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Michael Andretti has watched as many of CART's high-profile owners have left for the rival Indy Racing League. Andretti isn't ready to leave for the IRL and provide another blow to CART, but he is facing that possibility. Andretti, the winningest driver in CART history, is buying his own racing team but says his sponsorship will decide which of the rival open-wheel series he will compete in next year. Team Green owner Barry Green said Tuesday he was selling the team to his brother and Andretti, CART's career leader with 42 victories. Andretti will be the team's majority owner and chief executive, with Barry Green remaining as a consultant and minority partner. The new team will be known as Andretti Green Racing, effective Dec. 1. Andretti said he did not know whether the team might switch next season to the rival IRL series. "I don't have anything solid," Andretti said. "It is going to come down to the sponsors. But I would like to do Indianapolis. That is a race I really want." Cigarette brand Kool has been Team Green's major sponsor since 1998 and Motorola has been Andretti's top sponsor the past two years. "We don't have a signed sponsor," Andretti said. "We're going on the hope that what we're buying is going to sell itself. They've given us an indication that they're happy." Andretti, 39, holds the record for leading the most laps in the Indianapolis 500 without a victory. His best finishes in 13 Indy starts are a second in 1991 and a third in 2001. Last year's Indy 500 was Andretti's first since 1995, the year before the CART-IRL split. Green, whose team won the 1995 Indy 500 and CART title with Jacques Villeneuve, currently fields cars for Andretti, Paul Tracy and Dario Franchitti on the CART circuit. Green said he hoped Tracy and Franchitti would stay with the team, but that no decisions had been made. The team's headquarters will remain in Indianapolis. Green has battled with IRL officials since they disallowed Tracy's pass of Helio Castroneves on the next-to-last lap of this year's Indy 500. Green has maintained that Tracy completed the pass before a caution period was declared because of an accident behind the leaders. Green said the ruling had nothing to do with the decision to sell, but had not forgotten the disappointment. "I'm very bitter over the 500," he said. A decision by Andretti to defect from CART would be a serious blow to the struggling series. Andretti is likely the best-known driver in open-wheel racing, which has few American stars. Andretti said this was a critical time for CART, still reeling from other high-profile defections. Roger Penske, CART's most successful owner, switched his team, with drivers Castroneves and two-time CART champion Gil de Ferran, to the IRL this season largely because his sponsor, Marlboro, wanted be at the 500. Green founded his team with Gerry Forsythe in 1994 and has 19 CART victories as an owner. Nadeau to drive for Petty Jerry Nadeau finally got a full-time job Tuesday when Petty Enterprises hired him to drive the No. 44 Dodge for the rest of the season. Nadeau, out of regular work since he was released from Hendrick Motorsports in May, replaces Steve Grissom. He filled in once before this season for Grissom, nearly winning in Sears Point, Calif., before breaking a gear while leading with two laps to go. "We all saw what Jerry did at Sears Point, but that is the kind of racing he has been doing throughout his career," CEO Kyle Petty said. "He has won on fast superspeedways, is one of the best road racers out there, and is pretty good on short tracks, too." Nadeau has also filled in for Johnny Benson in the No. 10 Pontiac. $00:0200301934: $199:A0200301934 $01:Copyright 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co. $02:$?The Columbian $20:July 24, 2002, Wednesday $30:Sports; Pg. b3 $60:OWNER OF WAR EMBLEM LAID TO REST $90:JOHN R. BRADLEY, Associated Press writer $120: RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- A Saudi prince was killed in a car accident Tuesday while driving to the funeral of his cousin, Ahmed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the owner of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem. Prince Sultan bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah, a 41-year-old businessman, was killed near Riyadh, according to security officials and a statement from the Saudi royal family. Prince Ahmed died of a heart attack Monday at age 43, shocking the thoroughbred racing world. Joint funeral prayers were held for both princes at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque, the kingdom's largest. Ahmed and Sultan were buried side by side at Oudh cemetery in the capital. Sultan's mother and Ahmed's father are siblings of King Fahd. The accident occurred before dawn as Sultan was driving from the western Saudi town of Taif to Riyadh, according to a family friend. The high speed of the prince's car likely caused the accident, which involved another vehicle, according to security officials who spoke on the customary condition of anonymity. Sultan, an ex-military pilot who owned the Lu'lu health care-related business, died after arriving at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, where his cousin died Monday. Thousands of people lined Riyadh streets to watch the motorcade, led by the two ambulances carrying the princes' bodies followed by a stream