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Big Ben's Thursday Rumors & Notes

Baseball Rumors & Notes

The Red Sox' interest in free agent Andy Pettitte may result in a visit to Fenway Park by the New York Yankees left-handed pitcher as early as today or tomorrow. The team is also in the process of attempting to trade for Minnesota Twins lefty Eric Milton, according to two sources. Minnesota doesn't have to trade the 28-year-old but has been entertaining offers from the Sox, Yankees and Cubs and will deal him for the right price.

The prospect that Gary Sheffield will become the Yankees' next right fielder is beginning to take on a sense of inevitability. Sheffield wants to sign with the Yankees as much as George Steinbrenner wants to sign him, according to Dwight Gooden, who just happens to be Sheffield's uncle and a Yankees executive based in Tampa, Fla.

The Mariners are interested in Joe Randa, the only third baseman of note in the free-agent pool who is a close friend of Ibanez after three years together in Kansas City. "He's a good player, a good guy," said the newest Mariner, whose new team is in the market for a new left side of the infield. "He'd love to come here. He does like it here."

The Phillies have kept their lines of communication open with Arizona regarding Curt Schilling, but no trade is imminent. There is no chance the Phils will include Cole Hamels or Gavin Floyd in any deal for Schilling. The Phillies also have stayed in contact with Bartolo Colon's agent, although they prefer to avoid signing a free agent other than their own.

The Mets could wind up with a Seattle outfielder - even if free-agent Gold Glove winner Mike Cameron re-signs with the Mariners. If Cameron, who has drawn interest from the Mets, returns to play in a Mariners outfield with Ibanez and Ichiro Suzuki, Randy Winn would be expendable and could be non-tendered - or traded first. Other available players to potentially fill the outfield void include Reggie Sanders, Brian Jordan and Carlos Guillen.

The discomfited relationship between the Cardinals and 1B Tino Martinez could be over soon. The club is close to reaching an agreement with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on a deal that will send Martinez to the American League club. The return on Martinez, who is from the Tampa Bay area, remains a matter of some contention. The Cardinals will receive a minor-league player, possibly from Tampa's 40-man roster. Righthanded pitchers Dewon Brazelton, 23, and Jason Standridge, 25, are potential candidates.

Terry Francona was the second of three candidates to interview for the job two weeks ago and the 44-year-old now appears to have moved ahead of Los Angeles coach Glenn Hoffman, who interviewed before him, and Anaheim coach Joe Maddon, who interviewed after him during the general managers' meetings in Arizona. The Sox still intend to speak with two more candidates, but unless they are blown away by the remaining interviewees, Francona likely will be named as the 44th manager in team history. Former White Sox manager Jerry Manuel, who is one of four finalists for the Cincinnati Reds managerial job, could emerge as a candidate in Boston. The same goes for former Milwaukee manager Davey Lopes and former Toronto manager Cito Gaston.

Even as the Red Sox zeroed in on Terry Francona as a top contender in their hunt for a new manager, they indicated last night they are weighing additional options, with former Astros manager Larry Dierker notable among them.

In two weeks, Barry Bonds is scheduled to appear at a federal courthouse in San Francisco, where he will face questions that have nothing to do with the most-valuable-player award. The San Francisco Giant slugger will become the most prominent in a procession of famous athletes who have gone before a grand jury to discuss their possible connection to a nutritional supplement company suspected of dealing steroids.

The Angels appear to be a prime contender for pitcher Bartolo Colon, their top target among free agents. Colon's agent, Mitch Frankel, said Wednesday he has met with General Manager Bill Stoneman and identified the Angels as one of five teams in the running to sign the pitcher. Ben's Take: Colon would be the pitching version of Mo Vaughn if he showed up in Anaheim.

Even with rookie David DeJesus waiting in the wings, the Royals plan to shop for a new left fielder in the free-agent market after losing Raul Ibanez to the Seattle Mariners. Possibilities include Juan Gonzalez and Reggie Sanders, two veterans the Royals pursued last summer in the playoff push.

Curt Schilling hosted his third annual golf tournament to benefit ALS research on Wednesday and pledged to maintain his charitable efforts in the Valley even if he consents to a trade. Terry Francona, who managed the Phillies during Schilling's final 3 1/2 seasons there, is a finalist for the Boston managerial job. If he is hired, his relationship with Schilling could mean another possible destination for the right-hander.

Mets pitcher Al Leiter was asked if he'd be surprised if Mike Piazza was playing in a different uniform next season, and he said yes. He said he'd also be surprised if A-Rod was with the Mets. Still, he downplayed his thoughts. "Opinions are opinions - they really don't matter," he said. "I would be surprised, but what does that mean?"

It will be difficult for the Astros to win a bidding war with the Yankees and Red Sox for Andy Pettitte's services, but McLane hopes Ausmus' return helps entice the star lefthander. Although another meeting has not been set, McLane hopes to meet again with Pettitte and agents Randy and Alan Hendricks. "No. 1, he's from Houston, and he has three children," McLane said of Pettitte.

