Raiders lose Parralla for season
OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The Oakland Raiders have lost defensive tackle John Parrella for the balance of the 2002 campaign after placing him on injured reserve.
Parrella, 33, has been hampered by a torn right groin. He suffered the injury on Oct. 5 against the Chicago Bears and missed eight games.
The week after, in the Cleveland contest, he missed a game for the first time in nine years.
"My own doctors told me they couldn't believe how well I was doing," Parrella told the Oakland Tribune. "I was doing great, just not ready to be banged on."
Parrella's strength is as a run stopper and the Raiders' defensive line has suffered in his absence. The Oakland defense is ranked 31st against the run and has recorded just 18 sacks in 13 games.
He becomes the 10th player this season to be placed on IR by the Raiders. Among the others are defensive end Trace Armstrong, linebacker Bill Romanowski, and safety Rod Woodson.
Lombardi winner is Tommie Harris
HOUSTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Defensive tackle Tommie Harris of Oklahoma, has been named the winner of the Lombardi Award, which is presented to the nation's top lineman.
Harris, a starter since the first game of his freshman season, became the third Sooner to win the award, joining Lee Roy Selmon (1975) and Tony Casillas (1985). He is the first defensive tackle to claim the honor since Miami's Warren Sapp.
Harris had 34 tackles, including nine for losses, as well as four sacks and a fumble recovery.
"I did not really think that I was going to win this award and I was speechless when I did," Harris said. "When I looked back at past winners like Lee Roy Selmon, I knew I wanted to live in the legacy of being a Sooner gridiron great. I have accomplished that with this award."
The other finalists were defensive end David Ball of UCLA, defensive end David Pollack of Georgia , and Shawn Andrews, a 353-pound offensive tackle for Arkansas.
Astros ink Andy Pettitte
HOUSTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Veteran southpaw Andy Pettitte startled the baseball world Thursday, signing a three-year contract with the Houston Astros.
Pettitte, the only starting pitcher on each of the New York Yankees last four World Series championship teams, will make $31.5 million.
"It was a tough decision for me," Pettitte said, "but I'm going to start a new chapter. I'm a Houstonian and they let me know that."
"He is among the game's best pitchers and will be a tremendous boost to both our rotation and our chances to bring home a World Series championship," said General Manager Gerry Hunsicker.
The Texas native was selected in the second round of the 1990 draft by the Yankees. He made his major league debut in 1995.
That season, he went 12-9 with a 4.17 ERA as the Yankees made the playoffs for the first time since 1981, ending the longest drought in team history.
Pettitte, 31, won at least 13 games in each of the last eight seasons. In 2003, he matched his career high in wins, going 22-8 with a 4.02 ERA and finished sixth in voting for the American League Cy Young Award.
He was New York's best starter in the playoffs and World Series, going 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA in five starts.
Dan Plesac retires
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Lefthanded reliever Dan Plesac of Philadelphia announced his retirement Thursday, five days after he was offered salary arbitration.
Plesac, 41, made 58 appearances for the Phillies last season, going 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He was the last Phillies' pitcher to record an out at Veterans Stadium, striking out Ryan Langerhans of the Atlanta Braves.
"Dan did an outstanding job for us in our bullpen in both 2002 and 2003 and we were looking forward to having him back in 2004," said General Manager Ed Wade. "Dan has talked about retirement a number of times, and this time he says he's serious about it."
Plesac ranks fourth on the all-time appearance list with 1,064, passing Lee Smith and Kent Tekulve last season. He needed only six more appearances to tie Hoyt Wilhelm for third.
Plesac had a career record of 65-71 with 158 saves and a 3.64 ERA.
