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.

PRO FOOTBALL
ABRAHAM OUT FOR STEELERS GAME
Jets defensive end John Abraham will miss Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh with a sprained ligament in his right knee.
Coach Herman Edwards said yesterday that an MRI exam revealed the injury to the lateral collateral ligament, and Abraham is week to week. The injury could be a big blow to a defense that has been playing extremely well. Abraham leads the team with 9 1/2 sacks and has improved his play against the run, while maintaining his role as the team’s best pass rusher. Former first-round pick Bryan Thomas will start in place of Abraham.
RAIDERS’ CURRY OUT FOR SEASON
Oakland receiver Ronald Curry tore his Achilles’ tendon during Sunday’s loss to Kansas City and will have surgery soon, Raiders coach Norv Turner said yesterday. The team hopes to have Curry back at full strength by training camp after what’s expected to be six months of rehabilitation. Curry has a team-high 50 catches and six touchdowns.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
ZOOK TO TAKE OVER AT ILLINOIS
Former Florida coach Ron Zook will take over at Illinois, sources told The Associated Press yesterday. Zook’s hiring as head coach will be announced at a news conference today, said two senior university officials speaking on the condition of anonymity. He will replace Ron Turner who was fired November 22 after the team went 3-8.
CALIFORNIA GIVES TEDFORD FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION
California coach Jeff Tedford agreed to a five-year extension yesterday that will keep him under contract with the Golden Bears through 2009.The financial terms weren’t immediately disclosed by the school.
Tedford had been rumored to be wanted by several schools seeking to fill coaching vacancies – including Washington and Notre Dame. In just three years in charge of the Cal program, Tedford has transformed the Bears from the Pac-10’s worst team to a national title contender. The Bears just completed their best regular season in a half century, going 10-1 and earning a trip to the Holiday Bowl.
PRO BASKETBALL
O’NEAL RETURNS TO PRACTICE FOR PACERS
Jermaine O’Neal practiced with Indiana yesterday for the first time since being suspended for fighting with Detroit fans during the Pacers-Pistons brawl on November 19. O’Neal still has 17 games remaining on his suspension.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
BIBBY ABRUPTLY FIRED BY USC
Henry Bibby was suddenly fired as Southern California’s basketball coach yesterday, just four games into his ninth season. The Trojans are 2-2.
“I understand that the timing of this is unorthodox,” athletic director Mike Garrett said in a statement. “But I feel strongly that our men’s basketball program needs to go in a different direction. And it was obvious to me that change had to be made now.”
Assistant Jim Sala was appointed interim coach for the rest of the season. Bibby had an overall record of 131-111. His 1997, 2001, and 2002 teams made it to the NCAA tournament, including a final eight appearance in 2001.
ILLINOIS CLIMBS TO NO. 1 IN AP POLL
Illinois received 25 first place votes and vaulted from no. 5 to no. 1 in the Associated Press poll yesterday.
It is the third time in school history Illinois has reached no. 1. Kansas (4-0) held second with 23 first-place votes after wins over Nevada and Pacific. Georgia Tech (5-0) and Syracuse (7-0), the other teams Illinois vaulted, switched places from last week. The Yellow Jackets, who beat Michigan and Georgia by an average of almost 35 points, moved to no.3,while Syracuse dropped to no. 4.
IOWA STATE EDGES VIRGINIA
Curtis Stinson scored 30 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 18.6 seconds left, lifting Iowa State to an 81-79 victory over no. 19 Virginia last night. Iowa State (4-1) survived a career-high 40 points by Virginia’s Devin Smith and wasn’t assured of winning until the Cavaliers (6-1) missed three shots in a wild flurry just before the buzzer. In other Top 25 action last night, no. 7 Connecticut routed Northeastern, 97-60, and new no. 1 Illinois dominated Chicago State, 78-59.
BASEBALL
ORDONEZ LIKELY DONE IN CHICAGO
Magglio Ordonez probably has played his last game for the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox have until 11 p.m. CST today to offer arbitration to their four-time All-Star right fielder but appear resigned to losing him because they still haven’t been able to evaluate Ordonez’s surgically repaired left knee.
The White Sox could offer Ordonez salary arbitration, knowing there are plenty of teams who will have interest in a 30-year-old who’s a career .307 hitter with 187 homers and 703 RBIs. But if Ordonez accept arbitration, he’d get a salary close to the $14 million he made last year.
ROCKIES RELEASE NEAGLE FOLLOWING ARREST
The Colorado Rockies terminated pitcher Denny Neagle’s contract yesterday, three days after he was cited for solicitation. Neagle, who has not pitched in over a year because of injuries, was pulled over Friday for allegedly speeding. Police said a woman in his car told them he had paid her $40 for oral sex.
GOLF
SINGH IS PGA’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Vijay Singh won the PGA Tour player of the year award yesterday for the first time, ending Tiger Woods’s five-year hold on the honor.
Singh captured the PGA Championship among his nine victories and became the first player to surpass $10 million in one season. No one else won more than three times. Singh also captured his first Vardon Trophy for having the lowest scoring average, and his second straight money title.
Singh won six of his last nine tournaments, including the PGA Championship for his third major. He is the first non-American player to win the award since Greg Norman in 1995.
39-year-old British Open champion Todd Hamilton, who spent a dozen years on the Asian tours until earning his PGA Tour card, was voted PGA Tour rookie of the year. John Daly, whose victory at the Buick Invitational was his first on U.S. soil in 10 years, was voted PGA Tour comeback player of the year. Craig Stadler was Champions Tour player of the year, while Hubert Green was the comeback player of the year after returning from cancer.
– Associated Press