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said Joe Mauer will have to earn the starting catching position and beat out Matthew LeCroy and Rob Bowen, but no doubt Mauer is the favorite going in.

Right-hander Kevin Appier is ahead of schedule in efforts to recover from elbow surgery and could sign a free-agent contract as soon as today. Appier, 35, represents a minimal-risk for the Royals because he is already guaranteed $12 million next season from Anaheim in concluding a four-year, $42 million deal. The Royals are likely to invest little more than the $300,000 major-league minimum.

The Padres gained sole negotiating rights to right-handed reliever Akinori Ohtsuka of Japan's Chunichi Dragons. And Towers made another pitch to the agent for Rod Beck. Towers today will be awaiting a call from Beck's agent, Rick Thurmond.

The A's believe they have a future star in Jeremy Brown, but he probably isn't ready. Brown hasn't played above Double-A but made a strong impression during spring training. Pittsburgh's Jason Kendall reportedly is available, but his contract may be too much to absorb. Former Giants catcher Benito Santiago and Brent Mayne, who played with the A's in 1997, both are free agents and would be better fits financially.

The best-case scenario would be for Kaz Matsui to agree to play second base -- which he might -- and the Mets could avoid the problem of moving Reyes. The Mets are also considering signing Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo and may just go with him.

John Franco said yesterday that contract talks with the Mets were only in the preliminary stages, but that he would definitely pitch somewhere next year, even if it wasn't the Mets. "I'm going to pitch," he said. "I plan on pitching."

Trading Tino Martinez does not necessarily mean the Cardinals will move MVP runner-up Albert Pujols to first base next season. General manager Walt Jocketty indicated recently that it is in the club's best interests to keep its options open. Several first basemen are available in the ever-bulging free agent market. Besides Derek Lee, they include Anaheim's Scott Spiezio, son of former Cardinal Ed Spiezio, San Francisco's J.T. Snow, son of Rams broadcaster Jack Snow, and Atlanta's Robert Fick.

By saving money on their two trades, the A's appear to be positioning themselves better to re- sign free-agent Keith Foulke. The Mets, meanwhile, have expressed interest in free-agent Ugueth Urbina.

One Yankee official described Arthur Rhodes as a "high priority" and acknowledged that adding him and re-signing Felix Heredia would overload their bullpen from the left side. To that end, they are looking to trade Chris Hammond, who has one year and $2.6 million left on his contract. They had conversations last week with the San Diego Padres about Hammond.

Korean slugger Lee Seung-Yeop was arriving in Seattle for a look around the city and ballpark. The Mariners may be looking at the 27-year-old first baseman as a possible replacement for John Olerud in a year or two. Lee hit an Asian-record 56 homers last season and has averaged more than 40 in his eight years with the Samsung Lions.

Rusty Greer is being inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame tonight. That's an honor that's usually accorded a player only after his career is over. Greer is not ready for that. He still has big plans for the future, which not only include playing again as early as the end of the 2004 season but also returning to a leadership role in the Rangers' fractured clubhouse. That's something that manager Buck Showalter has been urging Greer to do.

Attorneys moved into the final stages of a settlement Wednesday for Ulice Payne Jr. to leave his position as president and chief executive officer of the Milwaukee Brewers, but a final agreement was not completed.

A long-stalled agreement allowing the Cubs to phase in 12 more night games over the next three years finally was introduced at the City Council meeting Wednesday. But there's another snag: Mayor Daley still is sitting on the sideline.

Pirates director of player development Brian Graham, one of four finalists for the vacant Cincinnati Reds managerial job, interviewed Wednesday in Cincinnati.

Lou Whitaker said he hoped he could continue to assist Alan Trammell and the Tigers once spring training ended. "I don't want to just work with the guys in spring training and that's it," Whitaker said. "I'd like to keep up with them on a day-to-day basis after that. "There are a lot of things that I can do for the team. It all depends on what Tram wants me to do. Whatever that is, I'm ready to do."

Jason Boyd has yet to appear in a Pirates uniform since he was claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Indians, but he has been arrested twice in the past month after being involved in fights.

NFL Rumors & Notes

A day after being deactivated by the Buccaneers for the remainder of the season for what the team called insubordination, Keyshawn Johnson said the Cowboys and New England Patriots are his preferred landing spots next season. Salary-cap constraints keep Tampa Bay from releasing Johnson immediately.

Bears QB Chris Chandler contends he wasn't prepared to play quarterback in the NFL as a rookie, McNair wasn't, Vick wasn't, and, no, the Bears' Rex Grossman isn't either. Much to the chagrin of fans looking for a savior during this lost Bears season, Chandler politely suggests more patience.

