Mariners put Sele on DL
NEW YORK, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The Anaheim Angels saw their postseason hopes suffer a significant blow Wednesday when veteran righthander Aaron Sele was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a rotator cuff injury.
Sele reported discomfort in his right shoulder after allowing seven runs and seven walks in five innings in a 7-5 loss to the New York Yankees Tuesday night.
Sele, 32, underwent an MRI Wednesday and was examined by Dr. Andy Rokito, an orthopedic specialist. The exam revealed a partial tear of the supraspinatus muscle in his right rotator cuff. It was not immediately clear how long Sele
would be sidelined.
The Angels (74-50) began the day in a virtual tie for first place in the American League West, percentage points ahead of Oakland and Seattle.
Sele fell to 8-9 with a 4.91 ERA after Tuesday's loss. He is 0-2 in his last five starts since his last victory against Oakland on July 24.
He landed on the DL for the third time in his career and the first time since 1996 when he was with Boston.
One possible replacement for Sele in the rotation is Scott Schoeneweis, a former starter who has been working out of the bullpen.
The Angels recalled lefthander Mark Lukasiewicz from Triple-A Salt Lake of the Pacific Coast League to replace Sele on the roster. Lukasiewicz was 3-2 with a 4.24 ERA in 33 relief outings for Salt Lake.
In 14 appearances with the Angels earlier this season, Lukasiewicz posted a 1-0 mark with a 3.48 ERA.
Sele is in his first season with the Angels after two in Seattle. He also has played for Texas and owns a lifetime record of 115-77.
OSU suspends four; FB quits
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Days before its season-opening contest, the football team at Ohio State University has lost four players though suspensions and junior fullback Jesse Kline has quit.
The players suspended are senior wide receiver Chris Vance, redshirt freshman tight end Redgie Arden, sophomore fullback Branden Joe and freshman defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock, and Coach Jim Tressel has told the Columbus Dispatch that the quartet "absolutely will not play this weekend."
Kline, a native of Upper Arlington, Ohio, was supposed to make his first career start Saturday, when OSU hosts Texas Tech in the Pigskin Classic. He was set to team with freshman tailback Maurice Clarett to form the Buckeyes' starting backfield.
Kline has been bothered by a number of injuries throughout his career, including lower back and shoulder ailments.
"I know this was a very difficult decision for Jesse," Tressel said. "We certainly wish him the very best and hope he will continue to spend time with our players and coaches. He is still part of the Ohio State family."
Tressel also told the paper that Clarett is one of 10 first-year players who likely will play prominent roles for the team this season.
Both Joe and Arden have been convicted of driving under the influence this year, and Pitcock was cited near his hometown of Piqua with underage drinking last weekend while attending a keg party.
The paper said those close to the team have been unusually mum concerning Vance's predicament. His penalty is said to be for a minimum of two games, though Tressel would not confirm that.
Cavs match offer to Davis
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday matched an offer sheet given by the Minnesota Timberwolves to guard Ricky Davis.
Davis, a restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet with the Timberwolves last Friday at undisclosed terms.
"All along we made it clear that we wanted to keep Ricky Davis as a member of the Cavaliers," said Cavaliers General Manager and Senior Vice President Jim Paxson. "We are very excited that Ricky will be among our core group of players. After discussions with (team president) Gordon Gund and (coach) John Lucas, we decided to match the offer immediately."
Davis, 22, averaged 11.7 points and 23.8 minutes last season, and was the only Cavalier to appear in all 82 games last season. In eight games as a starter, he averaged 19.0 points
and 4.4 rebounds.
The 6-7 Davis was acquired on Oct. 26 in a three-way trade that also involved the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors. He was a first-round draft pick of the Charlotte Hornets in 1998 and
spent two seasons with the team before joining the Heat.
Nets exercise option on Martin
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The New Jersey Nets Wednesday exercised their contract option on forward Kenyon Martin, who helped them to an unexpected trip to the NBA Finals last season.
Financial terms were not disclosed for Martin, who is under contract through the 2003-04 season.
"Due to the collective bargaining agreement, we had until Oct. 31 to exercise our option on Kenyon," said General Manager Rod Thorn. "He is a vital component our team, and we are pleased to have Kenyon under contract for the next two seasons."
Martin, the top pick in the 2000 draft out of Cincinnati, played in 73 games last season, averaging a team-high 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per contest. In the playoffs, he averaged 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 20 games as the Nets advanced to the NBA Finals before getting swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in four games.
Martin scored a career-high 35 points in Game Four against the Lakers.
In his rookie campaign, Martin played in 68 contests, averaging 12.0 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds, despite missing the final 12 games on the season with a broken right fibula. He was named NBA Rookie of the Month for November, Co-Rookie of the Month for March, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Dallas loses two players for season
SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Raghib Ismail will miss the entire season after suffering a neck injury in practice last week.
The 10-year-old veteran will undergo surgery Wednesday morning to repair an apparent disk problem in his neck.
Ismail, 32, has been plagued by injuries in recent years, including a torn knee ligament in 2000.
It is major a blow for the Cowboys, who were hoping for the speedy Ismail to complement Joey Galloway in the West Coast offense installed by new coordinator Bruce Coslet.
Ismail was hurt last Wednesday when he was kneed by linebacker Dat Nguyen while trying to avoid a collision. Ismail did not return to practice and was held out of Saturday's exhibition game.
