Robinson retained by Expos
MONTREAL, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The Montreal Expos Tuesday announced that Frank Robinson, who left his job as the Vice President of On-Field Operations to manage the team last season, agreed to a one-year contract.
The Hall of Famer was named manager last February and led the Expos to a surprising second-place finish in the National League East with an 83-79 record, their first winning season since 1996. He finished third in the voting for National League Manager of the Year two weeks ago.
Montreal's financial operations were run by the league last season after Jeffrey Loria sold the club to become the owner of the Florida Marlins.
The Expos have been hurt by poor attendance the last few years and have been rumored to play some home games in Puerto Rico in 2003.
General Manager Omar Minaya told MLB.com, baseball's official website, that he was most impressed by Robinson's "ability to adapt to the game," despite not having managed in more than a decade. Minaya said that the game now is filled with much younger and more culturally diverse players.
Robinson, 67, a member of the elite 500 home run club, became baseball's first black manager when he was hired by the Cleveland Indians in 1975. He also managed the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles, winning AL Manager of the Year in 1989. He hadn't managed since 1991, and served at his post with Major League Baseball for three years.
Robinson has a career record of 763-830.
Hip injury sidelines Hakim for season
ALLEN PARK, Mich., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim of the Detroit Lions will be lost for the remainder of the 2002 season after sustaining a hip injury in Sunday's 31-14 loss to the New York Jets.
Hakim, the Lions leading receiver, was taken off the field on a cart during the contest with a dislocated and chipped left hip.
"Az Hakim has a hip dislocation," said Lions Coach Marty Mornhinweg, who said doctors did not mention a need for surgery. "I just was talking to the doctors and they did not mention any surgery. They got it back in place and the chip fracture should heal up."
Hakim suffered the injury on the Lions' opening drive of the game. He caught a shovel pass from quarterback Joey Harrington and has carried it 14 yards to the New York 16-yard line.
Hakim leads the Lions with 37 catches for 541 yards and three touchdowns. He also posted a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown on a reverse this season.
He was not the only player among the walking wounded after the loss to the Jets.
At least three others -- defensive linemen Luther Elliss (ankle), Robert Porcher (knee) and Jared DeVries (foot) -- were hurt.
Porcher, who was thought to have a hyper-extended knee and was limping after an MRI on Monday, has been diagnosed with a bone bruise.
Elliss, who sprained an ankle, underwent an ultrasound which indicated he does not have the more serious high-ankle sprain.
DeVries, whose foot problem was thought to be the most serious injury of the three, has a mid-foot sprain, and is definitely out of next Sunday's game at Chicago.
A decision about the playing status of Elliss and Porcher will be made later in the week.
Two Dallas veterans done of season
IRVING, Texas, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Strong safety Darren Woodson and guard Larry Allen of the Dallas Cowboys, who have combined to play in 12 Pro Bowls, will miss the remainder of the season with injuries.
Coach Dave Campo Tuesday said that Woodson will have season-ending surgery for an abdominal injury. He did not indicate when the surgery would take place.
Allen, who has been hampered by bone spurs in his left ankle that have forced him to miss four games, will be placed on injured reserve.
Woodson, an 11-year veteran and member of the Cowboys' three Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1990s, was injured in the first half of Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Losing Woodson, a five-time Pro Bowl selection who is the leader in the secondary, is a blow to the Dallas defense, which has played well, ranking 10th in the NFL.
The Cowboys (3-7) have lost four straight games and are in last place in the NIFCO East, mainly because of a pathetic offense, which has been held to 14 or fewer points in eight of 10 games.
Allen, a second-round pick in 1994, played on one Super Bowl team with the Cowboys in '95, and is a member of the NFL's All-Decade team in the 1990s. The seven-time Pro Bowler has played both guard and tackle this season.
Shade done at least for 2002
ASHBURN, Va., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The Washington Redskins late Monday assigned veteran strong safety Sam Shade to injured reserve.
Shade, who has lost his starting job to Ifeanyi Ohalete earlier in the season, suffered a possibly career-ending neck injury during the Redskins game at Jacksonville on Nov. 10. His injury was diagnosed as a herniated disc.
"I think probably after the season he's going to decide if he's going to continue playing football," confirmed Redskins Coach Steve Spurrier. "It's an injury that I think they're going to reevaluate later on."
The eight-year veteran, who also played four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, was in his fourth season with the Redskins. This season, he recorded 31 tackles, 20 solo, one sack, and two forced fumbles in nine games.
