PRO FOOTBALL

COUGHLIN STICKS WITH MANNING DESPITE WOES Despite Eli Manning’s horrific struggles in recent weeks, Giants coach Tom Coughlin reiterated yesterday that the no. 1 pick in the draft will start against the Steelers on Sunday.

“The rookie player that has this type of opportunity, and this type of experience, it is a priceless experience that does not come without pain,” Coughlin said in a conference call as he reviewed a 37-14 loss to Baltimore, adding that giving Manning a week off to clear his head wasn’t an option.

Not only is Manning winless in four starts since taking over from Kurt Warner, his statistics are dreadful. He has completed 42-of-110 passes for 516 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions. The Giants have lost their last three games by at least 21 points, the first time that has happened since 1980. Against the Ravens on Sunday, Manning was 4-for-18 for 27 yards, two interceptions, a lost fumble, and a 0.0 QB rating. Warner took over in the fourth quarter and led the team on a touchdown drive.

BROWNS’ GARCIA OUT FOR SEASON Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia will miss the rest of the season after tearing a knee ligament during Sunday’s loss to Buffalo. He is the 17th player and eighth starter to be placed on the Browns’ injured reserve list. Garcia, who missed the previous two games with a sprained shoulder, lasted just three plays before injuring his knee while fumbling as he was sacked.

URLACHER’S SEASON IN JEOPARDY Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher is to have an MRI on his left hamstring this week, and his status for the final three games is unknown. Urlacher sustained his third leg injury of the season in Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville.

Urlacher missed the entire preseason and two early games this season with a sore right hamstring. He later sat out two more games after surgery on his left calf following a November 14 game against Tennessee.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

LEINART LEADS ALL-AMERICAN CLASS Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart and three of his USC teammates made the Associated Press All-America team, announced yesterday. Tailback Reggie Bush, defensive lineman Shaun Cody, and linebacker Matt Grootegoed joined their quarterback on the first team. Bush, a Heisman finalist, was picked as the all-purpose player.

Oklahoma tailback Adrian Peterson, the Heisman runnerup who has run for 1,843 yards and 15 TDs, is the first freshman AP All-American since Dre’ Bly in 1996. Peterson was joined on the first team by Sooners tackle Jammal Brown. Oklahoma QB Jason White, a first-team All-American and the Heisman Trophy winner last season, was a third-team selection. Utah QB Alex Smith was the second-team QB.

Cedric Benson of Texas and Auburn’s Carnell Williams were the running backs on the second team. Ball State’s Dante Ridgeway, who leads the country in receptions and yards receiving, also made the second team. North Texas freshman Jamario Thomas, who leads the country with 189.9 yards per game, was picked to the third team.

BASEBALL

WHITE SOX TRADE LEE TO MILWAUKEE Carlos Lee was traded from the White Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday for outfielder Scott Podsednik, reliever Luis Vizcaino, and a player to be named. Lee batted .305 with 31 homers and 99 RBI last season and did not make an error in the field. Podsednik led the major leagues with 70 stolen bases last year.

In other moves yesterday at the baseball winter meetings, reliever Todd Jones agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Florida Marlins; the Anaheim Angels agreed to terms of a two-year contract with right-handed reliever Esteban Yan; and first baseman Wil Cordero reached a preliminary agreement with the Washington-bound Expos on a one-year, $600,000 contract yesterday.

BASKETBALL

PACERS SIGN VETERAN CURRY The Indiana Pacers signed 36-year-old forward Michael Curry yesterday as the team continues to adjust its suspension- and injury-depleted roster. The 6-foot-6 Curry has played in 10 NBA seasons and is the president of the players’ union. He averaged 2.9 points in 70 games for Toronto last season, but has not played this year.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

ILLINOIS HOLDS NO. 1 RANKING Illinois was no. 1 in the Associated Press college basketball poll yesterday for a second straight week, the school’s longest run ever at the top of the rankings. The Illini (9-0) moved into the top spot for the third time in school history last week. Kansas (6-0) stayed second, Georgia Tech (6-0) remained third, while Oklahoma State (7-0), which handed Syracuse its first loss of the season last week, moved up one place to fourth. The only newcomer to the poll this week was Cincinnati (6-0), which moved in at no. 25.

NO. 6 WAKE FOREST EDGES TEMPLE Trent Strickland scored all nine of his points in the final 9 minutes and no. 6 Wake Forest went 5-for-6 from the free throw line over the final two minutes to hold off Temple 67-64 last night. Eric Williams had 17 points for the Demon Deacons (7-1), while Justin Gray added 15. In other Top 25 action last night, no. 20 Mississippi State downed New Orleans, 74-59.

SOCCER

SHEVCHENKO WINS EUROPE’S GOLDEN BALL AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko won the Golden Ball award as Europe’s best soccer player yesterday, edging club teammate Ronaldinho and Barcelona midfielder Deco.

The winner was chosen in France Football magazine’s annual poll of journalists. Shevchenko, 28, has scored 11 goals in 15 Italian league games this season for second place AC Milan. He scored 24 goals last season.

– Associated Press