Reports: Art Howe to manage New York Mets
NEW YORK, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Art Howe, who guided the small-market Oakland Athletics to three straight postseason berths, reportedly is getting a chance to manage the big boys by becoming the next skipper of the New York Mets.
The three major daily newspapers in New York Thursday reported the hiring. The New York Daily News, citing an unidentified source, first reported Wednesday night that the Mets have signed Howe to a four-year, $9.4 million contract.
The report said Howe and his agent arrived in New York late Tuesday and spent most of the day Wednesday negotiating with Mets management.
Commissioner Bud Selig has prohibited teams from making any announcement about managerial hirings during the World Series.
Also, New York Newsday reported that Seattle Manager Lou Piniella, the Mets' top choice to replace the fired Bobby Valentine, has agreed to a four-year, $13-million deal with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Ken Macha, Howe's bench coach in Oakland, has agreed to a multiyear deal to replace him with Oakland for close to $1 million annually.
Since the firing of Valentine on Oct. 1, the Mets expressed strong interest in Piniella, a Tampa resident and native. He had told the Mariners that he would not return because he wanted to work closer to home.
That gave the inside track on Piniella to the Devil Rays, who reached an agreement with the Mariners on a compensation package for Piniella, something the Mets were unable to do.
The Mets then turned their attention to Howe, who has one year at $1.5 million remaining on his contract with the A's.
According to Newsday, sources indicated that Howe, who turns 56 in December, was deemed by Oakland executives as being "too passive," but was seen to be a safe hire for the Mets when they failed to land Piniella.
The New York Times reported Howe Wednesday was praised by Giants Manager Dusty Baker, who called him "a very good teacher," and said he had helped build good teams in both Houston and Oakland.
"I think it's kind of sad that Art goes through the tough times with these teams and helps build and train these young men how to play, then sometimes doesn't get to enjoy the fruits of his harvest," Baker said. "Art Howe is a good manager. I like Art. If that's what he wants, I hope he gets it."
Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said: "I have as much respect for Art Howe as I do anybody in this game. I think that anyone that has followed the A's on a daily basis probably realizes what a steadying influence Art is and what an incredible job he's done with this club in his tenure in Oakland."
This year, for the third straight season under Howe, the Athletics reached the postseason, but did not win a playoff series, going 0-6 in clincher games.
World Series is now a best-of-three
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The San Francisco Giants turned the 2002 World Series into a best-of-three showdown Wednesday night with a tense 4-3 win over the Anaheim Angels.
Much of the credit goes to the Giants bullpen, which shut down the pesky Angels after Anaheim opened up an early 3-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by David Eckstein and a record-breaking two-run homer by Troy Glaus.
The Giants were able to get the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning on an RBI single by David Bell. They had scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the contest.
San Francisco starter Kirk Rueter was peppered for seven hits in the first three innings before settling down. The Giants held Anaheim to only three hits over the final six innings.
The Giants opened the series with a 4-3 victory on Saturday, but the Angels scored 21 runs in winning the next two games.
San Francisco will start Jason Schmidt (1-0, 4.76 ERA) in Game Five Thursday night. Schmidt picked up a win in Game One, when he allowed three runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The righthander has made three postseason starts, allowing eight earned runs and 16 hits over 18 2/3 innings.
"The game plan is always pitch a complete game, keep your pitch count down, and go as long and as deep as you can in the game," Schmidt said. "We're all digging a little deeper, finding that little bit extra to go out there on days when we can't. I think that's just part of being in the playoffs. Hopefully, I can go out there and give them a good long quality start and we won't have to worry."
Hard-throwing southpaw Jarrod Washburn (0-1, 6.35) again opposes Schmidt. He allowed four runs and six hits, including a long home run to Barry Bonds, over 5 2/3 innings in the series opener.
Washburn also allowed a solo homer to Reggie Sanders and a two-run shot to J.T. Snow in the sixth.
"I don't think I really learned anything new," Washburn said about facing the Giants. "I knew going in if you make a mistake, a good veteran lineup like that is going to make you pay. But I knew that going in, so I don't think I learned anything new. I knew pretty much what to expect going in. They didn't come out with any surprises. Make a mistake to Barry Bonds, Reggie
Sanders, J.T. Snow and anyone of those guys in that lineup, they're going to hurt you."
The 28-year-old lefty is 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in four postseason starts. He has allowed 11 earned runs and 24 hits, including six home runs in 24 2/3 innings.
Clemson hosts N.C. State in ACC tilt
CLEMSON, S.C., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Ninth-ranked North Carolina State Thursday night seeks the first 9-0 start in school history when it visits dangerous Atlantic Coast Conference rival Clemson.
The Wolfpack (8-0, 3-0 ACC) will be making its first appearance of the season on national television and figures to be facing the usual fired-up crowd at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C., better known as "Death Valley" because it has never been an easy place for visiting teams to play or win.