Washington also announced it has waived defensive end Otis Leverette, who has been inactive for all but one game this season. To fill the vacant roster spots, the Redskins promoted defensive back Ricot Joseph and defensive lineman Bernard Jackson from the practice squad.
Nagurski Award finalists announced
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Linebacker E.J. Henderson, who has helped spark a remarkable turnaround in football at Maryland, Tuesday was named one of five finalists for the Nagurski Award.
Defensive ends Terrell Suggs of Arizona State and David Pollack of Georgia, and defensive backs Terrence Newman of Kansas State and Shane Walton of Notre Dame are the other finalists.
The Nagurski Award is presented each year to the best all-around defensive player in college football.
Henderson has helped Maryland (9-2) win eight straight games, and has topped the century mark in tackles for the third straight season. He has 118 this season.
Pollack helped Georgia win the SEC East Division title. He had an interception return for a touchdown against South Carolina.
Suggs already has set a Division I-A single-season sack record with 20.
Newman has four interceptions this season while Walton had a three-interception game in the season opener, a 22-0 win, ironically against Maryland.
The winner of the award, determined in balloting by the Football Writers Association of America, will be announced by the Charlotte Touchdown Club on Dec. 9.
Safety Roy Williams of Oklahoma won the award last season.
Washington scheduled for surgery
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Wide receiver Kelly Washington of Tennessee Tuesday was set for surgery on his cervical spine and will not play again this season.
The surgery in Dallas could also end the Tennessee football career of Washington, a sophomore who has stated previously that this will be his last season with the Volunteers before entering the NFL draft.
"I am looking forward to a full and complete recovery," said Washington, who nearly turned pro last season before opting to return. "I look forward to getting back to playing the game I love and that is football."
Washington, 23, has not played since Oct. 12 against Georgia, when he landed hard on the back of his head and neck and was diagnosed with a concussion.
"Based on the information gathered from our consultants, we are pleased to report that a full recovery and return to competitive football is anticipated for Kelley next season," said Tennessee trainer Keith Clements.
Washington has played in only four games this season. He had 23 catches for 443 yards and one touchdown.
The Volunteers also will be without backup tailback Gerald Riggs for the last two regular season games. He has a fractured finger in his left hand.
Riggs, who could return for a bowl game, has 17 carries for 49 yards this season.
Season-ending leg surgery for Perez
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Florida wide receiver Carlos Perez late Monday underwent surgery to repair his broken right fibula.
The surgery, at the Florida Surgical Center, was performed by team physician Dr. Pete Indelicato.
Perez, a 5-11, 202-pound junior from Hoboken, N.J., was injured in the second quarter of the 28-7 win over South Carolina game on Saturday night. He will begin rehabilitation in four weeks and will miss the remainder of the season.
Team doctors anticipate that he will return to the to the field for Spring practice in 2003.
Perez was the Gators' leading receiver with 58 catches for 591 yards and four touchdowns. He had six receptions in the first half against the Gamecocks, and had 51 of his 58 catches in the last seven games.
Perez had a career-high 12 catches against Georgia after teammate Taylor Jacobs went down with a knee injury in the first quarter. His 12 catches in that contest were more than made in his entire sophomore season, is tied for the third best single-game total in school history.
Tea Room purchase by PGA completed
FAR HILLS, N.J., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- The United States Golf Association has completed the purchase of the former Russian Tea Room in New York, the future home of a museum and
history center.
The USGA bought the Manhattan landmark, which is located next to Carnegie Hall, for $16 million from U.S. Bankruptcy Court after submitting an initial bid on Sept. 13. The offer was accepted on Oct. 29.
"We're pleased to be establishing a new museum and history center in New York, the city where the association was founded more than 100 years ago, and where it had its headquarters until 1972," said David Fay, USGA Executive Director. "The new facility will help us promote the game in a new and exciting way to hundreds of thousands of visitors each year."
The USGA has maintained its headquarters in Far Hills, N.J. since 1972.
The current USGA museum welcomes approximately 25,000 visitors each year. It features historical artifacts and exhibits, including collections from Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan.
The New York museum will be a multi-media, interactive presentation of golf history and the future of the game.
"This museum will appeal to many more visitors of all ages," said Rand Jerris, director of the museum and library.
The Russian Tea Room was founded in 1926 by former members of the Russian Imperial Ballet, who fled to the United States following the revolution in their home country. It served as a meeting place for Russian emigrants.
