FOOTBALL

EMMITT SMITH ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith retired yesterday, calling his 15-year career “a tremendous ride.”

Smith, who starred for the Dallas Cowboys for 13 seasons and spent the last two years with Arizona, made the announcement at the Super Bowl facility in Jacksonville, Fla. Dallas plans to sign Smith to a one-day contract, so he can officially retire as a Cowboy.

Smith thanked dozens of people from Pee Wee football to the Cardinals and every stop in-between. He broke down several times and had tears streaming down his face as he clutched his wife’s hand. The future Hall of Famer said he planned to pursue some business opportunities but vowed to stay close to the game and give something back to the fans.

The 35-year-old Smith ran for 18,355 yards and 164 touchdowns in his career, both NFL records. He rushed for 1,000 yards or more every year between 1991 and 2001 and led the NFL in rushing in 1991, 1992, and 1995. Smith, along with quarterback Troy Aikman and receiver Michael Irvin, led the Cowboys to NFL titles after the 1992, 1993, and 1995 seaons.

But despite his impressive statistics, he won just two major awards in 15 seasons – NFL MVP in 1993 and the Super Bowl MVP that same season, when he rushed for 130 yards and two scores in the Cowboys’ 30-13 win over Buffalo.

BASKETBALL

HILL BEATS OUT O’NEAL FOR ALL-STAR START

Orlando’s Grant Hill edged Indiana’s Jermaine O’Neal by slightly more than 65,000 votes for a starting spot on the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Hill received 1,497,489 votes in fan balloting to O’Neal’s 1,432,438, allowing him to join Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, and LeBron James as the starting five for the East at the All-Star game February 20 in Denver. Shaq’s 2,488,089 votes were the second highest in All-Star balloting history, the NBA said yesterday in announcing the starters.

Houston’s Yao Ming received a record 2,558,278 votes in winning the starting spot at center for the Western Conference for the third straight year. He will line up alongside Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Houston’s Tracy McGrady.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

TAR HEELS ROMP OVER WOLFPACK IN INTRASTATE BATTLE

Freshman Marvin Williams had a season-high 20 points, Rashad McCants scored 18,and Sean May had another double-double, helping no. 2 North Carolina rout North Carolina State

95-71 last night. Raymond Felton reached 1,000 career points and added 10 assists for the Tar Heels (18-2, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have won 18 of their past 19 games. Julius Hodge had 18 points but couldn’t keep the Wolfpack (13-8, 3-5) from falling to 3-7 in their past 10 games.

GOLF

HART TAKES LEAD AT FBR OPEN BEFORE DARKNESS ENDS PLAY

Dudley Hart was best at conquering a treacherous wind at the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., through a slow, difficult first round that was suspended by darkness yesterday with 45 players still on the course.

Hart was the leader in the clubhouse at 4-under 67, one shot better than Stewart Cink and Hunter Mahan. Mahan finished his round just before play was stopped for the night, as did Hank Kuehne, who was two shots back at 69.

Of those who didn’t finish the round, Heath Slocum was at 3 under through 16 holes and Charles Warren was 3 under through 13.The first round will be completed early Friday morning, before the second round begins in the 72-hole event.

SOCCER

GERMANY: FOUR GAMES FIXED, AT LEAST 10 PLAYERS INVOLVED IN SCANDAL

German soccer authorities believe that four games were fixed and said at least 10 players are suspected in a scandal that has rocked the country 16 months before it hosts the World Cup. According to the national soccer federation, referee Robert Hoyzer confessed to rigging four games after being bribed by a Croatian betting ring.

After instigating countrywide raids Wednesday, Berlin prosecutors said four referees and 14 players were among 25 people suspected of fixing at least 10 games in the worst soccer scandal to hit the country in more than 30 years. Police seized bank accounts and property worth about $3.17 million during the raids of 19 homes. There were no arrests. One player involved was identified by authorities yesterday, Romania’s Laurentiu-Aurelian Reghecampf of second-division Alemannia Aachen.

– Associated Press