Observers around the league seem convinced that the Redskins will be one of the offseason suitors for WR Keyshawn Johnson, whom the Tampa Bay Buccaneers deactivated for the remainder of the season Tuesday. The Buccaneers intend to trade or release him following the season. But Redskins officials said they would be unlikely to make a strong push to acquire Johnson, especially if the price tag is hefty.

With six weeks left in the NFL season, time is running out on a possible return for rookie first-round draft pick Charles Rogers, who broke his right clavicle on Oct. 13 in practice during the Detroit Lions' bye week.

Fingers are again being pointed at Cowboys QB Quincy Carter. The midseason Comeback Player of the Year and team offensive MVP is now supposedly one of the reasons the Cowboys can't score. It's a roller-coaster ride that the oft-maligned Carter has taken before, and the three-year veteran refuses to be caught up again in the ebb and flow.

The New York Yankees are not expected to place minor-league prospect Drew Henson on their 40-man roster today, fueling speculation the 23-year-old will give up baseball to pursue a career in the NFL. The Texans used a sixth-round selection on Henson and own his rights until next year's draft. Henson batted just .234 with 14 homers, 78 RBIs and 122 strikeouts for Class AAA Columbus.

WR Chad Johnson would like to see cousin Keyshawn Johnson in a Bengals uniform. "That would be fun. The more weapons, the better," Chad Johnson said of the possibility of playing alongside his cousin. "I don't think they'd have enough balls to go around." "That would be fun. The more weapons, the better," Chad Johnson said of the possibility of playing alongside his cousin. "I don't think they'd have enough balls to go around."

Don't think the Patriots are done exploring their options at wide receiver. A day after signing J.J. Stokes, the Patriots last night were considering bringing Dedric Ward back into the fold. The Pats are seriously banged up at receiver, and they're apparently looking for any viable reinforcements.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Keyshawn Johnson told The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., that the Dolphins are one of four teams he would like to play for next year. The Buccaneers announced Tuesday that Johnson would be deactivated for the rest of the season because of a series of problems with Coach Jon Gruden.

Asked if the Jaguars would be interested in Keyshawn Johnson after the season, Jack Del Rio said: "There's really no reason to sit here and speculate and discuss somebody who is on another [team's] roster. There's no point in it."

Jim Fassel, who has one year remaining on his contract and is due $2.7 million next year, almost certainly will be fired or receive a contract extension at season's end. The Giants do not go into a season with a lame-duck coach. Fassel, who is 58-47-1 and has been to the playoffs three times in seven seasons, would want to continue as an NFL head coach elsewhere if he is not retained. "I'm not burnt on coaching, not at all," he said.

Miami Dolphins Coach Dave Wannstedt said Wednesday he may not announce until just before kickoff whether QB Jay Fiedler or Brian Griese will start Sunday night's home game against the Washington Redskins.

Let the Brian Dawkins watch begin. Three days after returning to the playing field for the first time since the season opener, the Eagles' all-pro free safety was still too sore to take part in practice yesterday at the NovaCare Complex. That development immediately raised concern about whether Dawkins will be able to play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Ravens right tackle Orlando Brown addressed "Showergate" for the final time yesterday, saying he has no problem with his position coach, Jim Colletto. Colletto and Brown reportedly had an argument in the locker room following the loss to the Dolphins. Brown and Ethan Brooks have been rotating at right tackle through much of the season.

Before the season, Steelers center Jeff Hartings wasn't sure if his sore knees would allow him to play next season. Now, he said he feels better than he has felt since 2001 and a return in 2004 is on his agenda.

QB Patrick Ramsey sat out the Washington Redskins' practice yesterday because of his sore right foot, and said it is possible the injury will require surgery following the season.

WR Kevin Johnson said he was happy to wind up in Jacksonville, and the Trenton, N.J., native confirmed published reports that his agents told some teams not to claim him. A total of 16 teams wound up claiming him. "It's over now. I just wish not to talk about it. I'm an East Coast guy, and I didn't want to go to a West Coast team. That was the situation," he said. He also didn't want to address the question of whether he would chose to opt out of his contract after the 2004 season and become a free agent.

All along, Leonard Little was hoping the recovery time from his torn pectoral muscle would be two to three weeks. But this Sunday marks four weeks and counting for the Rams defensive end.

Cowboys RB Troy Hambrick does not watch TV, unless we're talking Jeopardy, and he has given up on listening to sports-talk radio and reading sports pages. "But I would have to be an idiot not to know what they are saying," he said. What they are saying is, while Hambrick's stats haven't exactly demonstrated feature-back potential, he has excelled at blitz pickup and is good in short-yardage situations and when playing a Richie Anderson-like role. They are wondering if Hambrick would be willing to do that role. His answer: absolutely.

Bears coach Dick Jauron was asked if he was concerned that kicker Paul Edinger would mind his use of the word "slump" to describe the last two games. Edinger has missed two field goals within range that might have affected the outcomes. He also had a kick blocked. "I don't know what else you want to call it, you can call it anything you want," Jauron said. "That's not natural for Paul. It's just not the way he has kicked for us and I don't expect it to keep going."

