Stoudamire likely done for the season
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Guard Damon Stoudamire of the Memphis Grizzlies likely is done for the season after suffering a knee injury Friday night against Portland, his former team.
Reports say the 5-foot-10 inch Stoudamire, in his 11th season out of Oregon, will need 4-6 months of rehabilitation before he can play again, after rupturing a tendon in his right knee on a play in the second quarter.
"I split the defense and I had a lay-up, but when I went up, it felt like a sniper shot me," he told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "It was a feeling I've never had. But I'll persevere."
In 27 games this season, the 32-year-old Stoudamire is averaging 11.7 points and 4.7 assists per contest. Before leaving the contest, Stoudamire had four points, six rebounds and four assists.
He has career averages of 14.5 points and 6.5 assists in 756 games with the Grizzlies, Trail Blazers and Toronto.
Diamondbacks ink Eric Byrnes
PHOENIX, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Outfielder Eric Byrnes has agreed to a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Byrnes, 29, is expected to play centerfield while the team grooms the highly-regarded Chris Young at Triple-A Tucson.
"Eric brings a lot of energy to the field and the clubhouse every day and I know our fans are going to enjoy the enthusiasm with which he plays the game," said General Manager Josh Byrnes on Arizona's Web site.
Byrnes is one of several players who have joined the Diamondbacks this off-season. Among the others are catcher Johnnie Estrada (traded from Atlanta), pitchers Miguel Batista (free agent) and Orlando Hernandez (traded from the Chicago White Sox) and infielders Orlando Hudson (Toronto trade) and Damion Easley (free agent).
Byrnes, 29, played for Oakland, Colorado and Baltimore last season, batting .226 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI. He has a career batting average of .259 in 509 games.
Pirates sign Joe Randa
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Free agent third baseman Joe Randa Saturday signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Randa, 36, batted .276 with a career-high 43 doubles, 17 home runs and 68 RBI in 150 games for Cincinnati and San Diego in 2005. He has a lifetime batting average of .285 with 119 homers and 711 RBI in 1,433 games.
"Joe Randa is a solid major league player and we're trying to get better," said General Manager Dave Littlefield on the Pirates' Web site. "I think he is going to help our offense and help our defense, particularly to support our younger pitching as a very good defensive third baseman."
Next season will be his second stint with the Pirates. He played for Pittsburgh in 1997, batting .302 with seven homers and 60 RBI.
Randa broke into the major leagues in 1995 with Kansas City.
U.S. skeleton coach suspended
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation suspended Olympic skeleton coach Tim Nardiello Saturday over sexual harassment accusations.
The federation place Nardiello on administrative leave pending an investigation into accusations by team members that he made sexual advances toward them, had made sexually explicit comments and had barged into hotel rooms while women were undressing, the New York Times reported.
The federation had initially decided to allow Nardiello to coach the U.S. team through the upcoming Winter Olympics, but officials changed their minds about that after two women skeleton athletes and a fellow coach went public with their accusations Friday.
Felicia Canfield and Tristan Gale -- the 2002 Olympic gold medalist -- said that Nardiello had engaged in harassing behavior since he was hired in 2002.
Nardiello, 45, has denied the accusations.
Federation officials said a three-member grievance committee will investigate, beginning with interviews of the athletes as early as Sunday.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Guard Damon Stoudamire of the Memphis Grizzlies likely is done for the season after suffering a knee injury Friday night against Portland, his former team.
Reports say the 5-foot-10 inch Stoudamire, in his 11th season out of Oregon, will need 4-6 months of rehabilitation before he can play again, after rupturing a tendon in his right knee on a play in the second quarter.
"I split the defense and I had a lay-up, but when I went up, it felt like a sniper shot me," he told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "It was a feeling I've never had. But I'll persevere."
In 27 games this season, the 32-year-old Stoudamire is averaging 11.7 points and 4.7 assists per contest. Before leaving the contest, Stoudamire had four points, six rebounds and four assists.
He has career averages of 14.5 points and 6.5 assists in 756 games with the Grizzlies, Trail Blazers and Toronto.
Diamondbacks ink Eric Byrnes
PHOENIX, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Outfielder Eric Byrnes has agreed to a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Byrnes, 29, is expected to play centerfield while the team grooms the highly-regarded Chris Young at Triple-A Tucson.
"Eric brings a lot of energy to the field and the clubhouse every day and I know our fans are going to enjoy the enthusiasm with which he plays the game," said General Manager Josh Byrnes on Arizona's Web site.
Byrnes is one of several players who have joined the Diamondbacks this off-season. Among the others are catcher Johnnie Estrada (traded from Atlanta), pitchers Miguel Batista (free agent) and Orlando Hernandez (traded from the Chicago White Sox) and infielders Orlando Hudson (Toronto trade) and Damion Easley (free agent).
Byrnes, 29, played for Oakland, Colorado and Baltimore last season, batting .226 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI. He has a career batting average of .259 in 509 games.
Pirates sign Joe Randa
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Free agent third baseman Joe Randa Saturday signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Randa, 36, batted .276 with a career-high 43 doubles, 17 home runs and 68 RBI in 150 games for Cincinnati and San Diego in 2005. He has a lifetime batting average of .285 with 119 homers and 711 RBI in 1,433 games.
"Joe Randa is a solid major league player and we're trying to get better," said General Manager Dave Littlefield on the Pirates' Web site. "I think he is going to help our offense and help our defense, particularly to support our younger pitching as a very good defensive third baseman."
Next season will be his second stint with the Pirates. He played for Pittsburgh in 1997, batting .302 with seven homers and 60 RBI.
Randa broke into the major leagues in 1995 with Kansas City.
U.S. skeleton coach suspended
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation suspended Olympic skeleton coach Tim Nardiello Saturday over sexual harassment accusations.
The federation place Nardiello on administrative leave pending an investigation into accusations by team members that he made sexual advances toward them, had made sexually explicit comments and had barged into hotel rooms while women were undressing, the New York Times reported.
The federation had initially decided to allow Nardiello to coach the U.S. team through the upcoming Winter Olympics, but officials changed their minds about that after two women skeleton athletes and a fellow coach went public with their accusations Friday.
Felicia Canfield and Tristan Gale -- the 2002 Olympic gold medalist -- said that Nardiello had engaged in harassing behavior since he was hired in 2002.
Nardiello, 45, has denied the accusations.
Federation officials said a three-member grievance committee will investigate, beginning with interviews of the athletes as early as Sunday.
© 2005 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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