Giants hire Felipe Alou as manager
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- The San Francisco Giants Wednesday named Felipe Alou their new manager.
Alou, who began his career here during the first six years of San Francisco Giants history, replaces Dusty Baker.
After guiding the Giants to the World Series in his 10th year, Baker became a free agent. General manager Brian Sabean decided he would not re-sign Baker, who reportedly may end up managing the Chicago Cubs.
The choice of Alou was a logical one for Sabean, who supplied temperamental superstar Barry Bonds with a laid-back, veteran skipper who has experience managing big-name players.
Alou has 10 years of experience as a major league manager, guiding the Montreal Expos to a 691-717 mark before being fired in May 2001 following a 21-32 start. Among the players he nurtured were Pedro Martinez and Larry Walker.
In the strike-shortened season of 1994, Alou led the Expos to the best record in baseball and was named National League Manager of the Year.
A 67-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, Alou played parts of 17 major league seasons, spending 1958-63 in San Francisco after the Giants moved from New York.
Coach arrested in post-game incident
OXFORD, Ohio, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Miami of Ohio indefinitely suspended two football coaches Wednesday after one was arrested for sending a fan to the hospital and the other vandalized the coaches' box following a 36-34 loss at Marshall on Tuesday night.
Defensive coordinator Jon Wauford and linebackers coach Taver Johnson were suspended immediately -- with pay -- pending the outcome of a full investigation, according to Miami Athletic Director Steve Snyder.
Several Marshall fans stormed the field after backup quarterback Stan Hill scrambled for a one-yard touchdown run with five seconds remaining in the Mid-American Conference matchup.
As the coaches and teams were heading to the locker room, Wauford pushed a Marshall fan, Robert Flaugher, to the ground. The 36-year-old Flaugher was taken on a stretcher to a hospital, treated and released.
A former defensive end, the 32-year-old Wauford was handcuffed by West Virginia state police, taken to the Cabell County Magistrate Court and charged with battery. He was released and given a court appearance for Dec. 16.
Johnson took responsibility for damaging the coaches' press box at Marshall University Stadium after Miami was on the wrong end of some questionable calls in the closing moments of their loss to the rival Thundering Herd.
Miami scored 17 straight points to grab a 34-29 lead in the third quarter before Hill -- playing for injured star quarterback Byron Leftwich -- capped the winning scoring drive with his one-yard scramble.
Mavericks remain unbeaten
CLEVELAND, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Michael Finley scored 26 points, Dirk Nowitzki had 13 of his 17 in the fourth quarter and Steve Nash added 14 Wednesday night as the Dallas Mavericks improved to 8-0 with a 103-99 triumph over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Dallas trailed, 91-89, after a steal and dunk by Ricky Davis over Nash with 3:39 to play. But Davis missed the ensuing free throw for Cleveland, which missed six of 14 foul shots in the final 12 minutes.
The Mavericks tied it on a jumper by reserve Walt Williams, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half. They took the lead for good at 93-91 on a jumper by Nash off a stutter step in the lane with 2:31 to play.
Cleveland got within 95-94 on a pair of free throws by Milt Palacio with 43 seconds left, but Finley countered with a layup 12 seconds later. After Palacio was whistled for traveling, Nash connected on two from the line to give the Mavs a 99-94 edge with 15 seconds to play.
Nash and Finley each added a pair from the stripe in the final 10 seconds to close out the win. The Mavericks shot 93 percent from the line en route to handing the Cavaliers a fifth consecutive defeat.
Other NBA results: Boston 91, Philadelphia 81; New Jersey 91, San Antonio 82; Milwaukee 108, Chicago 101; New Orleans 102, Minnesota 98; Phoenix 75, Denver 72; Sacramento 100, Golden State 89.
Thrashers win third straight
ATLANTA, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- After being held without a goal in the last nine games, Slava Kozlov netted the game-winner at 2:19 of overtime Wednesday night as the Atlanta Thrashers tied a franchise-record three-game winning streak thanks to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
Kozlov poked a rebound past goaltender Evgeni Nabokov after his initial backhand shot was stopped. Andy Sutton earned a tough assist by carrying the puck around the net through to the left circle, where he was picked up by two defenders but still managed to power a backhand pass to an open Kozlov.
After Atlanta took a 2-1 lead at 10:20 of the third period on Shawn McEachern's fifth goal of the season, Owen Nolan answered for the Sharks with 2:40 remaining in regulation, knocking a trickling puck over the goal line after Mike Ricci's initial shot slipped between Pasi Nurminen's pads.
Nurminen turned aside 22 shots to improve to 4-1-1 in his last six starts.
Other NHL results: Dallas 6, Washington 1; Florida 1, Philadelphia 1.
Brown joins Memphis Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Hubie Brown was introduced Wednesday as the new coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and said that, "when Jerry West calls you, I hope you know you listen up."
Out of coaching since 1987, the 69-year-old Brown appeared at a news conference one day after taking over the floundering Grizzlies. He replaces Sidney Lowe, who resigned Tuesday after the team's 0-8 start.
