Wednesday's Sports In Brief
By The Associated Press
Jan 08, 2009 - 10:54:52 CST
Here's a look at Wednesday's sports in brief around the world.
BASEBALL
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Jason Giambi and the Oakland A’s finalized a $5.25 million, one-year contract with an option, bringing the free-agent designated hitter and first baseman back to the place he began his big league career.
Giambi, who turns 38 on Thursday , follows a line of aging and injury-prone designated hitters in recent years with the A’s — Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza, Mike Sweeney and then Thomas again.
After leaving the A’s following the 2001 season, Giambi signed a $120 million, seven-year contract with the New York Yankees. He was slowed by injuries and was ensnared in the federal and baseball investigations of performance-enhancing drugs.
UNDATED (AP) — Career saves leader Trevor Hoffman is closing in on a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press the sides are near an agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract hadn’t been completed.
The 41-year-old Hoffman had pitched for the San Diego Padres since 1993, but the team recently withdrew its offer for next season. Hoffman posted 30 saves last season, increasing his saves record to 554, then became a free agent.
PRO FOOTBALL
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints confirmed that running back Reggie Bush had surgery on his left knee and will require months of rehabilitation.
However, Bush is expected to be ready for minicamp in June.
The surgery in December entailed drilling small holes in the bone around the knee joint in order to generate soft tissue that mimics the padding effect of cartilage.
Bush has had repeated problems with his left knee the past two seasons. He was placed on injured reserve after the latest injury in the Dec. 11 game against Chicago.
Bush’s injury initially was reported as a sprained medial collateral ligament, which doesn’t usually require surgery.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
BOSTON (AP) — Boston College fired Jeff Jagodzinski, days after he was warned of dismissal if he interviewed for the coaching job with the New York Jets.
BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo told Jagodzinski on Saturday that his job would be in jeopardy if he went through with the Jets interview. Jagodzinski met with the Jets Tuesday night. A few hours later, at a morning meeting lasting about 25 minutes, DeFilippo told Jagodzinski he was out.
DeFilippo said he fired Jagodzinski over a “difference of vision for the future.” Jagodzinski has been BC’s coach for two years and had three years left on his contract.
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno are leaving Georgia for the NFL.
Stafford, a junior who set a school record with 25 touchdown passes this season, and Moreno, only the second Georgia player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, made the announcement at a news conference with coach Mark Richt at their sides.
Neither decision was a surprise. Each is a projected first-round pick.
Stafford and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford may be the two top quarterbacks in the draft, assuming Bradford also declares early. Detroit has the No. 1 pick and could use a quarterback.
Moreno had 1,400 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns this season to join Herschel Walker as the only players in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State police are looking out for Joe Paterno’s Coke bottle-thick glasses — the bronzed ones that were perched on the statue of the iconic football coach that stands outside Beaver Stadium.
Vandals apparently cut the glasses off just above the base of the ears of the 7-foot sculpture between 11 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, when a police officer noticed the damage.
Deputy Chief Tyrone Parham said the statue was vandalized once before several years ago. The extent of the damage then was not known.
The school plans to replace the glasses on the statue, which weighs more than 900 pounds and was unveiled in Nov. 2001.
GOLF
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Seve Ballesteros says he plans to return next year to his role as captain of Europe’s Royal Trophy team.
A statement from the Spanish golfing great was read at a news conference, two days before this year’s Ryder Cup-style competition begins between teams from Europe and Asia.
Ballesteros was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year that required several operations. He was released from a hospital Dec. 9 and returned home to northern Spain, where he began chemotherapy treatment.
MOTOR SPORTS
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — French motorcyclist Pascal Terry was found dead during the Dakar Rally in Argentina.
The 49-year-old Terry had gone missing Sunday during the second stage of the race, between Santa Rosa and Puerto Madryn, organizers said in a statement.
Terry was found in an area of dense vegetation, about 50 feet from his motorcycle, without his helmet but with food and water beside him.