of black Mercedes with relatives. Ahmed spent $900,000 to buy War Emblem just three weeks before the Kentucky Derby, after the horse won the Illinois Derby. The colt's wire-to-wire victory at Churchill Downs in May made Ahmed the first Arab to win America's most famous thoroughbred race. After winning the Preakness, War Emblem stumbled at the start of the Belmont Stakes, denying racing its first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The prince also owned Spain, the all-time female money winner. D. Wayne Lukas trained the fillies Sharp Cat and Spain for Ahmed. $00:0200301936: $199:A0200301936 $01:Copyright 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co. $02:$?The Columbian $20:July 24, 2002, Wednesday $30:Sports; Pg. b5 $60:BASEBALL REPORT: ROGERS REJECTS REDS, M'S BACK IN PICTURE $90:The Associated Press, $120: Kenny Rogers isn't going anywhere. Well, at least not Cincinnati anyway. While using his no-trade clause to veto a deal that would have sent him to the Reds, Rogers left the door open Tuesday to accept another deal that could arise. Seattle waits in the wings. "I wouldn't close the door on anything," Rogers said. "That doesn't mean it's open to anything either. This (Cincinnati) was not the right one for me. I don't know what tomorrow will bring." There could be further talks with Seattle. Rogers, who is 10-5 with a 3.39 ERA, is scheduled to pitch against the Mariners today. He pitched well against them last week. Seattle general manager Pat Gillick acknowledged interest. Rogers said the only reason he considered accepting the trade as long as he did is because it would benefit the Rangers. The Rangers may ask him to help out again. Should Seattle decide in the next week it is willing to expand its payroll for another pitcher, Rogers could be the Mariners' No. 1 target. "I know there are other teams out there besides Cincinnati," Rogers said. "There is always a need for good pitching, and I know I'm a good pitcher. I'm sure there are going to be other things come up. I just haven't thought about them yet." Around the majors Yanks' catcher hit with bat New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada was knocked flat and was cut on his left ear when he was hit with a bat during the fifth inning of Tuesday's game against the Indians. Yankees spokesman Rick Cerrone said Posada was taken to the hospital to get stitches on his ear. Cerrone said the injury was not serious. Closer Mariano Rivera will test his strained shoulder with a game of catch in the bullpen, a session that will be monitored closely by the Yankees. The disabled list is a possibility, but Rivera said his shoulder is already improving. Left-hander Sterling Hitchcock, out with a lower back injury, reported no problems after throwing 36 pitches in batting practice at the Yankees' minor league complex. Bonds to miss series Giants star Barry Bonds will likely miss the remainder of this week's series against St. Louis after an MRI test confirmed he had strained his right hamstring. Bonds hurt himself Sunday chasing a ball in left field at Los Angeles. He pinch-hit in the ninth inning of San Francisco's 5-3 loss to the Cardinals on Monday night and struck out swinging against Jason Isringhausen. The Giants and Cardinals play through Thursday. Bonds could miss the rest of the homestand, which ends Sunday. Jeff Kent and Reggie Sanders were also out of the Giants starting lineup on Tuesday. Kent is slowed by a mild strain of the upper left leg and Sanders left Monday night's game with a mild right hamstring strain. TRADES: Brewers trade Houston to Los Angeles Infielder Tyler Houston was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers by the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league pitchers Ben Diggins and Shane Nance. Houston, 31, was signed as a free agent on Jan. 17, 2000, and was hitting .302 with seven homers and 33 RBI. Milwaukee also will send the Dodgers a player to be named. n Snubbed by Kenny Rogers, the Cincinnati Reds went to a backup plan and acquired right-hander Brian Moehler from the Detroit Tigers in a five-player deal. The 30-year-old Moehler has made only three starts this season in a comeback from major shoulder surgery. He was expected to start today against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Reds exercise Bob Boone's contract option It appears Bob Boone will get to manage the Cincinnati Reds in their new ballpark. The Reds exercised the option on Boone's contract, giving him a chance to lead the transition to the Great American Ball Park, which is scheduled to open next season. The additional year was a reward for the Reds' unexpected success in the NL Central. The tight-budget club led the division for 51 days earlier this season and was 41/2 games behind St. Louis on Tuesday. Arbitrator upholds Lloyd's trade to Marlins An arbitrator ruled against Graeme Lloyd, ruling the former Montreal Expos reliever must accept his trade to the Florida Marlins. Lloyd, appalled by the prospect of pitching for Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria again, filed a grievance trying to reverse the eight-player deal that sent him to the Marlins on July 11. Lloyd said the swap violated a no-trade clause in his contract. It listed the Marlins as one of 12 teams he couldn't be traded to, but his agents missed a Nov. 1 deadline to submit teams he could block deals to in 2002. Around the