Grback indicates he'll retire if Ravens let him go
BALTIMORE, Md., March 5 (UPI) -- Quarterback Elvis Grbac plans to
retire rather than play for a team other than the Baltimore Ravens.
ESPN reported Monday that Grbac has decided to end his career after
nine seasons rather than ask his wife and three children to move to
another city.
The decision comes three days after the Ravens opted against picking
up the $6 million bonus on Grbac's contract, making the
Super Bowl-winning quarterback an unrestricted free agent.
The Ravens had until Friday to pick up the option, which would have
extended Grbac's contract through 2005, but were strapped under the
salary cap and needed the quarterback to accept a new deal.
Jim Steiner, Grbac's agent, told ESPN that he negotiated with the
Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday and that Cincinnati offered more
than $3.5 million, but it was not enough to continue his career.
Grbac, 31, was signed to a five-year, $30 million contract last March
after Billick refused to offer a deal to Trent Dilfer, who won 11
straight starts en route to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV.
Although coach Brian Billick steadfastly defended Grbac, the move
backfired as the Ravens lost in the divisional playoffs to Pittsburgh
and Grbac threw for just 15 touchdowns with 18 interceptions.
Grbac spent his first eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers
and Kansas City Chiefs and threw for a career-high 4,169 yards
for the Chiefs in 2000 before signing with the Ravens.
Grizzlies sign Gill for rest of season
MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 5 (UPI) -- The Memphis Grizzlies on Monday signed guard Eddie Gill for the remainder of the season.
Gill, who signed a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies on Feb. 23, cracked the starting lineup in four of the last five games due to injuries to guards Jason Williams and Brevin Knight. He averaged 10 points and 4.8 assists during that stretch.
The 6-foot guard played 21 games with Kansas City of the American Basketball Association this season. Last season, he averaged 4.9 points and 3.0 assists in eight games with the New Jersey Nets.
U.S.-Spain Davis Cup tie to be played in Houston*
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 5 (UPI) -- Next month's Davis Cup quarterfinal between the United States and Spain will be played on grass at the Westside Tennis Club in Houston, the U.S. Tennis Association announced Monday.
A temporary 5,900-seat stadium will be erected for the tie, which begins April 5 with two singles matches.
U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe selected the surface after his team rolled to a 5-0 victory over Slovakia last month.
"This Davis Cup match has all the makings of a major worldwide sporting event," said Arlen Kantarian, USTA chief executive of professional tennis. "Given Pete's (Sampras) domination on grass, the rapid rise of Andy Roddick, our budding rivalry with Spain and a heightened sense of patriotism, the stage has been set."
The U.S.-Spain tie will mark the first time a Davis Cup match has been played in Houston since 1936. The last time the United States hosted a Davis Cup tie on grass was 1991 against Spain in Newport, Rhode Island.
The Westside Tennis Club also will host the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships from April 22-28.
Ruskell reported Falcon choice for General Manager
BRISTOL, Conn., March 5 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Falcons reportedly have chosen Tim Ruskell as their new general manager. Ruskell currently is director of player personnel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
ESPN.com reported Monday that Ruskell, a part of the Bucs organization for 15 years, will be offered the job and is expected to accept it.
The hiring of Ruskell would end as long search to fill a key position in the newly reconfigured front office under new owner Arthur Blank.
Ruskell,45, was named personnel chief at Tampa last spring when Jerry Angelo departed to become general manager at Chicago.
Agassi seeks fourth Templeton title
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 5 (UPI) -- Coming off a tough loss in San Jose,top-seeded Andre Agassi began his quest Monday to win the Franklin Templeton Classic for a fourth time.
Agassi faced defending champion Francisco Clavet of Spain who beat him in last year's first round.
Germany's Tommy Haas, who usually is on top of his game on hard courts, is the second seed and took on Spaniard Carlos Moya in the first round. American Pete Sampas, who has never won this event, received the third seed, and faced qualifier Byron Black of Zimbabwe.
Roddick top seed in International
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., March 5 (UPI) -- American teenage sensation Andy Roddick sought his fifth career title as the International Tennis Championship got under way Monday.
Roddick, 19, was to meet Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the first round. Roddick had won 10 straight matches before falling to fellow American Andre Agassi in the semifinals of the Siebel Open in San Jose. All four of Roddick's titles have come in the United states.
Jan-Michael Gambill, who won a doubles title with Roddick here last year, is the second seed. He was to play Wayne Arthurs, the only Australian in this event,in the first round.
