Carolina storms into conference finals
MONTREAL, May 13 (UPI) -- The Carolina Hurricanes have made it to the NHL Eastern Conference finals for the first time.
The "BBC" line of Bates Battaglia, Rod Brind'Amour and rookie Erik Cole combined for nine points as the Hurricanes rolled to an 8-2 rout of the Montreal Canadiens Monday night and a four games to two win in their conference semifinal series.
Cole set the tone 25 seconds into the game, sparking a five-goal first period for Carolina with his fifth playoff tally.
The Hurricanes took the final three games of the best-of-seven series and await the winner of the other Eastern Conference series between Toronto and Ottawa.
Jose Canseco decides to retire
CHICAGO, May 13 (UPI) -- Slugger Jose Canseco announced his retirement Monday, abandoning his pursuit of 500 home runs.
The announcement was made by the Chicago White Sox, who signed the former American League MVP and rookie of the year to a minor league contract on April 18.
Canseco, 37, retires with 462 home runs, placing him 22nd on the all-time list and just three behind Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.
Canseco appeared a sure-fire Hall of Famer after breaking into the majors with five spectacular seasons with the Oakland Athletics. Aside from an injury-plagued year in 1989, the brawny slugger averaged 37 homers, 115 RBI and 23 stolen bases from 1986-91.
In 1988, he became the first player to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in the same season, winning MVP honors. Canseco and teammate Mark McGwire became known as the "Bash Brothers" and helped lead the A's to three American League pennants and the 1989 World Series championship.
Hewitt advances in Hamburg, Agassi out
HAMBURG, Germany, May 13 (UPI) -- Top seed Lleyton Hewitt began his quest for his first claycourt Tennis Masters Series title Monday with a straight-set first-round victory at the $2.33 million French Open tuneup.
Hewitt, a semifinalist here a year ago, beat 18-year-old Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, 7-5, 6-4. The 21-year-old Australian has won two titles this season but is just 4-3 on clay.
Meanwhile, Andre Agassi, the ninth seed, withdrew and 12-ranked Pete Sampras was upset byMax Mirnyi of Belarus 6-3, 6-4.
Agassi's departure came one day after he captured his first claycourt title in three years with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 rout of No. 7 Tommy Haas of Germany on Sunday at the $2.33 million Tennis Masters Series in Rome.
Shaughnessy slump continues at Rome
ROME, May 13 (UPI) -- Meghann Shaughnessy's string of futility continued on the first day of play at the $1.22 million Italian Open Monday.
The 10th-seeded American saw her losing streak reach six matches with a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Asa Svensson of Sweden.
Despite a first-round bye at three of her last four events, Shaughnessy has not won since advancing to the semifinals of the Sarasota Open the first week in April. Svensson captured her first title two weeks ago at the Croatian Bol Ladies Open.
Two other seeded players advanced to the second round on Monday.
No. 14 Iroda Tulyaganova of Uzbekistan topped Tathiana Garbin of Italy, 6-3, 6-2 and No. 16 Tatiana Panova of Russia defeated American Jennifer
Saints promote Loomis to GM
METAIRIE, La., May 13 (UPI) -- Mickey Loomis was promoted to general manager of the New Orleans Saints on Monday, four days after the surprise firing of Randy Mueller.
After conducting the NFL draft and making numerous offseason signings, Mueller was dismissed Thursday by Qwner Tom Benson, who assumed the position of GM temporarily.
Benson on Monday turned to Loomis, who has been the Saints' director of football administration since 2000. In that post, he handled contract negotiations with free agents and draft picks.
Loomis, who was signed to a contract through the 2003 season at undisclosed terms, came to New Orleans after 17 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He was executive vice president from 1992 to 1998.
Clark out as Browns exec
BEREA, Ohio, May 13 (UPI) -- Dwight Clark stepped down Monday as director of football operations for the Cleveland Browns, apparently after losing a power struggle with upper management.
While no replacement was named, CNN/SI reported that control of football operations is expected to be won by Pete Garcia, who last year came to the Browns along with Coach Butch Davis to be an assistant coach in charge of football development.
The 45-year-old Clark joined the Browns in November 1998 after 19 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers' organization. He came to Cleveland with Policy shortly after Alfred Lerner was awarded ownership of the team.
Clark was part of five Super Bowl championship teams with the 49ers, two as a player and three as an executive.
Reds' Dunn is NL player of week
NEW YORK, May 13 (UPI) -- Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, who batted .412 with two home runs and 12 RBI in six games, Monday was named National League Player of the Week.
Dunn, who belted his first career grand slam and had a career high five RBI in the Reds 8-5 win against Milwaukee on May 6, captured the honors for the first time in his two-year career. The 22-year-old is batting .278 with eight home runs and 28 RBI this season.
Other players nominated were Cliff Floyd of Florida, who leads the NL with a .421 average, Richie Sexson of the Brewers, Vicente Padilla of Philadelphia, Todd Helton of Colorado, Kerry Wood of Chicago and two of Dunn's teammates --- rookie Austin Kearns and Juan Encarnacion.
Expos' Rodrigues opts for free agency
SAN DIEGO, May 13 (UPI) -- Veteran outfielder Henry Rodriguez opted for free agency Monday, five days after the Montreal Expos sent him outright to Class AAA Ottawa of the International League.
One of a handful of former Expos brought back to Montreal this season, Rodriguez had just one hit in 20 at-bats with three RBI and a run scored in 20 games. He was assigned to the minors on Wednesday, when the Expos purchased the contract of outfielder Troy O'Leary.
Rodriguez, 34, became a folk hero in Montreal in 1996 when he slugged a career-high 36 home runs. Fans at Olympic Stadium developed the ritual of tossing Oh Henry candy bars onto the field whenever Rodriguez homered.
Angels farmhand notches no-hitter
TULSA, Okla., May 13 (UPI) -- Righthander Hatuey Mendoza, a 24-year-old Anaheim Angels farmhand, hit the first batter he faced Monday, then settled down to pitch the Texas League's first no-hitter of the year.
Mendoza's gem, which included only one walk, gave the Arkansas Travelers a 3-0 victory over the Tulsa Drillers.