horn n The Oakland Athletics recalled reliever Jeff Tam from Sacramento and optioned rookie right-hander Aaron Harang to their Triple-A affiliate. n The Minnesota Twins activated right-hander Bob Wells from the disabled list. Right-hander Kevin Frederick was sent to Triple-A Edmonton to make room on the roster. n Cleveland Indians closer Bob Wickman went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained forearm muscle. Wickman, who has been pitching with a sore elbow since spring training, never had been on the DL in his 10-year career. n Montreal Expos star right fielder Vladimir Guerrero came out of Tuesday night's game against the New York Mets with a bruised left knee after crashing into the wall to make a catch in the sixth inning. "He just banged his knee up," manager Frank Robinson said after Montreal's 4-3 loss. "He should be all right tomorrow." n Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Robert Person was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday after complaining of pain in his elbow and shoulder. n Ned Martin, the radio and television voice of the Boston Red Sox for 32 years, died Tuesday, a day after attending the Ted Williams tribute at Fenway Park. He was 78. n Two of Ted Williams' children withdrew their request to settle privately the dispute with their half sister over the Hall of Famer's remains. n Right-hander Seth Etherton was returned to the Cincinnati Reds after baseball voided his waiver claim by the New York Yankees. $00:0200301943: $199:A0200301943 $01:Copyright 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co. $02:$?The Columbian $20:July 24, 2002, Wednesday $30:Sports; Pg. b6 $60:PEPPERS GETS PANTHERS' BIGGEST DEAL $90:The Associated Press $120: The Carolina Panthers will have Julius Peppers in training camp on time. Now they have to figure out how to get second-round pick DeShaun Foster to show up when camp opens Friday. Peppers, the second overall pick in the NFL draft, agreed to terms on a seven-year contract that could be worth more than $50 million if incentives kick in, a source close to the negotiations said Tuesday on condition of anonymity. When he signs the contract, which was agreed to Monday, he's expected to receive a $13 million signing bonus. His deal tops Carolina's previous highest contract a seven-year, $46.5 million deal given to defensive tackle Sean Gilbert in 1998. Finishing up a deal with Peppers, a defensive end who is expected to be the cornerstone of Carolina's rebuilding effort, frees the Panthers to focus to Foster, a running back out of UCLA. "Right now we're not close to a deal with DeShaun, but that can all change with one phone call," general manager Marty Hurney said. Most first-round draft picks wait until just before training camp to sign and some will probably miss a few days. The top pick, quarterback David Carr, signed with expansion Houston the day he was chosen. The 31st overall selection, linebacker Robert Thomas, joined the St. Louis Rams on Tuesday, and the San Francisco 49ers agreed to a five-year, $6.4 million contract with defensive back Mike Rumph, who was taken with the 27th pick. Rumph signed in time to join his teammates for an afternoon practice Tuesday at the University of the Pacific on the 49ers' second day of training camp. Also Tuesday, wide receiver Javon Walker, Green Bay's top draft pick and 20th overall pick, signed a six-year, $9.5 million contract; First-rounders who signed earlier include tight end Daniel Graham of New England (the 21st pick), defensive end Bryan Thomas of the New York Jets (22nd), and linebacker Napoleon Harris of Oakland (23rd). Other rookies signing Tuesday included wide receiver Deion Branch, New England's second-round pick; fullback Verron Haynes and defensive end Brett Keisel, Pittsburgh's fifth- and seventh-round choices; tight end Terry Jones Jr., Baltimore's fifth-round pick; quarterback Randy Fasani, Carolina's fifth-round choice; and cornerback Kevin Thomas and wide receiver Rodney Wright, Buffalo's sixth- and seventh-round picks. Among other players agreeing to terms Tuesday was running back Terry Allen, a free agent who's with the New Orleans Saints for the second time. He will back up Deuce McAllister. The 34-year-old Allen also has played for Minnesota, Washington, New England and Baltimore during a career that began in 1990 with the Vikings as a ninth-round draft choice. $00:0200301945: $199:A0200301945 $01:Copyright 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co. $02:$?The Columbian $20:July 24, 2002, Wednesday $30:Sports; Pg. b6 $60:TROUBLED SPELLMAN FAILS TO SHOW UP AT COURT $90:The Associated Press $120: Former NFL defensive lineman Alonzo Spellman, who has a history of psychological and legal problems, failed to appear in court Tuesday to answer charges of drunken driving and destroying property. Spellman was arrested July 16 after Dearborn police received a report of a home invasion and reckless driving. He was released on $600 bond pending arraignment Tuesday in 19th District Court on misdemeanor charges of drunken driving, driving on a suspended license and destruction of property. Last Friday morning, Spellman wandered in traffic in Farmington Hills, dragging luggage and saying he wanted to go to Las Vegas. He got a ride to the Greyhound station in downtown Detroit and boarded a bus. Ravens owner recovering from mild stroke Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell remained hospitalized Tuesday for a mild stroke, but plans to attend the opening Friday of his 42nd training camp as an owner. Modell was resting at Johns Hopkins Hospital on Tuesday and was expected to be released today, team spokesman Chad Steele said. "He definitely wants to be at camp I don't know if Mrs. Modell wants him to be there we're just going to have to wait and see," Steele said. Bears assistant gets new deal Chicago Bears offensive coordinator John Shoop agreed to terms on a new three-year contract Tuesday. $00:0200301947: $199:A0200301947 $01:Copyright 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co. $02:$?The Columbian $20:July 24, 2002, Wednesday $30:Sports; Pg. b8 $60:EASY TO MISJUDGE $90:DOUG FERGUSON, Associated Press writer $100:golf $120: GULLANE, Scotland -- Now that Ernie Els finally has the silver claret jug, maybe it's time for him to lose his nickname. The Big Easy he isn't. He only appears that way because of his 6-foot-4 frame and a syrupy swing so natural it looks as though he's not even trying. The smile comes easily, too, making Els look more like a gentle giant than a guy capable of stepping into the ring with Tiger Woods. Don't be fooled. "People think, to look at him, he doesn't try too hard. But believe me, he does," said Nick Price, who knows Els better than most. There are times when Els dresses the part. He was the last man in the field to show up for the Match Play Championship early last year in Australia, a long way to go right after the holidays. The sun was setting on the final practice round, and tournament officials wondered whether he would even show up. Els pulled into the drive at Metropolitan Golf Club about 9 p.m., wearing shorts, beach sandals and a T-shirt. He slowly climbed out of the car and looked at the small entourage there to greet him, then popped open a beer and grinned. "Happy New Year, everybody," he said with that easy smile, before hopping into a cart to see the golf course for the first time just 18 hours before his first match (he won). There are times when there is nothing easy about Els. In 2000, in the clubhouse at Augusta National after missing three good birdie chances on the final holes and finishing three strokes behind Vijay Singh, he repeatedly slammed his fists onto the table and cursed. This is a man who doesn't take losing easily. He rarely will say he's proud of himself, or that he had an enjoyable week, after a major championship ends without his name on the trophy. Els only sounds like a pushover when he lavishes praise on Woods, when all he's doing is telling the truth. Woods is tough to beat. What else is there to say about a player who has won eight majors and 21 of his last 56 PGA Tour events? "When I've played well, Tiger still has beaten me. What do you do?" Els said last week before the British Open started. "You have to play better." Els has done his part. Getting the results hasn't been easy. After setting a record as the first player to be runner-up in three straight majors two of those to Woods by a combined 23 strokes Els was determined to challenge Woods last year. He played the first three events and played well enough to win them all. Instead, the best he could do was third, and he suffered his first winless season on the PGA Tour since he joined in 1994 after winning the U.S. Open. Back to work he went, and this time it paid off for a while, at least. He built an eight-stroke lead over Woods at Doral, then withstood a furious charge in the final round before hanging on for a two-stroke victory. It was his first PGA Tour victory with Woods in the field since the Nissan Open in 1999. "That counts even more in my book," he said. The majors continued to be elusive. Els was the only player to seriously challenge Woods on the back nine at the Masters. He was the butt of jokes, however, after trying one senseless shot after another at the 13th hole and taking an 8. "That fiasco at Augusta hurt him a bit," Price said. "He's just coming back from that." Els' victory in the British Open might push him over the hump. No, it wasn't a masterpiece at Muirfield. He led by three shots with five holes to play and was trailing by one stroke with two holes to play. The recovery was nearly as spectacular as his collapse. He pulled himself up and got into a four-man playoff. Four steady pars sent him into a sudden-death playoff with unheralded Thomas Levet of France. One brilliant bunker save under enormous pressure brought him a British Open title. "One of the hardest tournaments I've ever played," Els said. How much harder would it have been had Woods been in contention? That's stuff to be sorted out over a pint in the pub. Lest anyone believe Woods never would have folded on the back nine in a major, consider what happened at Medinah three years ago in the PGA Championship. Woods nearly wasted a five-stroke lead by playing four holes in 4 over. He wound up winning by one stroke over 19-year-old Sergio Garcia. Major championships are never easy to win. Els still hasn't beaten Woods in a head-to-head battle since Bay Hill in 1998, but he certainly took a small step in the right direction at Muirfield. Now all he has to do is keep winning, keep working, and make it harder for Woods to get in position for another shot at the Grand Slam. "I'm back on track," Els said. "I can now legitimately try to win the majors." He knows one thing. It won't be easy.