Banging his hand on teammate Mike Wahle's shoulder pads Sunday did not worsen the condition of Brett Favre's broken thumb, but it didn't make it feel a whole lot better either. The Green Bay Packers quarterback sat out practice Wednesday to give the thumb an extra day of rest as he and the team prepare for the San Francisco 49ers. It was the fourth Wednesday practice Favre has missed or practiced sparingly in since breaking the thumb Oct. 19.

Ravens RB Jamal Lewis: "I feel like the sexiest woman in the world," said Lewis, who leads the NFL in rushing with 1,247 yards as the Ravens prepare to host Seattle on Sunday. "Everybody wants to get me." But despite looking almost invincible over the first half of the season and becoming just the fifth player to rush for 1,000 yards in eight games, Lewis has failed to rush for 100 yards in two of his past three games and had more difficulty holding on to the ball.

Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis has distributed black T-shirts bearing the words "One Heartbeat" to all Bengals players and support employees. "One Heartbeat" is Lewis' theme for the 2003 team.

The girlfriend of William Green was arrested Wednesday night and charged with stabbing the Cleveland Browns running back. Green spent the day at two hospitals after receiving a stab wound in the back, beneath his left shoulder blade. The wound was serious enough, though, that Green was taken by ambulance from St. John's Westshore Hospital in Westlake to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland

Coach Steve Spurrier said yesterday he will resume being the Washington Redskins' primary offensive play-caller for Sunday night's game at Miami. He had given that duty to offensive coordinator Hue Jackson in the team's last two games.

Jon Gruden and Rich McKay discussed several options before deciding to deactivate Keyshawn Johnson for the remaining six games. They could have suspended and fined him, which likely would have put the Bucs and Johnson in a grievance hearing at the NFL office in New York. They could have benched him, which they feared would result in a postgame tirade before the media. That's why Gruden sought and received the approval of the NFL Management Council before making the move Tuesday.

Grady Jackson has significantly raised the level of play on the defensive line in the two games he has played for the Packers.

The troubles of two Metro police officers may prove to be good news for Tennessee Titans QB Steve McNair. The Metro Police Department, in bringing administrative charges against two of its own officers for their actions surrounding McNair's May DUI arrest, has given the star quarterback's lawyer some mighty ammunition in his defense, local attorneys said yesterday.

Steelers WR Hines Ward has a swollen tongue, and that should be a lesson to all football players at all levels: Wear you're mouth guards. Ward said he does not wear one, and he paid the price when he dived for a pass Monday night in San Francisco, landed on his head and bit his tongue.

Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler practices for the first time since an Oct. 19 knee injury and hopes to vie for playing time with Brian Griese against the Redskins.

Aiming to add giddy-up to an anemic passing attack, Falcons coach Dan Reeves picked Doug Johnson to start at quarterback Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Johnson was benched after starting the Falcons' first six games, when he led the NFL with 10 interceptions. But after watching Kurt Kittner complete just 38.1 percent of his passes in his first four pro starts, Reeves has decided to go back to Johnson.

There's still a buzz around the Jets about the job receiver Jonathan Carter did against the Colts on Sunday, compiling 304 total yards and two touchdowns in the game on a 62-yard scoring reception and 242 yards in kickoff yardage on six runbacks, including a 90-yard score.

The entire New Orleans Saints organization attended a funeral service Wednesday morning for Grace Benson, the wife of team owner Tom Benson, at St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter.

Kenny Mixon and Kevin Williams walked off the Vikings' practice field Wednesday, smiling and focusing on the game they're paid to play. That's exactly what defensive coordinator George O'Leary wanted to see. Both defensive ends were arrested this week for driving under the influence.

QB Donovan McNabb was voted the Eagles' man of the year by the team's fans. It's an annual award given to a player for his charitable work and for being a positive role model to children living in the Philadelphia area.

Fantasy Football Note: Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 93.7 against the Steelers. If that were one quarterback, he would rank fourth in the AFC in passer rating.

Week 12 Fantasy Football guru... And even more Fantasy Stuff

Rams RB Marshall Faulk wore No. 31 instead of his usual 28 in practice on Wednesday, perhaps a nod to running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery, who wore 31 in his playing days. But as usual, Faulk was coy with the media in explaining the jersey switch, citing "history" as the reason.

After three months of leaning on the elevator button, rookie David Kircus finally got what he wanted: The door is open. The Lions cleared the way for Kircus' long-awaited NFL debut Wednesday when they signed him to an NFL contract, moving him from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. And, as coach Steve Mariucci noted, he will play Sunday at Minnesota. Finally.

Little eyes will be watching Adrian Murrell on Sunday when he plays for the Dallas Cowboys against the Carolina Panthers. Less than a month ago, Murrell was living in Cornelius, just north of Charlotte, helping coach the Lake Norman Giants, a Pop Warner "Mitey Mites" football team for boys ages 7 and 8. His NFL career seemed over. He hadn't been on a regular-season roster in two years. But then his former coach, Bill Parcells, invited him to join the Cowboys.

