In Sports from United Press International

Yankees activate Rivera

NEW YORK, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The New York Yankees Thursday activated All-Star closer Mariano Rivera before their afternoon's game against the Kansas City Royals.

Rivera had been on the disabled list since July 26, six days after he was forced to leave a game against the Boston Red Sox because of stiffness, or pitching, in his right shoulder. It was his second stint on the DL this season. He was sidelined by a strained groin in June.

The veteran Panamanian righthander had been rehabbing in Tampa, Fla., and threw two scoreless innings Tuesday in a Class A game and said later, "I feel great. I'm ready to go."

Braves put Remlinger on DL

PHOENIX, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Braves Thursday placed All-Star relief pitcher Mike Remlinger on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right groin.

Remlinger sustained the injury while pitching in the eighth inning of Atlanta's 6-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. He faced just one batter, yielding a leadoff single to Tony Womack, before departing. He ended up taking his first loss of the season when Darren Holmes allowed Womack to score the go-ahead run.

The Braves, who own baseball's best record at 74-39 and a 17-game lead in the National League East as the day began, have yet to replace Remlinger, who is their top lefthanded setup man.

Ravens to open without Lewis

WESTMINSTER, Md., Aug. 8 (UPI) -- When the former world champion Baltimore Ravens begin their preseason schedule Friday night, they will be without star running back Jamal Lewis.

He missed the entire the entire 2001 campaign after sustaining both a torn ACL and an MCL sprain in his left knee during a training camp scrimmage. The combination forced Lewis to undergo an extensive rehabilitation program for the second time in his career.

In 1998 while at the University of Tennessee, he blew out his right knee. Neither knee has taken a hit in this year's training camp, and Coach Brian Billick is being extra cautious because no one has really stepped up as he would have liked.Stockton said eyeing 19th Jazz season

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- It appears John Stockton will return for a 19th season with the Utah Jazz.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported Thursday that the

40-year-old Stockton, the NBA's all-time assists and steals leader, informed Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan that he will play in 2002-03.

"I've seen how he (Stockton) takes care of himself, so I'm not surprised at all," Sloan told the Tribune.

Stockton signed a two-year contract last summer worth $8 million annually, but was not sure if he wanted to play two more years. But after averaging 13.4 points -- his highest in five years -- and shooting 52 percent from the field last season, Stockton was expected to return in 2002-03.

Slaughter remains in critical condition

DURHAM, N.C., Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Hall of Famer Enos "Country" Slaughter remained in critical condition Thursday after undergoing colon and stomach surgery over the last two weeks.

Slaughter, 86, has been in the intensive care unit at Duke University Medical Center since undergoing colon surgery on July 26. He also had an operation to repair perforated ulcers in his stomach on July 29.

Slaughter was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in June and has been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Denver adds offensive line depth

GREELEY, Colo., Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Denver Broncos Thursday signed veteran center Mark Fischer, who played his first four NFL seasons with the Washington Redskins.

Fischer, 28, has played in 22 games and started 16 since being drafted by the Redskins in the fifth round (140th overall) of the '98 draft. He spent most of the 2001 season on the injured reserve list after hurting his right knee in the preseason. Fischer did not play in the season's first three games, and was inactive for the next three before being placed on injured reserve Oct. 26.

The 6-3, 303-pounder started all 16 games for Washington in 2000.

Goalie Biron re-signs with Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y., Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Buffalo Sabres Thursday re-signed restricted free agent goaltender Martin Biron to a two-year contract.

Terms of the deal were not released.

Biron went 31-28-10 with four shutouts and a 2.22 goals-against average last season, his first as Buffalo's No. 1 goalie after six-time Vezina Trophy winner Dominik Hasek signed with the Detroit Red Wings and added a Stanley Cup to his illustrious resume.

The 24-year-old Biron was seen as the eventual successor to Hasek when Buffalo made him the 16th overall pick in the 1995 draft. He played in 72 games last season, tying the club record set by Don Edwards in 1977-78 and matched by Hasek in 1997-98.