Michael Andretti has watched as many of CART's high-profile owners have left for the rival Indy Racing League. Andretti isn't ready to leave for the IRL and provide another blow to CART, but he is facing that possibility. Andretti, the winningest driver in CART history, is buying his own racing team but says his sponsorship will decide which of the rival open-wheel series he will compete in next year. Team Green owner Barry Green said Tuesday he was selling the team to his brother and Andretti, CART's career leader with 42 victories. Andretti will be the team's majority owner and chief executive, with Barry Green remaining as a consultant and minority partner. The new team will be known as Andretti Green Racing, effective Dec. 1. Andretti said he did not know whether the team might switch next season to the rival IRL series. "I don't have anything solid," Andretti said. "It is going to come down to the sponsors. But I would like to do Indianapolis. That is a race I really want." Cigarette brand Kool has been Team Green's major sponsor since 1998 and Motorola has been Andretti's top sponsor the past two years. "We don't have a signed sponsor," Andretti said. "We're going on the hope that what we're buying is going to sell itself. They've given us an indication that they're happy." Andretti, 39, holds the record for leading the most laps in the Indianapolis 500 without a victory. His best finishes in 13 Indy starts are a second in 1991 and a third in 2001. Last year's Indy 500 was Andretti's first since 1995, the year before the CART-IRL split. Green, whose team won the 1995 Indy 500 and CART title with Jacques Villeneuve, currently fields cars for Andretti, Paul Tracy and Dario Franchitti on the CART circuit. Green said he hoped Tracy and Franchitti would stay with the team, but that no decisions had been made. The team's headquarters will remain in Indianapolis. Green has battled with IRL officials since they disallowed Tracy's pass of Helio Castroneves on the next-to-last lap of this year's Indy 500. Green has maintained that Tracy completed the pass before a caution period was declared because of an accident behind the leaders. Green said the ruling had nothing to do with the decision to sell, but had not forgotten the disappointment. "I'm very bitter over the 500," he said. A decision by Andretti to defect from CART would be a serious blow to the struggling series. Andretti is likely the best-known driver in open-wheel racing, which has few American stars. Andretti said this was a critical time for CART, still reeling from other high-profile defections. Roger Penske, CART's most successful owner, switched his team, with drivers Castroneves and two-time CART champion Gil de Ferran, to the IRL this season largely because his sponsor, Marlboro, wanted be at the 500. Green founded his team with Gerry Forsythe in 1994 and has 19 CART victories as an owner. Nadeau to drive for Petty Jerry Nadeau finally got a full-time job Tuesday when Petty Enterprises hired him to drive the No. 44 Dodge for the rest of the season. Nadeau, out of regular work since he was released from Hendrick Motorsports in May, replaces Steve Grissom. He filled in once before this season for Grissom, nearly winning in Sears Point, Calif., before breaking a gear while leading with two laps to go. "We all saw what Jerry did at Sears Point, but that is the kind of racing he has been doing throughout his career," CEO Kyle Petty said. "He has won on fast superspeedways, is one of the best road racers out there, and is pretty good on short tracks, too." Nadeau has also filled in for Johnny Benson in the No. 10 Pontiac. $00:0200301934: $199:A0200301934 $01:Copyright 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co. $02:$?The Columbian $20:July 24, 2002, Wednesday $30:Sports; Pg. b3 $60:OWNER OF WAR EMBLEM LAID TO REST $90:JOHN R. BRADLEY, Associated Press writer $120: RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- A Saudi prince was killed in a car accident Tuesday while driving to the funeral of his cousin, Ahmed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the owner of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem. Prince Sultan bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah, a 41-year-old businessman, was killed near Riyadh, according to security officials and a statement from the Saudi royal family. Prince Ahmed died of a heart attack Monday at age 43, shocking the thoroughbred racing world. Joint funeral prayers were held for both princes at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque, the kingdom's largest. Ahmed and Sultan were buried side by side at Oudh cemetery in the capital. Sultan's mother and Ahmed's father are siblings of King Fahd. The accident occurred before dawn as Sultan was driving from the western Saudi town of Taif to Riyadh, according to a family friend. The high speed of the prince's car likely caused the accident, which involved another vehicle, according to security officials who spoke on the customary condition of anonymity. Sultan, an ex-military pilot who owned the Lu'lu health care-related business, died after arriving at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, where his cousin died Monday. Thousands of people lined Riyadh streets to watch the motorcade, led by the two ambulances carrying the princes' bodies followed by a stream of black Mercedes with relatives. Ahmed