Unless there's a setback, Marvel Smith likely will start at LT for the Steelers and two-time All-Pro Alan Faneca will return home to LG for the game Sunday in Cleveland. Smith has missed six of the past seven games with a pinched nerve in his neck, and Faneca moved to LT, where he started the past five games.

The Carolina Panthers' defensive line is a lot hairier these days. Those D-linemen have decided to grow full beards. They've been working on them for several weeks and most of them are coming in nicely. "It's just one of those solidarity things," tackle Brentson Buckner said Wednesday.

Ever hear of Cookie Gilchrist? His story is kinda like Keyshawn's. Ten weeks into the 1964 season, Gilchrist was leading the American Football League in rushing when the Buffalo Bills abruptly fired him. The Bills were the defending champs — just like Tampa Bay — but Cookie felt they weren't calling his number enough. So after carrying only five times in the first half of a loss to Boston, he told his backup to take his place. Two days later, the club waived him.

NBA Rumors & Notes

The Raptors are holding up a deal that would send Morris Peterson and another player to the Knicks for Othella Harrington. Toronto needs an inside scoring presence, while Peterson could be used as either a shooting guard or small forward. Van Horn's injury underscores the Knicks' need to add a proven scorer.

Magic star Tracy McGrady sat out Wednesday's practice. He walked gingerly and wore shower sandals instead of gym shoes. It's his aching back -- again. McGrady says he will play tonight, but the Magic are wondering just how effective he'll be against the Phoenix Suns.

Glen Taylor the Timberwolves' owner is worried about Michael Olowokandi's injuries, which have been a factor in his lack of production since he signed a three-year, $16.2 million deal to be the starting center this season. The No. 1 overall pick in 1998 NBA draft has done little this season. Injuries to both knees have him spending an increasing amount of time on the bench, causing his game to suffer on both ends of the court.

Don Chaney, perhaps buoyed by the impending return of Antonio McDyess, says the Knicks are going to make the playoffs.

Knicks forward Keith Van Horn sat out last night's loss against the Lakers, and could miss as much as five more games, leaving coach Don Chaney with no options at the backup small forward/big guard spots with Shandon Anderson plugged into the starting lineup.

Magic General Manager John Gabriel said the club is looking for an experienced coach who can advise Johnny Davis, perhaps a basketball Yoda. It will be the first time in 339 regular-season games that someone other than Rivers has coached the club. "The foundation is set," Davis said. "Doc Rivers put in a solid foundation.

Toronto's Alvin Williams entered last night's game shooting just 21.2 percent from the field. As for getting on the same page as O'Neill, Williams said that it's a matter of working hard to learn the new coach's system. O'Neill said that Williams has been playing better lately and that he will continue to improve as the ankle gets stronger.

Bulls forward Tyson Chandler missed practice Wednesday to consult a physical therapist about his sore lower back, and coach Bill Cartwright doesn't sound optimistic about Chandler's availability for the game Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Paul Pierce on his Celtics being 5-6 and without Antoine Walker. `You play with a guy so long and then all of a sudden you're not with your right-hand man,'' he said.``It's like everything seemed like it turned into a 360-degree twirl. A lot of the focus is definitely on me. I'm going through my growing pains, just learning how can I make this team better. That's just something I'm still learning. I haven't quite figured it out yet, but I think in time it'll come

If Bobby Sura can keep his energy up and the soreness in his back down, he will replace Jon Barry as a Pistons fan favorite off the bench.

Still steamed over Shaquille O'Neal's foul trouble against the Pistons, Phil Jackson went on record again with his support for a no-foul-out policy in the NBA. He cited a policy in the CBA in which all fouls beyond six were punishable with free throws and the ball out of bounds.

Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas was involved in a minor car accident on his way to MCI Center for last night's game with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thomas, who has endured injuries throughout his three-year career, was not hurt after being lightly rear-ended on New York Avenue coming from his home in Prince George's County.

Bracing for the worst, Larry Brown expects a chilly reception in Philadelphia next week because of comments he made to the Free Press that he said other media had misinterpreted. "It's going to be a killer," Brown was quoted as saying about Wednesday's game in Philadelphia. "Especially in light of so many of the things I've heard said and how people interpreted some of the things I supposedly said. "It's been miserable since I left, and that's been hard for me, too, because we lived there. My family is a part of the community, and there are guys on that team that I really care about."

Guard Dwyane Wade's college coach, Marquette's Tom Crean, watched the Heat lose to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday and barely recognized his former player. That prompted the coach to make a quick phone call to Wade, who led Marquette to the Final Four last season. ''He told me I wasn't playing like myself,'' Wade said of the conversation. ``Like I was just out there playing and not being a factor.''