"They'll be 82,000 (fans) and probably 80,000 of them will be for Clemson," said Wolfpack Coach Chuck Amato. "There's gonna be a lot of noise and it'll be our job to take the noise away."
Clemson (4-3, 2-2 in the ACC), struggling through an up-and-down campaign, would like nothing better than to end N.C. State's run at history. Four times since 1989, the Tigers have handed the Wolfpack their first loss of the season, most recently in 1991, when North Carolina State started 6-0.
Lowly Duke almost did the trick last week, giving the Wolfpack all they could handle before falling short, 24-22. The Wolfpack nearly squandered a 17-0 lead and did not put away the game until Philip Rivers tossed a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery with 2:53 remaining, giving the Wolfpack a 24-15 lead, making a Duke touchdown in the final minute meaningless.
Thursday night's contest could be the biggest for North Carolina State since 1979, when a 16-13 victory at Clemson helped it win its last ACC title.
In 1967, Amato was a senior linebacker on North Carolina State's "White Shoes Defense" that started 8-0 before losing to unranked Penn State. The following week, its hopes for a conference title ended in a 14-6 loss at Clemson, and the Wolfpack settled for a second-place tie in the league.
Should the Pack prevail over the Tigers, they will stay on course toward a possible title showdown with Florida State to decide the ACC race in the regular season finale on Nov. 23.
Clemson held on for a 31-23 victory over Wake Forest last week when Deamon Deacons running back Chris Barclay fumbled out of the end zone with less than two minutes remaining. Barclay coughed up the ball at the one following a 17-yard gain with 1:15 remaining. The Tigers rallied from a 23-14 deficit late in the third quarter, and which entered the game as the ACC's
top-ranked defense, forced five turnovers.
Clemson has won two straight against the Wolfpack, including a 45-37 victory last season, and leads the all-time series, 44-25-1.
Wizards get McCloud for Whitney
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The Washington Wizards Thursday added an outside shooter to their frontcourt, acquiring George McCloud and cash from the Denver Nuggets for point guard Chris Whitney.
The 6-8 McCloud ranks sixth on Denver's all-time list with 244 three-pointers in three seasons. He has averaged 9.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest in 766 games with Indiana, Dallas, the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix and Denver, and has shot 40 percent from behind the arc.
The 6-0 Whitney, also a good outside shooter, has spent seven of his nine pro seasons with Washington. In 512 games, he has averaged 6.5 points and 2.8 assists per game.
He is first on Washington's all-time list with 481 three-pointers, and has shot 37 percent from behind the arc.
"Chris Whitney is a warrior," said Wizards General Manager Wes Unseld. "He has given absolutely everything he could to this organization both on and off the court over the seven years he has been here. We wish Chris the very best in the future. The Wizards organization will miss him."
The trade leaves the Wizards without an experienced point guard and several players at shooting guard and small forward. Jerry Stackhouse and Larry Hughes, both natural shooting guards, are expected to start in their backcourt.
Whitney adds much-needed experience to the Nuggets as Kenny Satterfield played just 36 games as a rookie last season.
"This trade addresses our need for a veteran point guard," said Nuggets General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe. "We appreciate George's leadership and professionalism and we wish him well."
Injury sidelines Lamond Murray
TORONTO, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The Toronto Raptors have confirmed that forward Lamond Murray will miss at least two months with a severe foot sprain and center Nate Huffman will be sidelined a month following knee surgery.
The injuries severely shorten the Raptors' rotation.
Murray, acquired in an offseason trade with Cleveland, figured to add scoring off the bench. Huffman, a rookie free agent, could have started at center, where the Raptors are very weak, and may have to do without Hakeem Olajuwon, who was excused from training camp because of recurring back problems and is expected to retire.
Murray suffered a sprained ligament in his right mid-foot early in last Friday's preseason game against New Jersey. He had averaged 7.8 points in five preseason games.
Murray's lower leg has been placed in a cast to immobilize the foot. The Raptors have sent him to foot and ankle specialist
Dr. Ned Amendola of the University of Iowa to seek an opinion.
The 6-7 Murray, is expected to miss at least eight weeks, averaged a career-high 16.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest in 71 games last season, his eighth in the NBA. He was acquired along with a second-round pick for center Michael
Stewart and a first-round pick.
Huffman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday afternoon at the Orthopedic and Arthritic Institute of Sunnybrook and Women's College Hospital. Raptors orthopedic
surgeon Dr. Paul Marks cleaned out loose cartilage in the knee.
Huffman, 27, is expected to start rehabilitation after a brief recovery period. He will be out 4-6 weeks.
Huffman was signed as a free agent July 26. The thin 7-footer was a member of the three-time Israeli League champion Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv. He averaged 18.8 points and 7.5 rebounds in 26 games last season and received MVP honors in both the Israeli League and Suproleague in the 2000-01 campaign.
The Battle Creek, Mich., native was competing with Eric Montross and Jelani McCoy for the starting center position vacated by Olajuwon.
The Raptors open their season Oct. 30 against Washington.