spent $900,000 to buy War Emblem just three weeks before the Kentucky Derby, after the horse won the Illinois Derby. The colt's wire-to-wire victory at Churchill Downs in May made Ahmed the first Arab to win America's most famous thoroughbred race. After winning the Preakness, War Emblem stumbled at the start of the Belmont Stakes, denying racing its first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The prince also owned Spain, the all-time female money winner. D. Wayne Lukas trained the fillies Sharp Cat and Spain for Ahmed. $00:0200301936: $199:A0200301936 $01:Copyright 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co. $02:$?The Columbian $20:July 24, 2002, Wednesday $30:Sports; Pg. b5 $60:BASEBALL REPORT: ROGERS REJECTS REDS, M'S BACK IN PICTURE $90:The Associated Press, $120: Kenny Rogers isn't going anywhere. Well, at least not Cincinnati anyway. While using his no-trade clause to veto a deal that would have sent him to the Reds, Rogers left the door open Tuesday to accept another deal that could arise. Seattle waits in the wings. "I wouldn't close the door on anything," Rogers said. "That doesn't mean it's open to anything either. This (Cincinnati) was not the right one for me. I don't know what tomorrow will bring." There could be further talks with Seattle. Rogers, who is 10-5 with a 3.39 ERA, is scheduled to pitch against the Mariners today. He pitched well against them last week. Seattle general manager Pat Gillick acknowledged interest. Rogers said the only reason he considered accepting the trade as long as he did is because it would benefit the Rangers. The Rangers may ask him to help out again. Should Seattle decide in the next week it is willing to expand its payroll for another pitcher, Rogers could be the Mariners' No. 1 target. "I know there are other teams out there besides Cincinnati," Rogers said. "There is always a need for good pitching, and I know I'm a good pitcher. I'm sure there are going to be other things come up. I just haven't thought about them yet." Around the majors Yanks' catcher hit with bat New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada was knocked flat and was cut on his left ear when he was hit with a bat during the fifth inning of Tuesday's game against the Indians. Yankees spokesman Rick Cerrone said Posada was taken to the hospital to get stitches on his ear. Cerrone said the injury was not serious. Closer Mariano Rivera will test his strained shoulder with a game of catch in the bullpen, a session that will be monitored closely by the Yankees. The disabled list is a possibility, but Rivera said his shoulder is already improving. Left-hander Sterling Hitchcock, out with a lower back injury, reported no problems after throwing 36 pitches in batting practice at the Yankees' minor league complex. Bonds to miss series Giants star Barry Bonds will likely miss the remainder of this week's series against St. Louis after an MRI test confirmed he had strained his right hamstring. Bonds hurt himself Sunday chasing a ball in left field at Los Angeles. He pinch-hit in the ninth inning of San Francisco's 5-3 loss to the Cardinals on Monday night and struck out swinging against Jason Isringhausen. The Giants and Cardinals play through Thursday. Bonds could miss the rest of the homestand, which ends Sunday. Jeff Kent and Reggie Sanders were also out of the Giants starting lineup on Tuesday. Kent is slowed by a mild strain of the upper left leg and Sanders left Monday night's game with a mild right hamstring strain. TRADES: Brewers trade Houston to Los Angeles Infielder Tyler Houston was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers by the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league pitchers Ben Diggins and Shane Nance. Houston, 31, was signed as a free agent on Jan. 17, 2000, and was hitting .302 with seven homers and 33 RBI. Milwaukee also will send the Dodgers a player to be named. n Snubbed by Kenny Rogers, the Cincinnati Reds went to a backup plan and acquired right-hander Brian Moehler from the Detroit Tigers in a five-player deal. The 30-year-old Moehler has made only three starts this season in a comeback from major shoulder surgery. He was expected to start today against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Reds exercise Bob Boone's contract option It appears Bob Boone will get to manage the Cincinnati Reds in their new ballpark. The Reds exercised the option on Boone's contract, giving him a chance to lead the transition to the Great American Ball Park, which is scheduled to open next season. The additional year was a reward for the Reds' unexpected success in the NL Central. The tight-budget club led the division for 51 days earlier this season and was 41/2 games behind St. Louis on Tuesday. Arbitrator upholds Lloyd's trade to Marlins An arbitrator ruled against Graeme Lloyd, ruling the former Montreal Expos reliever must accept his trade to the Florida Marlins. Lloyd, appalled by the prospect of pitching for Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria again, filed a grievance trying to reverse the eight-player deal that sent him to the Marlins on July 11. Lloyd said the swap violated a no-trade clause in his contract. It listed the Marlins as one of 12 teams he couldn't be traded to, but his agents missed a Nov. 1 deadline to submit teams he could block deals to in 2002. Around the horn n The Oakland Athletics recalled reliever