In Sports from United Press International
Spurrier named Redskins coach
AUBURN, Va., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Steve Spurrier is the new head coach of the Washington Redskins. Less than 24 hours after cutting ties with Marty Schottenheimer, the Washington Redskins Mondasy officially named the flamboyant Spurrier to replace him.
Although contract terms were not disclosed, it was reported Spurrier becomes the NFL's highest paid coach with a five-year, $25 million deal.
Daniel Snyder, the Redskins' impetuous owner, long has been smitten with Spurrier and his flashy offensive expertise at the University of Florida. Snyder tried to lure Spurrier away from the Gators last season before giving Schottenheimer a four-year, $10 million contract and total control of personnel decisions.
Snyder and Pepper Rodgers, Redskins vice president of operations, attended Florida's Orange Bowl win on Jan. 2. Two days later, Spurrier stepped down as coach.
Spurrier, who will be Washington's foujrth coach in three years, will be the latest highly successful college coach to try to bring his winning ways to the NFL.The most notable example in recent years was Barry Switzer, the former Oklahoma coach who took over a talented Dallas Cowboys team in 1994 and won a Super Bowl in his second season.
Florida won the national championship in 1996, six Southeastern Conference titles and as many as 10 games nine times in Spurrier's 12 years at the school. He compiled a record of 122-27-1, ranking as the best win total in history for a major college coach in his first 12 years at a school, eclipsing Tom Osborne's total of 118 for Nebraska from 1973-84.
Athletics get Pena from Rangeres
OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Seeking an inexpensive, long-term solution at first base, the Oakland Athletics acquired highly touted prospect Carlos Pena from the Texas Rangers on Monday in a six-player deal.
The Athletics also acquired veteran lefthander Mike Venafro in the deal while sending four minor leaguers to Texas. The Rangers received lefthander Mario Ramos, outfielder Ryan Ludwick, first baseman Jason Hart and catcher Gerald Laird in the trade between American League West clubs.
After losing slugging first baseman Jason Giambi as free agent, the A's will hope the 23-year-old Pena could develop into a viable option in the future at the right corner of the infield.
In 22 games with the Rangers last season, Pena batted .258 with three homers and 12 RBI. He did his damage at Class AAA Oklahoma, garnering All-Star honors after hitting .288 with 23 homers, 74 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
The Athletics signed free agent Scott Hatteberg to play first base this season.
Venafro, 28, went 5-5 with a 4.80 ERA in 70 relief appearances last season. The sidearmer, who made his major league debut with Texas in 1999, owns an 11-8 record with a 3.95 ERA and five saves in 212 career relief appearances.
South Carolina running back dismised
COLUMBIA, S.C., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Running back Derek Watson, who was arrested in Greenville, S.C., early Saturday and charged with possession of marijuana, was dismissed from the South Carolina football team Monday by coach Lou Holtz.
Watson was arrested following a sting operation at a local nightclub and later released.
The junior from Williamstown, S.C., was charged with simple assault and battery last year after a woman charged him with punching her in her arm. He also was suspended from the 2001 Outback Bowl for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Watson led the Gamecocks in rushing two of the last three seasons and has 437 carries for 2,078 yards and 16 touchdowns in his career.
Auburn QB gets sixth year
AUBURN, Ala., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Auburn quarterback Daniel Cobb, who led the Tigers to an upset of top-ranked Florida in October, has been granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA.
Cobb was granted a sixth year under the NCAA five-year rule waiver that gives student-athletes who endure a physical or mental hardship an additional year of eligibility.
Cobb, who began his college career at Georgia and attended Butler Community College, missed two seasons due to blood clots that required surgery and rehabilitation.
In 2001, Cobb completed 89-of-158 passes for 1,165 yards and seven scores in seven games. He directed a 10-play, 49-yard drive that resulted in the winning field goal in a 23-20 win over Florida on October 13.
Magic owner expected to sell team
ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos, who saw the franchise reach the NBA Finals in just its sixth season, was expected to announce Monday that he is selling the team.
The 75-year-old DeVos, who purchased the team in September 1991, cited his age and a desire to spend time with his grandchildren as reasons for selling the team in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel.