Frank Williams led the Knicks with 14 points last night, which was probably inevitable, since everyone else was in foul trouble. Of course, the Lakers weren't impressed, and Kobe Bryant claimed he had never heard of him before. "He just got lucky," Shaquille O'Neal said. "If he plays well in the next game, then I'll take him seriously." That couldn't diminish Williams' excitement: "I grew up playing with all of them on video games," he said of the Lakers.

Spurs guard Anthony Carter, 28, was announced as the first national spokesman for the I Have a Dream Foundation, a group that mentors students in at-risk schools, helping them complete high school and college. "I will help spread the word — and show by my own example — just how far a kid who might just be another statistic can go with the right support," Carter said as he stood before a bank of TV cameras at the Spurs' practice facility.

Freddy Adu, a 14-year-old who signed a contract to play professional soccer, said NBA Commissioner David Stern is wrong to seek a minimum age requirement for his league. ''If you're good enough, you're old enough,'' Adu said in an interview at Madison Square Garden, where Major League Soccer announced it had signed the teenager who emigrated from Ghana to the United States in 1997. Stern has said he wants to establish a minimum age of 20 to prevent players from skipping college for the NBA, even though some of the league's top players came directly from high school.

In Los Angeles, you have maps of the stars. In New York, you have seating charts of the stars. The Knicks put out a "Photo Tip Sheet" before each game, Wednesday's touting the section, row and seat numbers of P. Diddy, Ashanti, Jay-Z, Whoopi Goldberg, Denzel Washington and Derek Jeter, among others.

ESPN picked up the Nov. 28 game at Detroit, meaning the Cavaliers now are scheduled to be on national television 15 times this season. It is a response to a poor start by the Orlando Magic, who are 1-10 and just fired coach Doc Rivers. ESPN switched from a Magic-Raptors game to feature the Cavs and Pistons.

Knick brass turned down several media requests for last night's game against Kobe Bryant's Lakers, including Celebrity Justice, Access Hollywood, Star Magazine and the Maury Povich Show. "If we didn't credential them for this game last year, we don't see a need to credential them this year," Knick P.R. chief Joe Favorito said.

That's the latest brainstorm from Dallas Mavs owner Mark Cuban. Interviewed by wwe.com, Cuban talked about the fierce rivalries found in pro wrestling and said the NBA should exploit similar rivalries among its players. Said Mark: "If [players] don't like each other, you shouldn't try to hide it; you should try to build on it."

College Rumors & Notes

Minnesota defensive coordinator George O'Leary is being rumored as a candidate to replace Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville should Tuberville be fired or resign. O'Leary said he has not been contacted and would not pursue the job without the permission of Tice. "I'm focused on the Vikings," O'Leary said.

Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden said yesterday that Clemson should make a clear choice: come out and support Tommy Bowden by extending his contract, or "do him a favor" and fire him.

Giants defensive coordinator Johnnie Lynn will interview Saturday with University of Arizona officials, including the president and athletic director, who will travel here. Lynn is on the short list of candidates for the Wildcats' head-coaching vacancy.

USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow said Wednesday that he would meet with Arizona Athletic Director Jim Livengood after USC plays UCLA on Saturday to discuss the job opening in Tucson. Ben's Take: One of these stories is false... How can Livengood be in Tucson and New York for interviews on Saturday?

Despite all the conventional wisdom that he is gone — Washington WR Reggie Williams insists he has yet to make a decision. He insists that he will sit down with his parents shortly after the season to sort things out, and that he isn't putting too much thought into the idea that Saturday's Apple Cup could be the last game of his UW career.

Tommy Bowden will be back for a sixth season as Clemson's football coach, unless he decides otherwise. Since the Tigers' 45-17 loss at Wake Forest on Nov. 1, Bowden has been grilled more often than hot dogs at a tailgate party. At his weekly news conference Tuesday, the affable son of college football's all-time winningest coach, finally reached a breaking point.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are 10-1 heading into Saturday's showdown against Michigan, but they also lead the nation in skeptics. The Buckeyes beat Iowa, Purdue and San Diego State without scoring an offensive touchdown. They needed overtime to beat North Carolina State and Purdue, beat an awful Penn State team by a point and beat Bowling Green by a touchdown. The Buckeyes really outdid themselves against Iowa, scoring on a blocked punt return for a touchdown, a punt return for a touchdown, a safety and a field goal. For those scoring at home, that's Defense 16, Offense 3. Of 117 Division I-A teams, Ohio State is 98th in total offense. Most amazing of all: The Buckeyes' opponents have earned 15 more first downs than Ohio State. This is why people call them the Luckeyes.

While Notre Dame explores a potentially historic move to full conference membership, football included, one potential destination could be crystallizing: the Big Ten. A league athletic director familiar with the situation confirms that Big Ten officials recently had "some conversation" with Notre Dame, which also has approached the Atlantic Coast Conference. Talks are far from the serious stage, the official said, noting the Big Ten refuses to address the issue until the school formally decides and declares it will make a move.