Hornets waive Lee Nailon
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Veteran forward Lee Nailon, who started for half of last season in place of the injured Jamal Mashburn, has been waived by the New Orleans Hornets.
The Hornets also waived guard Terrell McIntyre, but the departure of Nailon is a surprise, given his contributions last season and the interest he garnered on the free agent market.
The Seattle SuperSonics showed interest in Nailon as a possible alternative to Rashard Lewis. After the Sonics decided to sign Lewis, the Hornets re-signed Nailon.
In two seasons with the Hornets while the team was in Charlotte, the 6-8 Nailon averaged 8.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest. Last season, he averaged 10.8 points and 3.7 rebounds, and made 41 starts after Mashburn suffered a severe groin pull on Nov. 19.
"By waiving Nailon and McIntyre now, we solidify our roster and give Lee a better chance of landing with another team," said Hornets
Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Bob Bass. "Some players are able to sit the whole game and get no minutes, and, once you call on them the next game or two down the road, they are still ready to play. Others players have to play every night or they will lose their sharpness and lose their enthusiasm or whatever the case might be. It all played a part in our decision to make this decision right now."
According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, a source within the team said words were exchanged between he and Coach Paul Silas during a timeout in Tuesday night's preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. Nailon was unhappy about his minutes, the source said.
"There was tremendous pressure on George Lynch and Lee and Kirk (Haston), and it was a burden on Silas to try and distribute the minutes evenly," Nailon's agent, Larry Fox, told the paper. "So we mutually agreed this was in the best interest for Lee and the team."
Nailon was a second-round pick of the Hornets in 1999, but went unsigned prior to training camp. He played overseas and returned to the Hornets a year later, this time making the roster.
He played in 79 games overall last season, averaging 10.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 24 minutes per contest. He scored a career-high 27 points twice and hit a game-winning shot as time expired at Houston on Feb. 1.
The 5-9 McIntyre was signed as a free agent by the Hornets on Sept. 30. He averaged 1.5 points and 1.5 assists in four preseason games.
Kvasha sidelined with ankle injury
UNIONDALE, N.Y., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The New York Islanders, already without Michael Peca, will not have center Oleg Kvasha for two weeks as he suffered a fractured left ankle in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Kvasha sustained the injury late in the second period when he was hit by a slap shot from Bret Hedican.
The 6-5, 230-pounder does not have a point in six games this season after recording 13 goals and 25 assists in 71 games in 2001-02. Kvasha, who also plays left wing, was acquired with right wing Mark Parrish from the Florida Panthers in June 2000 for goaltender Roberto Luongo and center Olli Jokinen.
Kvasha, 24, has 41 goals and 67 assists in 285 career games.
Peca, the team's best two-way player, is expected to return from reconstructive left knee surgery in early December.
The Islanders (2-3-1-0) host the Panthers on Thursday.
Nashville gets York from Anaheim
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The Nashville Predators have added to their defensive corps by acquiring Jason York from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for future considerations.
York, 32, had five goals and 20 assists in 74 games with the Mighty Ducks in 2001-02. This season, he had five points in four games with the Ducks' minor league affiliate in Cincinnati.
York, a 12-year veteran, had signed with the Mighty Ducks as a free agent in July 2001 after spending five seasons with the Ottawa Senators. He recorded career highs in games (79), assists (31), points (35), and plus-minus rating (17) in 1998-99 with Ottawa.
The 6-1, 208-pounder was selected in the sixth round of the 1990 draft by the Detroit Red Wings. He has played in 73 or more contests in each of his last seven NHL seasons, registering 187 points in 567 games with Detroit, Ottawa and Anaheim.
Sutton named U.S. Ryder Cup captain
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Hal Sutton Thursday was named Ryder Cup captain for the United States for the 2004 event at Oakland Hills Country Club in suburban Detroit.
The announcement was made at Oakland Hills, with Sutton, representatives of the course, the PGA of America, and the state of Michigan in attendance.
Sutton competed in his fourth Ryder Cup last month at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England, where the United States lost for the third time in the last four events.
He was a Ryder Cup team member in 1985, '87, '99, and 200. He left his mark in the competition with an inspiring 3-1-1 record in 1999 to spark a U.S. comeback victory at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
The Shreveport, La., native has won 14 PGA tournaments, and became only the third wire-to-wire winner of a PGA Championship when he captured the 1983 Championship at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
"Hal Sutton's passion for the game, his drive to become a champion and his leadership in past Ryder Cup Matches make him the ideal leader to guide the American team in the 2004 Matches," said PGA of America President Jack Connelly. "Hal was a key member of past Ryder Cup Teams and his performances have earned him the respect of his teammates as well as many around the world."
Sutton won the 1983 PGA Player of the Year Award.
Oakland Hills has hosted six U.S. Open Championships, the 1972 and '79 PGA Championships, the 1981 and '91 U.S. Senior Open, the 1929 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, and the 2002 U.S. Amateur Championship. In 2008, Oakland Hills will host the 90th PGA Championship.