Given various chances to return to coaching, Brown finally accepted when he was contacted by West, Memphis' president of basketball operations who built a dynasty with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Grizzlies have been the worst team in the NBA since entering the league in 1995, never winning more than 23 games in a season. They have matched the worst start in franchise history this year.
Lowe resigned one day after the Grizzlies were beaten by the Golden State Warriors, 108-101, in a game matching two of the NBA's worst teams.
Brown said the team would undergo a "crash course," practicing twice daily for two days before hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
Superstars lose at Tennis Masters Cup
SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- The top three players in the world were upset in round-robin action Wednesday at the $3.75 million Tennis Masters Cup.
In the Red Group, Spain's Carlos Moya defeated world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, 6-4, 7-5, after French Open champion Albert Costa of Spain topped third-ranked Marat Safin of Russia, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
In between, Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic rallied past No. 2 Andre Agassi, 7-5, 6-1, in a Gold Group matchup.
Moya beat Hewitt for the fourth straight time this year and advanced to 5-2 lifetime against the Australian. With a 2-0 record in the Red Group, he advanced to the semifinals.
The 26-year-old Spaniard reached the semifinals in his previous two appearances in the ATP's season-ending event. He lost a five-set final to countryman Alex Corretja in 1998 and was a semifinalist in 1997.
After finishing out of the top 10 each of the last three years, Moya has returned to the form that saw him win the 1998 French Open by claiming four titles this season.
Making his Tennis Masters Cup debut, Novak beat Agassi for the first time in five encounters. He had never taken a set from the American before winning five straight games to win the opening set Wednesday. The 27-year-old Czech claimed 11 of the last 12 games to move to the top of the Gold Group.
Rangers release Hideki Irabu
ARLINGTON, Texas, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- The Texas Rangers waived pitcher Hideki Irabu and signed nine minor league free agents to contracts with the Class AAA Oklahoma of the Pacific Coast League, the team announced Wednesday.
Irabu was placed on irrevocable waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. He went 3-8 with a 5.74 ERA and a team-high 16 saves in his only season with the Rangers.
The well-traveled Japanese righthander sat out the final 2 1/2 months of the season with blood clots in his lungs and was on the 60-day disabled list at the time of his release.
A-Rod wins Gold Glove award
NEW YORK, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez was named an American League Gold Glove Award winner Wednesday, but teammate Ivan Rodriguez was not.
Already a Silver Slugger winner and runner-up for MVP, Alex Rodriguez added his first Gold Glove after leading all shortstops in putouts (259) and double plays (108) while finishing second in assists (472) and chances (741).
However, the Gold Glove for catchers normally reserved for Ivan Rodriguez was given to first-time winner Bengie Molina of the Anaheim Angels. Ivan Rodriguez had earned 10 straight Gold Gloves, matching Johnnie Bench for the most ever by a catcher.
Alex Rodriguez snapped the nine-year streak of Cleveland Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel.
Texas was one of three teams to have two Gold Glove winners, with pitcher Kenny Rogers joining Alex Rodriguez. Rogers also won the award in 2000.
None of this year's recipients have won more than two Gold Gloves.
Seattle Mariners second baseman Bret Boone, first baseman John Olerud and right fielder Ichiro Suzuki each won their second, as did Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez, Angels center fielder Darin Erstad and Minnesota Twins center fielder Torii Hunter.
Boone also won a Gold Glove in 1998, when he was with the Cincinnati Reds.
The National League winners will be announced Thursday.
Martin, Roush team appeal NASCAR penalty
HUNTERVILLE, N.C., Nov. 14 (UPI) -- With a Winston Cup title hanging in the balance, Roush Racing announced Wednesday it has appealed a 25-point penalty that has left Mark Martin further behind Tony Stewart in the points race.
NASCAR docked Martin for using an "unapproved" spring at the Pop Secret Popcorn 400 in Rockingham, North Carolina, a ruling that has him 89 points behind Tony Stewart with just one race remaining.
Martin finished second to Johnny Benson Jr. at North Carolina Speedway on Nov. 3, but in a postrace technical inspection, the right front springs did not meet the required 4 1/2 coils. Martin's springs were 4 3/8.
In his appeal, Roush Racing President Geoff Smith claimed the spring had an "inconsquential deviation" from the rule-specified length, had no effect on the fairness of competition and thus was too harsh.
Smith applauded NASCAR for maintaining a policy of fairness but said, "fairness can only exist when there is equal punishment for equally situated offenders. That is a concept that is a cornerstone of the entire American experience."
Giants sign Herman Moore
NEW YORK, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- With three wide receivers already out of action, the New York Giants lured Herman Moore out of retirement Wednesday.
Moore, who holds the single-season record with 123 receptions set in 1995, signed a one-year contract with the Giants.
Financial terms were not disclosed, although there were reports he would earn $308,823, a prorated portion of the veteran minimum of $750,000.
Moore, 33, was one of several receivers who worked out for the Giants. They are down to two healthy wideouts after losing Ron Dixon and Tim Carter to injuries in Sunday's 27-20 win at Minnesota.
