Brady expects to play in Super Bowl
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- New England quarterback Tom Brady said Tuesday he expected to play in Super Bowl XXXVI and that he felt he would be able to demonstrate in practice Wednesday that he was ready to start in the biggest game of his career.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has said he would wait until after practice Wednesday to decide whether Brady or Drew Bledsoe would start Sunday against the St. Louis Rams.
In his first year as a starter, Brady became one of the NFL's biggest success stories by leading the Patriots to a division title. But when Brady limped off the field in the AFC Championship game last Sunday with a sprained left ankle, Bledsoe came in to throw a touchdown pass and help guide the Patriots into the Super Bowl for the third time in franchise history.
Now the Super Bowl finds itself with its biggest quarterback controversy ever.
As far as Brady is concerned, however, the debate will end with him being named the Patriots' starter.
yson tries regain license
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Mike Tyson went before the Nevada State Athletic Commission Tuesday to learn whegther he will get his boxing license back.
If he does, boxing's most controversial figure will meet Lennox Lewis for the heavyweight championship he once held.
The former champ has not fought in Las Vegas since Oct. 23, 1999, when he hit Orlin Norris after the bell, causing that fight to be ruled a no-contest.
Tyson, 35, has had trouble staying out of trouble since, most recently inciting a melee last Tuesday by taking a swing at Lewis and a security guard during a news conference for theirApril 6 bout.
After the scuffle was broken up, Tyson pointed to his crotchwhile yelling at Lewis and screamed profanities at some of the boxing writers in attendance. He apologized the next day.
Maleeva, Coetzer advance in Pan Pacific
TOKYO, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Sixth-seeded Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria and No. 8 Amanda Coetzer of South Africa, both looking to build on strong efforts at the Australian Open, reached the second round of the $1.2 million Pan Pacific Open Tuesday.
Maleeva topped Daja Bedanova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-4,and Coetzer defeated American Lisa Raymond, 7-5, 6-4.
Maleeva and Coetzer are coming off fourth-round finishes at the year's first Grand Slam last week. Maleeva lost to Venus Williams and Coetzer fell to Martina Hingis.
Russian wild card and fan favorite Anna Kournikova, who won the Australian Open doubles title with Hingis, dispatched Spaniard Cristina Torrens Valero, 6-3, 6-0.
Also on Tuesday, Italy's Rita Grande posted a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 victory over Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova, and Austria's Barbara Schett cruised past Spain's Magui Serna, 6-1, 6-3.
Broncos name Sundquist general manager
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The Denver Broncos Monday named Ted Sundquist as their new general manager. He succeeds Neal Dahlen, who was reassigned.
Sundquist, 39, was Denver's director of college scouting since 1996 and has been involved in all aspects of the organization's player personnel operations.
He has overseen the club's entire college scouting process, evaluated top collegiate players, assisted in the negotiation of player contracts, managed the scouting department's $1.2 million annual budget and assisted in the long-range management of the salary cap.
Sundquist will continue to report to Coach Mike Shanahan, vice president of football operations, and be responsible for scouting, salary cap and contract analysis, video and football technologies, equipment, and training and medical personnel.
U.S., Canada clash in Gold Cup semis
PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The United States will take on historic soccer rival Canada on Wednesday night at the Rose Bowl in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
With the match, the U.S. will have progressed to more Gold Cup semis than any other nation -- five out of six. The Americans are 3-1 in Gold Cup semifinals, including a memorable 1-0 victory over Brazil in 1998.
The U.S. has won eight straight against its neighbors to the north, the last meetings coming in World Cup qualifying in 1998 -- a pair of 3-0 victories.
More impressive is that the U.S. has shut out the Canadians six times in those eight meetings, outscoring them 13-3.
Williams home from hospital
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Ted Williams was back home with family members Tuesday after a four-day hospital stay to deal with low blood pressure and high temperatures.
The 83-year-old baseball hall of famer who underwent open-heart surgery last year, was suffering from cardiovascular deterioration, latest in a series of ailments that have slowed the former Boston Red Sox star. He was released from Shands Hospital Monday.
The last major leaguer to bat .400 when he hit .406 in 1941 and one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, Williams underwent nine hours of heart surgery in January 2001 at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He had a pacemaker implanted in 2000.
Bruins keep Murphy for rest of season
BOSTON, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The Boston Bruins signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Gord Murphy for the remainder of the season Tuesday.
Murphy was brought in for a tryout on Jan. 15 and later assigned to Providence of the American Hockey League, where he had two assists and six penalty minutes in six contests.
"We signed Gord because we feel he can help our team," said General Manager Mike O'Connell. "He has shown us that he's in good shape from a conditioning standpoint.
Murphy, 34, was limited to 27 games with Atlanta in 2000-01 while recovering from a separated shoulder suffered in an exhibition game. Murphy, who also missed 11 games with a broken thumb, had three goals and 11 assists in 27 games with the Thrashers last season and they elected not to re-sign him.
Surprising Nets hang onto pair
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The New Jersey Nets, one of the biggest surprises in the NBA, signed guard Anthony Johnson and forward Donny Marshall for the remainder of the season Tuesday.
Both players had signed consecutive 10-day contracts, with the first coming Jan. 7. Terms of the deals were not released.
The 6-3 Johnson, brought in to back up All-Star point guard Jason Kidd, has appeared in four games, collecting five points, two rebounds and three steals in 26 minutes.
Marshall, who averaged 15.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in five preseason games with the Nets before being released, has averaged 1.8 points and 1.0 rebound in five games.
Orioles get Singelton in swap
BALTIMORE, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Orioles, who have suffered through four straight losing seasons, acquired outfielder Chris Singleton from the Chicago White Sox Tuesday for second baseman-outfielder Willie Harris.
Singleton saw his power numbers dip in 2001 but was third on the White Sox with a .298 batting average. He hit seven home runs and drove in 45 runs in 119 games after averaging 14 homers and67 RBI from 1999-2000 -- his first two major league seasons.
The 29-year-old Singleton stole 12 bases and had a .331 on-base percentage last season. He could fill the center field and leadoff spot for Baltimore, which has not had a winning season since capturing the American League East with a 98-64 record in 1997.
