally is the biggest story in sports, just not the one he had in mind," ESPN The Magazine said of Bryant.

Top NBA draft choice LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers is No. 2 on the list followed by the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, sharing third place after each came within five outs of reaching the World Series.