Sports Desk
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
BASEBALL
NELSON, GARCIA ACCEPT PROBATION DEAL FOR BULLPEN FIGHT
Two former Yankees who allegedly assaulted a Fenway Park groundskeeper during the 2003 American League Championship series agreed yesterday to a deal that calls for the charges against them to be dropped in six months.
Pitcher Jeff Nelson and outfielder Karim Garcia agreed to pretrial probation at a hearing in Roxbury District Court. The players will perform 50 hours of community service and be evaluated to determine whether they need to attend an anger management program. Charges were dropped last week against Paul Williams, 25, of Derry, N.H., a part-time groundskeeper who got into the brawl with the two players. Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley said a review found there wasn’t enough evidence to back up a cross-complaint brought by Nelson against Williams.
The fight broke out after Williams cheered for the Red Sox while in the bullpen during the third game of the ALCS on October 11,2003.In February, Williams sued the players for more than $33,000 for medical bills, lost wages, and loss of his sense of smell. He said the fight left him with a deviated septum, broken teeth, a neck injury, and cleat marks on his body.
BOSS MEETS WITH YANKEE OFFICIALS IN TAMPA
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner summoned his top executives to Florida for meetings yesterday, less than a week after the Yankees became the first major league team to waste a 3-0 lead in a postseason series. Five Yankees vice presidents met among themselves during the afternoon at the team’s spring training complex, then were scheduled to attend a night meeting with Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, and general manager Brian Cashman.
HORSE RACING
AZERI WILL RUN IN BREEDERS CUP
Azeri will try to beat the boys again, this time in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas made the surprise announcement yesterday, declaring 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri “all in” for the 1 1/4 -mile Classic at Lone Star Park on Saturday.
Azeri was pre-entered in the BC Distaff and the BC Classic last week, and it was thought Lukas was leaning toward running the 6-year-old mare in the Distaff, which she won in 2002 and missed last year with an injury. After a week of talks with owner Michael Paulson, though, the decision was made to give it another try against males in what will likely be the final race of Azeri’s sensational career. The horse has won 17 of 23 starts for earnings of $3,959,820.
FOOTBALL
REVENUE SHARING ON THE TABLE AT NFL LABOR TALKS
The NFL players union wants major additions to the revenue pool used to determine player salaries, making negotiations to extend the current contract more difficult than in the past. Gene Upshaw, the union’s executive director, will meet in Detroit this week with owners on the league’s management council. He is expected to outline a proposal that would add revenues to the television and base ticket sales now used to determine player salaries.
The current contract is not due to run out until after the 2007 season, but the NFL and the union have traditionally extended it long before its expiration. They began talks last April on this extension. Although Upshaw has not been specific, he presumably would like money from luxury suites, stadium naming rights, and local endorsements included in the player pool.
BRONCOS’ GRIFFIN GONE FOR SEASON
Denver running back Quentin Griffin will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, ESPN.com reported yesterday. Griffin suffered the injury during Monday night’s loss to the Bengals, and will be placed on injured reserve.
TENNIS
BAD LEG MAY END FEDERER’S SEASON
Top-ranked Roger Federer withdrew from the Swiss Indoors tournament after hurting his left thigh while warming up yesterday, putting in doubt whether he’ll play in the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup. The initial diagnosis was a torn muscle, tournament spokesman Juerg Vogel said. Federer will need to rest at least 10 to 14 days, according to tournament doctor Felix Marti. The Paris Masters starts Monday, while the Tennis Masters Cup starts November 15 in Houston.
– Associated Press