Las Pampas regional police are investigating the death. It was Terry’s first time taking part in the Dakar Rally.
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BASEBALL
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Jason Giambi and the Oakland A’s finalized a $5.25 million, one-year contract with an option, bringing the free-agent designated hitter and first baseman back to the place he began his big league career.
Giambi, who turns 38 on Thursday , follows a line of aging and injury-prone designated hitters in recent years with the A’s — Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza, Mike Sweeney and then Thomas again.
After leaving the A’s following the 2001 season, Giambi signed a $120 million, seven-year contract with the New York Yankees. He was slowed by injuries and was ensnared in the federal and baseball investigations of performance-enhancing drugs.
UNDATED (AP) — Career saves leader Trevor Hoffman is closing in on a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press the sides are near an agreement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract hadn’t been completed.
The 41-year-old Hoffman had pitched for the San Diego Padres since 1993, but the team recently withdrew its offer for next season. Hoffman posted 30 saves last season, increasing his saves record to 554, then became a free agent.
PRO FOOTBALL
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints confirmed that running back Reggie Bush had surgery on his left knee and will require months of rehabilitation.
However, Bush is expected to be ready for minicamp in June.
The surgery in December entailed drilling small holes in the bone around the knee joint in order to generate soft tissue that mimics the padding effect of cartilage.
Bush has had repeated problems with his left knee the past two seasons. He was placed on injured reserve after the latest injury in the Dec. 11 game against Chicago.
Bush’s injury initially was reported as a sprained medial collateral ligament, which doesn’t usually require surgery.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
BOSTON (AP) — Boston College fired Jeff Jagodzinski, days after he was warned of dismissal if he interviewed for the coaching job with the New York Jets.
BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo told Jagodzinski on Saturday that his job would be in jeopardy if he went through with the Jets interview. Jagodzinski met with the Jets Tuesday night. A few hours later, at a morning meeting lasting about 25 minutes, DeFilippo told Jagodzinski he was out.
DeFilippo said he fired Jagodzinski over a “difference of vision for the future.” Jagodzinski has been BC’s coach for two years and had three years left on his contract.
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno are leaving Georgia for the NFL.
Stafford, a junior who set a school record with 25 touchdown passes this season, and Moreno, only the second Georgia player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, made the announcement at a news conference with coach Mark Richt at their sides.
Neither decision was a surprise. Each is a projected first-round pick.
Stafford and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford may be the two top quarterbacks in the draft, assuming Bradford also declares early. Detroit has the No. 1 pick and could use a quarterback.
Moreno had 1,400 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns this season to join Herschel Walker as the only players in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State police are looking out for Joe Paterno’s Coke bottle-thick glasses — the bronzed ones that were perched on the statue of the iconic football coach that stands outside Beaver Stadium.
Vandals apparently cut the glasses off just above the base of the ears of the 7-foot sculpture between 11 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, when a police officer noticed the damage.
Deputy Chief Tyrone Parham said the statue was vandalized once before several years ago. The extent of the damage then was not known.
The school plans to replace the glasses on the statue, which weighs more than 900 pounds and was unveiled in Nov. 2001.
GOLF
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Seve Ballesteros says he plans to return next year to his role as captain of Europe’s Royal Trophy team.
A statement from the Spanish golfing great was read at a news conference, two days before this year’s Ryder Cup-style competition begins between teams from Europe and Asia.
Ballesteros was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year that required several operations. He was released from a hospital Dec. 9 and returned home to northern Spain, where he began chemotherapy treatment.
MOTOR SPORTS
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — French motorcyclist Pascal Terry was found dead during the Dakar Rally in Argentina.
The 49-year-old Terry had gone missing Sunday during the second stage of the race, between Santa Rosa and Puerto Madryn, organizers said in a statement.
Terry was found in an area of dense vegetation, about 50 feet from his motorcycle, without his helmet but with food and water beside him.
Las Pampas regional police are investigating the death. It was Terry’s first time taking part in the Dakar Rally.