According to team reports, the Magic have lost money the last five years and DeVos was hoping to get a new arena
To replace the 13-year-old TD Waterhouse Centre. A new owner could elect to move the team to a different city,
although DeVos is hoping to find a buyer that will keep the team in central Florida.
Hawks give player second chance
ATLANTA, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Hawks Monday signed center Leon Smith, a former NBA first-round pick out of high school who had numerous personal problems before becoming a star in the Continental Basketball Association.
The 21-year-old Smith averaged 18 points and a league-high 15.3 rebounds in 19 games with Idaho and four games with Sioux Falls this season. In a Dec. 21 game for Idaho, Smith scored 20 points and pulled down a CBA season-high 30 rebounds.
The 6-11, 250-pound Smith was the last first-round pick in the 1999 draft out of Chicago's King High School. He was selected by the San Antonio Spurs and traded to the Dallas Mavericks, butwas nothing but trouble for the Mavs and never appeared in an NBA game.
Smith often argued with coaches and refused a request to play in a developmental league or go overseas to help with his transition to the NBA. According to reports, he attempted suicide, supposedly as a result of his being distraught over a breakup with a girlfriend. Smith, who was arrested on at least two occasions, also spenttime in psychiatric care.
But Smith has been a model citizen with Idaho.
Withdrawals, upset jars Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Andre Agassi and Serena Williams withdrew from the Australian Open before it could begin Monday and second-seeded Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil soon followed them out the door.
Second-seed Venus Williams, meanwhile, won her opening match, a 50-minute, 6-2, 6-2 victory over fellow American Ansley Cargill, a qualifier making her Grand Slam debut.
After a shocking morning in which two of the event's top stars said they could not play because of injury, Kuerten was ousted in the opening match at Rod Laver Arena by Julien Boutter of France, 3-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
Kuerten took an injury time out in the fifth set after apparently suffering from leg cramps, but a brief massage from a trainer failed to help him turn the match around.
Agassi announced prior to the start of play that he would be unable to compete because of a wrist injury and, a few hours later, Williams withdrew because of a strained right ankle she suffered last week in a semifinal match at Sydney.
Their departure followed that of No. 1 ranked Lindsay Davenport, who pulled out of the tournament last week and faces up to a half year of rehabilitation from ankle surgery.
Among the other winners Monday was No. 4 seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, who coasted past Michael Kohlmann of Germany, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Sixth-seeded Tim Henman of Britain got by Australian Todd Larkahm, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic rallied past Martin Damm of the Czech Republic, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
In the women's draw, France's Nathalie Dechy pulled off the first big upset by ousting countrywoman Sandrine Testude, the ninth seed, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Monica Seles, the eighth seed, blasted Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, 6-1, 6-2, and No. 15 Amanda Coetzer of South Africa was a 6-1, 6-1 winner over Miriam Oremans of the Netherlands.
American Jill Craybas advanced when Mary Pierce of France retired while trailing in the first set, 4-0.
Fangio new Texans defensive coach
HOUSTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Dom Capers has again called on a trusted friend for help with an NFL expansion team as the Houston Texans, who begin play in the NFL in 2002, on Monday named Vic Fangio their defensive coordinator.
Fangio, 43, worked as Capers' defensive coordinator with the expansion Carolina Panthers from 1995-98.
Fangio spent the last three seasons as defensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts, but was told to seek work elsewhere when the team fired Jim Mora as coach last Wednesday.
Mora refused to dismiss Fangio after the Colts yielded an NFL-high 486 points last season, claiming the defensive scheme was fine but that the team needed better players. That did not sit well with Colts general manager Bill Polian, who fired Mora when the coach refused to dismiss Fangio.
76ers sign veteran Derrick McKey
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia 76ers, hampered by injuries most of the season, signed veteran forward Derrick McKey on Monday.
McKey, 35, spent the past eight years with the Indiana Pacers, but was waived in October at the end of training camp. He will be reunited with Coach Larry Brown, who spent four seasons with the Pacers before coming to the Sixers before the 1997-98 season.
Best known for his defensive play, McKey averaged 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in 66 games for the Pacers last season. Due to injuries, the 6-10 McKey has played in just 111 games over the last three seasons.
McKey ranks in the top 10 in four different categories in Pacers' history--fourth in steals, fifth in seasons, eighth in minutes and 10th in 3-point field goal percentage. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive second team in 1995 and 1996.
