Series switches to New York
NEW YORK, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The World Series shifts to New York for Game Three Tuesday with Arizona holding a 2-0 lead over the defending champion Yankees.
The right-left combination of Arizona's Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson had the Yankees reeling in their bid for a fourth straight title. Johnson blanked New York on three hits 4-0 Sunday night. Schilling had opened the Series with a 9-1 victory.
"Obviously, we feel pretty good, a lot better than if we were down 0-2 or had split the first two games," Arizona manager Bob Brenly said.
The Yankees expect to change their fortune when they face struggling lefthander Brian Anderson who will start for Arizona, his first start in nearly two months.
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks will face five-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, who will try to emulate the performances of Schilling and Johnson in the first two games.
"Roger is the key," said Yankees manager Joe Torre. "We need to get him a lead and he needs to go out and dominate like those two guys have."
Arizona's "big two" -- 7-1 in the postseason -- have put the Diamondbacks halfway to a world title. Arizona, in its fourth year of existence, has outscored the Yankees, 13-1, in the first two games.
Steelers, Titans collide
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 29 (UPI) Two streaks were on the line when the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Tennessee Titans in an AFC Central clash Monday night. One was sure to be broken.
The Steelers (4-1)had won eight straight home Monday night games, but the Titans (2-3) have defeated Pittsburgh seven times in a row.
The Steelers entered this contest with plenty of momentum on their side, reeling off four straight wins since a season-opening loss at Jacksonville. Pittsburgh has a surprising one-half game lead over idle Cleveland (4-2) in the division.
Pittsburgh, which ranks second in the NFL in total defense, has allowed 58 points, the fewest in the league. Steelers running back Jerome Bettis has turned Monday night into
his own personal showcase, rushing for at least 100 yards in eight of nine Monday night games in which he has played, gaining a total of 1,010 yards on 228 attempts.
Lemieux has surgery
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Mario Lemieux, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar center underwent arthroscopic hip surgery Monday and was expected to be sidelined three to four weeks.
Martin Straka, Pittsburgh's top backup center, was also scheduled to have surgery later Monday for a broken right leg suffered in Sunday's game against Florida. He is expected to miss three to six months.
Bothered since training camp by a sore hip, Lemieux, 36, underwent arthroscopic surgery after he failed to respond to physical therapy and muscle strengthening treatments, and recent tests revealed evidence of torn cartilage.
Lemieux, also the Penguins' owner who resumed his Hall of Fame playing career last season, missed his third game of 2001-02 Sunday night due to the bad hip.
Sooners' QB may be out for season
NORMAN, Okla., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Oklahoma starting quarterback Jason White has been diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee and could miss the remainder of the season, the Daily Oklahoman reported Monday.
Making his second career start, White was hurt in the second quarter of Saturday's 20-10 loss to Nebraska after landing awkwardly following a pass attempt. The sophomore returned to the contest for a brief time in the fourth quarter.
The loss ended the Sooners' 20-game winning streak, dropped them to fourth in the latest coaches poll and likely also knocked them from the first spot in the BCS rankings.
Citing unnamed sources, the Daily Oklahoman reported White would require surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation after an examination Sunday revealed the injury.
According to the report, White will perform strenghtening excercises for two weeks before being re-evaluated for possible surgery.
Junior Nate Hybl, who started the first six games before losing his job to White, will start Saturday's game against Tulsa.
Kuerten, Hewitt vie for No. 1 in Paris
PARIS, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A lot is riding at this week's Tennis Masters Series event in Paris. Gustavo Kuerten and Lleyton Hewitt resume their battle for the No. 1 ranking at the $2.95 million indoor tournament, while seven players vie for two spots for the elite eight-man field at the year-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Sydney.
Kuerten, the French Open champion, will try to pull off a sweep of Paris titles but must snap a five-match losing streak. He has not won since reaching the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open in the first week of September.
A win here would allow the top-seeded Brazilian to open a lead of as much as 133 points over Hewitt, who would then have to win the Tennis Masters Cup in November to have a chance to overtake Kuerten.
While Kuerten leads the ATP with six titles in 2001, Hewitt has been on a roll since winning his first career Grand Slam at the U.S. Open.
Surgery delays Lynch debut
CHARLOTTE, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- George Lynch, who the Charlotte Hornets acquired last week in a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, will undergo left foot surgery and miss two to three months, the team announced on Monday.
It is not a new injury for Lynch, who suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot during the Sixers' run to the NBA Finals last season. The 6-8 forward had surgery shortly after the Finals and had missed the entire preseason.
The decision for Lynch to undergo another surgical procedure was made after he underwent a physical with Hornets doctors Friday.
Lynch was the key acquisition in a three-team trade Thursday
that sent enigmatic power forward Derrick Coleman to the 76ers.
The Hornets also got Jerome Moiso and Robert Traylor from
Philadelphia and received Chris Porter in the deal from Golden
State.
Injury may sideline Robinson
CHICAGO, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- It appears the Chicago Bulls will start the season without prized free agent signee Eddie Robinson.
The 6-9 forward was bothered by an injured left big toe in Chicago's exhibition finale on Friday. Tests Monday will determine if the toe is fractured. If surgery is necessary, Robinson could be sidelined six to eight weeks.
Robinson was signed to a five-year offer sheet worth $31.2 million as a restricted free agent and the Charlotte Hornets opted not to match it. He averaged nearly 14 points per game in the preseason.
The Bulls on Monday acquired center Soumalia Samake and a 2003 second-round pick from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for center Jake Voskuhl. They then waived Samake in an effort to get down to the 12-man limit.
Pacers waive second veteran
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- The Indiana Pacers continued their youth movement Monday, waiving veteran forward Derrick McKey.
A 14-year veteran, McKey spent the last eight seasons with the Pacers, playing in 450 games. McKey, who turned 35 years old earlier this month, is known as a terrific defensive player who has been limited by injuries and seen his offensive numbers decline in recent years.
Last season, McKey appeared in 66 games, averaging 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest. Due to injuries, the 6-10 McKey has played in just 111 games over the last three seasons.
Prior to the start of training camp, the Pacers also waived 40-year-old forward Sam Perkins. Indiana has two of the younger players in the league at forward in Jonathan Bender and Al Harrington.
Wulff named to head WTA Tour
MUNICH, Germany, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Kevin Wulff has been named to succeed Bart McGuire as CEO of the WTA Tour, the women's tennis circuit announced on Monday.
Wulff will join the tour at once, serving as president until
McGuire vacates his post at the end of the year. McGuire, who
brought about significant changes during his three-year tenure
as CEO, announced his resignation in May due to personal and
family reasons.
Wulff arrives to the WTA from Nike, Inc., where he was a company officer and held various senior positions.