Jeff Tam from Sacramento and optioned rookie right-hander Aaron Harang to their Triple-A affiliate. n The Minnesota Twins activated right-hander Bob Wells from the disabled list. Right-hander Kevin Frederick was sent to Triple-A Edmonton to make room on the roster. n Cleveland Indians closer Bob Wickman went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained forearm muscle. Wickman, who has been pitching with a sore elbow since spring training, never had been on the DL in his 10-year career. n Montreal Expos star right fielder Vladimir Guerrero came out of Tuesday night's game against the New York Mets with a bruised left knee after crashing into the wall to make a catch in the sixth inning. "He just banged his knee up," manager Frank Robinson said after Montreal's 4-3 loss. "He should be all right tomorrow." n Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Robert Person was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday after complaining of pain in his elbow and shoulder. n Ned Martin, the radio and television voice of the Boston Red Sox for 32 years, died Tuesday, a day after attending the Ted Williams tribute at Fenway Park. He was 78. n Two of Ted Williams' children withdrew their request to settle privately the dispute with their half sister over the Hall of Famer's remains. n Right-hander Seth Etherton was returned to the Cincinnati Reds after baseball voided his waiver claim by the New York Yankees. $00:0200301943: $199:A0200301943 $01:Copyright 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co. $02:$?The Columbian $20:July 24, 2002, Wednesday $30:Sports; Pg. b6 $60:PEPPERS GETS PANTHERS' BIGGEST DEAL $90:The Associated Press $120: The Carolina Panthers will have Julius Peppers in training camp on time. Now they have to figure out how to get second-round pick DeShaun Foster to show up when camp opens Friday. Peppers, the second overall pick in the NFL draft, agreed to terms on a seven-year contract that could be worth more than $50 million if incentives kick in, a source close to the negotiations said Tuesday on condition of anonymity. When he signs the contract, which was agreed to Monday, he's expected to receive a $13 million signing bonus. His deal tops Carolina's previous highest contract a seven-year, $46.5 million deal given to defensive tackle Sean Gilbert in 1998. Finishing up a deal with Peppers, a defensive end who is expected to be the cornerstone of Carolina's rebuilding effort, frees the Panthers to focus to Foster, a running back out of UCLA. "Right now we're not close to a deal with DeShaun, but that can all change with one phone call," general manager Marty Hurney said. Most first-round draft picks wait until just before training camp to sign and some will probably miss a few days. The top pick, quarterback David Carr, signed with expansion Houston the day he was chosen. The 31st overall selection, linebacker Robert Thomas, joined the St. Louis Rams on Tuesday, and the San Francisco 49ers agreed to a five-year, $6.4 million contract with defensive back Mike Rumph, who was taken with the 27th pick. Rumph signed in time to join his teammates for an afternoon practice Tuesday at the University of the Pacific on the 49ers' second day of training camp. Also Tuesday, wide receiver Javon Walker, Green Bay's top draft pick and 20th overall pick, signed a six-year, $9.5 million contract; First-rounders who signed earlier include tight end Daniel Graham of New England (the 21st pick), defensive end Bryan Thomas of the New York Jets (22nd), and linebacker Napoleon Harris of Oakland (23rd). Other rookies signing Tuesday included wide receiver Deion Branch, New England's second-round pick; fullback Verron Haynes and defensive end Brett Keisel, Pittsburgh's fifth- and seventh-round choices; tight end Terry Jones Jr., Baltimore's fifth-round pick; quarterback Randy Fasani, Carolina's fifth-round choice; and cornerback Kevin Thomas and wide receiver Rodney Wright, Buffalo's sixth- and seventh-round picks. Among other players agreeing to terms Tuesday was running back Terry Allen, a free agent who's with the New Orleans Saints for the second time. He will back up Deuce McAllister. The 34-year-old Allen also has played for Minnesota, Washington, New England and Baltimore during a career that began in 1990 with the Vikings as a ninth-round draft choice. $00:0200301945: $199:A0200301945 $01:Copyright 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co. $02:$?The Columbian $20:July 24, 2002, Wednesday $30:Sports; Pg. b6 $60:TROUBLED SPELLMAN FAILS TO SHOW UP AT COURT $90:The Associated Press $120: Former NFL defensive lineman Alonzo Spellman, who has a history of psychological and legal problems, failed to appear in court Tuesday to answer charges of drunken driving and destroying property. Spellman was arrested July 16 after Dearborn police received a report of a home invasion and reckless driving. He was released on $600 bond pending arraignment Tuesday in 19th District Court on misdemeanor charges of drunken driving, driving on a suspended license and destruction of property. Last Friday morning, Spellman wandered in traffic in Farmington Hills, dragging luggage and saying he wanted to go to Las Vegas. He got a ride to the Greyhound station in downtown Detroit and boarded a bus. Ravens owner recovering from mild stroke Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell remained hospitalized