"I think we lose more in the competitive spirit and what Rocket does in the locker room than the talent," said Coach Dave Campo. "We think we have some young receivers who can step to the front. We feel like we are in better shape there than we've ever been. But you don't replace Rocket, his leadership or his experience very easily."
"This is a serious injury," admitted team doctor Dan Cooper, who added Ismail has a small spinal column to begin with. "The good news is he doesn't have any paralysis, and the prognosis for a full recovery after surgery is very good."
The Cowboys originally listed the injury as a strain, but Ismail returned to Dallas on Monday for further exams after having trouble with feeling in his arm. A similar injury to former star fullback Darryl Johnston in October 1997 basically ended his playing career.
The team's assistant trainer, Dr. Dan Cooper, offered this assessment.
"Without surgery, he would not be able to play football," Cooper explained. "On the other hand, the good news is he does not have any type of paralysis or permanent [after-effects] from this and this disk herniation is completely reversible with the surgery, so you would anticipate, as long as the surgery is successful and he heals, he would return to football."
Ismail was a standout at Notre Dame, but never has lived up to expectations in the professional ranks. He began his career in the CFL before signing with the Oakland Raiders in 1993.
Ismail, who has spent the past three seasons with the Cowboys, did not record his first 1,000-yard receiving season until 1998, when he was a member of the Carolina Panthers.
The Cowboys also learned Tuesday that tight end Jeff Robinson, the club's long snapper, suffered a torn right ACL that will sideline him for the season. Robinson, who played for the St. Louis Rams last season, signed with Dallas as a free agent.
The Cowboys had major problems at long snapper last season as Mike Solwold and Randy Chevrier both struggled. They had a record six kicks blocked and lost its field goal kicker to injury because of a botched snap.
Raiders land Sam Adams
ALLEN PARK, Mich., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The Detroit Lions Tuesday announced they have signed unrestricted free agent guard Ray Brown and released first-year defensive tackle Bill Duff.
Brown, a 6-5, 318-pounder, joins the Lions as a 17-year NFL veteran after a Pro Bowl season in 2001 with the San Francisco 49ers. The Lions will be Brown's fourth team after stints with the 49ers (1996-2001), Washington Redskins (1989-1995) and Arizona Cardinals (1986-1988), who drafted him in the eighth round. He was the 201st overall that year.
Despite being 39, Brown said he never considered calling it quits. The Detroit News reported he likely got a one-year deal for $750,000 and a $25,000 signing bonus.
"Retirement wasn't even an option," Brown said. "I knew I wanted to play this year and it was just going to come down to getting an opportunity."
He said the Lions gave him the chance he was seeking.
"I'm just glad to be playing in the NFL," Brown said. "This is where I was wanted. There were people saying they were looking to bring in guards, like Tampa Bay, Washington and Houston. (Coach) Marty (Mornhinweg) and (Detroit President) Matt (Millen) stepped up to the plate and said, 'I want you here.' I really am glad to be wanted here. I knew I wanted to play this year. It was going to come down to getting an opportunity. This is the opportunity that presented itself. I'm just going to try to make the most of it. I hadn't had enough. I still enjoy and love the game."
Brown has been the starting left guard in San Francisco since 1994 and missed only one game because of injury since 1992. While with the 49ers, he played in nine postseason games and started eight, including the 1997 NFC Championship game.
As a senior at Arkansas State in 1985, Brown was the first player to be named to the All-Southland Conference team at two different positions, offensive lineman and tight end, in conference history.
Duff, who was signed by the Lions on July 26, originally entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent with the 49ers in 1998.
During the 2001 season, Duff started for the Orlando Rage in the XFL and spent the 2000 and 2002 NFL Europe seasons with the Berlin Thunder, helping them the 2002 World Bowl Championships.
In college, Duff was a four-year letterman and two-year starter with the University of Tennessee.
Even though he was a Pro Bowl player last season, Brown was released by San Francisco in June in a cap-related move.
Raiders ink Sam Adams
OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The Oakland Raiders Monday signed veteran defensive tackle Sam Adams, who has played in the past two Pro Bowls.
Adams, 29, joins the Raiders after spending the past two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
"We're extremely excited about what Sam brings as a player for our team," said Raiders Coach Bill Callahan. "It's good that we can add a Pro Bowl caliber defensive lineman to our team. He definitely will contribute to our defense."
Adams has played in 119 league games with 96 starts on the defensive line in eight NFL campaigns.
"The Raiders gave me an opportunity and now I'm here to help this team win a championship," Adams said following his first practice session as a Raider. "I know I'll play to the best of my ability. It is the Commitment to Excellence. That's why I'm here."
The 6-3, 330-pound Adams entered the NFL as Seattle's first round choice in 1994, the eighth pick overall, out of Texas A&M. He tallied a career-high in sacks with seven in 1997 while a member of the Seahawks.
In '98, Adams scored the first touchdown of his career when he batted a pass high in the air, intercepted it and returned it 25 yards against Dallas. He played for the Seahawks for six seasons before signing as a free agent with the Ravens in 2000, and was a vital cog for the Super Bowl champions of that season.
Adams was three-year starter and an All-American at Texas A&M as a senior. His father, Sam, played 10 seasons at offensive guard in the NFL -- nine with the New England Patriots and one for the New Orleans Saints.