Michigan RB Chris Perry could become a Heisman Trophy finalist with a big game against the Ohio State No. 1 ranked rush defense.

Second only to Peyton Manning in victories among UT quarterbacks, Casey Clausen still has a hard time winning over Vols fans.

UCLA's Dave Ball, the NCAA sacks leader with 15 ½, and Oklahoma's Dan Cody head the list of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award given to the nation's top defensive end.

The only other ACC coaching job that may be up for grabs after the season is that at Duke, where interim head coach Ted Roof -- who took over when Carl Franks was fired in midseason -- has the Blue Devils playing better, but that might not be enough.

If Texas Tech QB B.J. Symons isn't at the Heisman Trophy ceremony as a finalist, it will be an injustice.

Washington coach Keith Gilbertson has tried to stay as far away from the controversies surrounding the UW athletic department as he can. And yesterday, he said he did not want to answer any more questions about the events of Tuesday, when he received a letter of admonishment for his "participation or knowledge" of college-football pools and was attacked by former coach Rick Neuheisel.

Harsh reality No. 1: The "new" Big East -- Cincinnati, South Florida, Louisville, Pitt, WVU, Syracuse, Rutgers, Connecticut -- has one team, No. 25 Pitt, ranked among the BCS Top 25. Harsh reality No. 2: The Mid-American has two teams, No. 20 Bowling Green and No. 12 Miami (Ohio), ranked in the BCS top 25.

Maryland Athletic Director Debbie Yow and ACC Commissioner John Swofford will lead a small group into ABC's New York offices Friday in the first installment of the league's efforts to renegotiate its football television contract for next year, when Miami and Virginia Tech join. Barry Frank, a veteran television negotiator, will join them but doesn't think there will be significant progress made this early in the game.

Ben Howland inherited more than the roster when he became the Bruin basketball coach. He also was handed the 2003-04 schedule, and some of it is not to his liking. He doesn't like waiting until Nov. 29 to open. But that is a minor quibble compared to the long UCLA tradition of filling Pacific 10 Conference bye dates with challenging nonconference games on the East Coast.

The University of Georgia won't salute Vince Dooley on Saturday because the university president has made it his sworn duty to give Dooley the gate. That's OK. There'll be other games, other seasons. And there's a way to ensure that Dooley is honored long after this preening president is gone. Sanford-Dooley Stadium

For the fifth consecutive time, Notre Dame's football program is the most popular in America, according to The Harris Poll. The results come from a representative sample of 751 adult college football fans surveyed online by Harris Interactive in October.

The latest example of what's wrong with Division I-A college football: For nearly 20 years, Jeff Sagarin has contributed ratings of all sports to USA Today. His statistical acumen is so highly regarded, his college football rankings are one of the elements included in the Bowl Championship Series. He has Oklahoma first, followed by Southern Cal and Ohio State. That's OK. But here's the problem. In his latest rankings, Miami of Ohio is fourth. Look, the Mid-American Conference is a nice league and the RedHawks are 9-1. But fourth best in the country? My god.

A substantial monetary gift from the estate of deceased basketball star Wilt Chamberlain will be presented to the University of Kansas during halftime of Friday night's game against Tennessee-Chattanooga. A source close to the situation said the donation, which is less than $1 million, will go toward KU's basketball and volleyball teams as well as scholarships for underprivileged students.

Joey Williams will and playing college football this weekend. Williams, who at 44 years old may be the oldest player in college football. Williams teammate and roommate is his 21-year-old son, Kyle. What started out as a middle-aged man's dream has turned out better than he could have imagined. The third-team offensive guard will play with his son on Saturday for Lambuth (9-2) when they visit Dickinson State (10-0) in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.

Since the mid-1990s, women's college basketball has broken down into two divisions: Tennessee and Connecticut, and then everyone else. As the sport continues to grow nationally in scope and vision, more schools are making significant commitments to their programs, financially and otherwise, but that has done little to change the picture at the top.

Odd Notes & Stuff

Doc Rivers sure didn't waste any time bouncing back into the national spotlight. Thirty-six hours after being fired by the Magic with two years left on his $5.5 million contract, he got himself a top job and marquee money - in TV. Rivers yesterday committed to being ABC's lead NBA analyst over the outstretched invitation of TNT, The Post has learned. Both networks, especially ABC, which was on the precipice of entrusting the microphone to Mark Jackson, pushed hard for Rivers to make a swift decision. Now Rivers will be Michaels' partner for nine regular-season games and the playoffs, culminating with a Finals flourish.

Industry sources said Keyshawn Johnson and his representative approached Fox Sports executives yesterday asking if they were interested in using the receiver on the network's "NFL Sunday" pregame show. Johnson's pitch was made by phone to Fox Sports president/executive producer Ed Goren and "NFL Sunday" producer Scott Ackerson.