Tuesday for a mild stroke, but plans to attend the opening Friday of his 42nd training camp as an owner. Modell was resting at Johns Hopkins Hospital on Tuesday and was expected to be released today, team spokesman Chad Steele said. "He definitely wants to be at camp I don't know if Mrs. Modell wants him to be there we're just going to have to wait and see," Steele said. Bears assistant gets new deal Chicago Bears offensive coordinator John Shoop agreed to terms on a new three-year contract Tuesday. $00:0200301947: $199:A0200301947 $01:Copyright 2002 The Columbian Publishing Co. $02:$?The Columbian $20:July 24, 2002, Wednesday $30:Sports; Pg. b8 $60:EASY TO MISJUDGE $90:DOUG FERGUSON, Associated Press writer $100:golf $120: GULLANE, Scotland -- Now that Ernie Els finally has the silver claret jug, maybe it's time for him to lose his nickname. The Big Easy he isn't. He only appears that way because of his 6-foot-4 frame and a syrupy swing so natural it looks as though he's not even trying. The smile comes easily, too, making Els look more like a gentle giant than a guy capable of stepping into the ring with Tiger Woods. Don't be fooled. "People think, to look at him, he doesn't try too hard. But believe me, he does," said Nick Price, who knows Els better than most. There are times when Els dresses the part. He was the last man in the field to show up for the Match Play Championship early last year in Australia, a long way to go right after the holidays. The sun was setting on the final practice round, and tournament officials wondered whether he would even show up. Els pulled into the drive at Metropolitan Golf Club about 9 p.m., wearing shorts, beach sandals and a T-shirt. He slowly climbed out of the car and looked at the small entourage there to greet him, then popped open a beer and grinned. "Happy New Year, everybody," he said with that easy smile, before hopping into a cart to see the golf course for the first time just 18 hours before his first match (he won). There are times when there is nothing easy about Els. In 2000, in the clubhouse at Augusta National after missing three good birdie chances on the final holes and finishing three strokes behind Vijay Singh, he repeatedly slammed his fists onto the table and cursed. This is a man who doesn't take losing easily. He rarely will say he's proud of himself, or that he had an enjoyable week, after a major championship ends without his name on the trophy. Els only sounds like a pushover when he lavishes praise on Woods, when all he's doing is telling the truth. Woods is tough to beat. What else is there to say about a player who has won eight majors and 21 of his last 56 PGA Tour events? "When I've played well, Tiger still has beaten me. What do you do?" Els said last week before the British Open started. "You have to play better." Els has done his part. Getting the results hasn't been easy. After setting a record as the first player to be runner-up in three straight majors two of those to Woods by a combined 23 strokes Els was determined to challenge Woods last year. He played the first three events and played well enough to win them all. Instead, the best he could do was third, and he suffered his first winless season on the PGA Tour since he joined in 1994 after winning the U.S. Open. Back to work he went, and this time it paid off for a while, at least. He built an eight-stroke lead over Woods at Doral, then withstood a furious charge in the final round before hanging on for a two-stroke victory. It was his first PGA Tour victory with Woods in the field since the Nissan Open in 1999. "That counts even more in my book," he said. The majors continued to be elusive. Els was the only player to seriously challenge Woods on the back nine at the Masters. He was the butt of jokes, however, after trying one senseless shot after another at the 13th hole and taking an 8. "That fiasco at Augusta hurt him a bit," Price said. "He's just coming back from that." Els' victory in the British Open might push him over the hump. No, it wasn't a masterpiece at Muirfield. He led by three shots with five holes to play and was trailing by one stroke with two holes to play. The recovery was nearly as spectacular as his collapse. He pulled himself up and got into a four-man playoff. Four steady pars sent him into a sudden-death playoff with unheralded Thomas Levet of France. One brilliant bunker save under enormous pressure brought him a British Open title. "One of the hardest tournaments I've ever played," Els said. How much harder would it have been had Woods been in contention? That's stuff to be sorted out over a pint in the pub. Lest anyone believe Woods never would have folded on the back nine in a major, consider what happened at Medinah three years ago in the PGA Championship. Woods nearly wasted a five-stroke lead by playing four holes in 4 over. He wound up winning by one stroke over 19-year-old Sergio Garcia. Major championships are never easy to win. Els still hasn't beaten Woods in a head-to-head battle since Bay Hill in 1998, but he certainly took a small step in the right direction at Muirfield. Now all he has to do is keep winning, keep working, and make it harder for Woods to get in position for another shot at the Grand Slam. "I'm back on track," Els said. "I can now legitimately try to win the majors." He knows one thing. It won't be easy.
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