By The Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Updated: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 11:26 AM CST

Here's a look at Tuesday's sports in brief around the world.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Lane Kiffin is returning to Southern California as the Trojans’ coach after just one season at Tennessee.

Kiffin was chosen to replace Pete Carroll, his mentor and employer for six seasons. Kiffin was the Trojans’ offensive coordinator before his brief stints with the Oakland Raiders and the Volunteers.

“This was not an easy decision,” he said, reading a brief statement on Tennessee’s campus. “This is something that happens very quick. We’ve been here 14 months, and the support has been unbelievable here. I really believe the only place I would have left here to go was ... Southern California.”

His father, respected defensive coach Monte Kiffin, and longtime USC assistant Ed Orgeron also will leave Tennessee to join him, USC said in a statement. Volunteers assistant Kippy Brown, who joined Kiffin’s staff less than four weeks ago, was promoted to interim coach.

BASEBALL

LONDON (AP) — The president of the World Anti-Doping Agency says Mark McGwire’s admission of steroid use should spur baseball to get tougher on drug cheats.

WADA president John Fahey said that despite “incremental progress” baseball’s drug program still falls short of the “universally accepted standards” of the international code on doping.

After years of denying he took performance-enhancing drugs, a tearful McGwire apologized Monday. He said he used steroids and human growth hormone on and off for a decade, starting before the 1990 season and including 1998 when he hit 70 homers to break Roger Maris’ record.

MIAMI (AP) — The perennially frugal Florida Marlins have reached an agreement with the players’ union to increase spending in the wake of complaints the team payroll has been so small as to violate baseball’s revenue sharing provisions.

The deal was announced in a joint statement by the Marlins, the union and Major League Baseball. The parties did not comment beyond the statement, and it was unclear how much the Marlins’ payroll might increase.

The agreement runs through 2012, when the Marlins’ new ballpark is scheduled to open.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Outfielder Ryan Church has reached a preliminary agreement with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a $1.5 million, one-year guaranteed contract that could pay him an additional $1.32 million in performance bonuses.

NFL

NEW YORK (AP) — In his own view, Charles Woodson put together his best pro season in 2009. How appropriate, then, that he is The Associated Press 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The versatile Woodson tied for the league lead with nine interceptions, returning three for touchdowns, and was a key to the Packers’ turnaround on defense. His role in Green Bay’s ranking second in overall defense, first in interceptions (30), takeaways (40) and turnover margin (plus-24) earned Woodson 28 votes Tuesday from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL.

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Jim Haslett has agreed to become the Washington Redskins’ defensive coordinator, the second major hire for new coach Mike Shanahan.

A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press about the move on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t made an announcement.

Haslett was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2000-05 and interim coach for the St. Louis Rams in 2008 after Scott Linehan was fired. He has also been a defensive coordinator for the Rams, Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers.

SKIING

FLACHAU, Austria (AP) — Lindsey Vonn of the United States fell during the first run of a World Cup slalom but was not hurt in the night event won by Marlies Schild of Austria.

She straddled a gate halfway down the course after losing her right ski. Despite the fall, Vonn kept the lead in the overall standings.

Vonn has skied with a protective brace on her lower left arm since bruising it during a crash in the giant slalom last month.

TENNIS

SYDNEY (AP) — Top-ranked Serena Williams advanced to the semifinals at the Sydney International with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Vera Dushevina of Russia.

Dushevina sprayed a forehand wide to give Williams two match points and then double-faulted to finish the match in exactly an hour in a swirling breeze at the Sydney 2000 Olympics venue.

Williams, playing her only warmup tournament ahead of her attempted title defense at the Australian Open, next plays France’s Aravane Rezai, who had a 6-3, 6-0 win over Italian Flavia Pennetta.

BOXING

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Jermain Taylor withdrew from the Super Six World Boxing Classic, although the former middleweight champion stopped short of announcing his retirement.

The decision had been widely expected after Taylor was knocked out in the 12th round by Arthur Abraham in October, his second straight late-round stoppage. Taylor (28-4-1) was also knocked out in the final round by Carl Froch in April.

HOCKEY

TORONTO (AP) — Goaltender Curtis Joseph has retired, ending a 19-year career in the NHL in which he was No. 4 on the career victory list.

The 42-year-old Joseph is the winningest goalie to have never won the Stanley Cup. He had 454 victories, trailing only Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy and Ed Belfour.

Joseph entered the league as an undrafted free agent. He also played for St. Louis, Edmonton, Detroit, Phoenix and Calgary.