Marv Albert, the legendary voice of the Knicks, is making a name for himself in the world of video games. Albert and Mike Fratello are the announcers for EA Sports NBA Live 2004, which has already become the all-time best-selling basketball video game. "Mike does his best work on video games," Albert said.

Now that Jay-Z has announced his retirement from rap, he wants to own a basketball team. PAGE SIX has learned that the hip-hop heavy has retained investment banking firm Andrew, Alexander, Wise & Co. to explore buying the New Jersey Nets.

Talk about bad timing. This is a big week for USC flagship radio station KMPC (1540), which needs all the listeners it can get. So what happens? The station lost its signal for two hours Wednesday morning.

Public Enemy No. 1 these days among Kansa State fans is none other than Channel 41's Jack Harry. Harry is getting blistered by some K-State fans after stating on television earlier this week that Missouri would upset the Wildcats on Saturday in Manhattan.

Could it be true... A BenMaller.com radio mole has e mailed that a Los Angeles station that few sports fans listen to could be changing formats soon after the New Year... Could it be true? Stay tunned.

Through it all there has been one constant with the NHL's worst team: Capitals center Robert Lang playing some of the best hockey of his career.

Latest celeb to get caught in a compromising position on video in Las Vegas? Bill Gates -- or a man who is a dead ringer for Bill Gates. VegasBeat and several colleagues were treated this week to a viewing of a security-camera videotape of the married Microsoft billionaire (or a person who could portray the Microsoft billionaire in "Legends in Concert") groping a cocktail waitress on the dance floor at the Beach nightclub. Our source said the tape was two years old.

Former sumo wrestler Akebono admits he's worried about his upcoming K-1 debut against former NFL lineman Bob Sapp, but knows there's no turning back now. "In sumo, you pretty much know your opponents' strengths because you practice against them," Akebono said Wednesday. "In the case of Sapp, I have no idea how strong he is and no idea what to expect."

Jerry Lewis has been in a local Las Vegas hospital for nearly a month, his wife said, trying to wean himself from a steroid medication that caused him to bloat. He took the medication to help battle a life-threatening respiratory condition. "He is in good spirits and has lost a considerable amount of weight," she said. "He is determined to continue to work to improve his health."

Nearly three decades after inspiring the Academy Award winning film Rocky, ex-heavyweight Chuck Wepner thinks it's time that Sylvester Stallone shared some of the billion-dollar franchise with the real Rocky. Wepner said the legal battle could have been avoided. "There have been a lot of promises along the way, a lot of handshakes, a lot of projects to come, but nothing has come from it," said Wepner, who stands 6 feet 6 and is still in fighting trim at 65.

Barry Bonds bought a couple of $300 sweaters on Saturday at Pal Zaleri, the fashionable men's clothing store at The Venetian

Maria Sharapova, who won two WTA Tour tournaments during the past month and reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2003, has signed an exclusive model management contract with IMG Models. IMG Sports has represented Sharapova since 2000.

14-year-old Freddy Adu is being promoted as the face of soccer in America, and embraces the pressure associated with that tag. He fielded countless questions Wednesday about the burden of expectations, his ability to coexist in a men's league and his decision to play in this country rather than abroad, and made a point to repeatedly thank everyone from his mother, Emelia, to various coaches and teammates to relatively obscure members of the MLS front office who helped put the deal in place.

Jackie Bibby who's 52 stuffed the tails of nine live rattlesnakes into his mouth, obviously oblivious to where the biting ends of the snakes were dangling. A Guinness Book of Records photographer was there, out back of Bibby's trailer in Whiskey Flats, Texas, to witness the event.

Paris Hilton just could be the only person in America by now who hasn't watched her infamous X-rated video. The 22-year-old says the scandal has left her "just so embarrassed." The hotel heiress appears to have pulled out of a scheduled appearance with late night host David Letterman next week. Letterman has made her the butt of many jokes. The Letterman appearance was booked long before the video became public - and was set up to talk about her new reality show, "The Simple Life," which launches on Fox Dec. 2.

Rush Limbaugh says he's being tarred by trumped-up money-laundering claims. "I know where this is coming from," he told his radio audience yesterday. "I know who's behind it, and I know what the purpose of the story is." But Limbaugh, who returned to his syndicated show on Monday after five weeks in detox for painkiller addiction, wouldn't identify his nemesis.

Topless photos of former Iraqi POW Jessica Lynch may surface, after all. Pornmeister Larry Flynt told us last week that he'd decided his Hustler magazine would not publish shots that allegedly show the private cavorting with two men. But now we hear that foreign publications are keen to buy the embarrassing shots, as well as interviews with the two former soldiers who've been peddling them.

Barbara Walters and Merv Adelson hadn't spoken since their marriage ended 12 years ago. But when they crossed paths Tuesday at the opening performance of Carole Bayer Sager at Feinstein at the Regency, they greeted each other warmly.

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