FOOTBALL

NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR ASKS JETS TO STAY

Acting Governor Codey met for the first time with the Jets yesterday, asking them to remain in New Jersey, while across the Meadowlands sports complex his chief counsel met with the Giants in an attempt to iron out an deal on a new stadium. The two-pronged attack was an attempt to forestall the Jets’ plans to move to a proposed stadium on Manhattan’s West Side and an effort to help the Giants build a stadium to replace one that is among the oldest for NFL teams.

While appreciative of Codey’s concern, the Jets said they remain committed to building their own stadium in New York, said George Zoffinger, the chief executive of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. Meanwhile, the Giants have said they are willing, for $100 million, to let somebody else put their name on the new stadium,according to The Star-Ledger of Newark. Since the team is prepared to cover the cost of construction, the naming rights would help defray expenses.

TITANS HIRE CHOW AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Norm Chow finally found an opportunity that enticed him to leave the college ranks after 32 years and accepted his first NFL job yesterday, becoming offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. The 58-year-old Chow, who helped Southern California win two consecutive national championships, replaces Mike Heimerdinger, who was hired as the Jets’ offensive coordinator last month. This is Chow’s first job in pro football after 27 seasons at BYU, a season at North Carolina State, and the last four at USC. Chow’s offenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in 15 of the last 21 years.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

NCAA RECOMMENDS USE OF REPLAY FOR ALL CONFERENCES

An NCAA committee recommended yesterday that all schools and conferences be allowed to use a video replay system tested last season in the Big Ten. The recommendation by the Football Rules Committee will be considered by an oversight panel February 24 and, if approved, will be put in place for the regular season this fall.

“The response to video replay nationally and in the Big Ten was overwhelmingly positive,” said Chuck Broyles, the coach at Pittsburg State and chairman of the rules committee. He said many conferences have asked permission to try the replay system for the 2005 season. The video replay would not be used in bowl games or in NCAA championships below the Division I level.

BASEBALL

SAN FRANCISCO TO HOST 2007 ALL-STAR GAME

Baseball’s All-Star game will return to San Francisco in 2007 for the first time in more than two decades, giving the Giants a big draw for season-ticket holders the year after Barry Bonds’s contract expires. This will be the city’s first time staging baseball’s midsummer classic since it was at Candlestick Park in 1984.

TENNIS

WILLIAMS ADVANCES AT OPEN GAZ DE FRANCE

Two-time champion Serena Williams beat Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France 6-3, 6-2 yesterday to reach the quarterfinals at the Open Gaz de France.

In other action at the indoor tournament, where Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova withdrew because of a respiratory illness, seventh-seeded Silvia Farina Elia of Italy reached the quarterfinals by defeating Virginie Razzano of France 6-4, 6-1. Marion Bartoli of France advanced to the second round when Eleni Daniilidou of Greece retired in the second set and no. 5 Nathalie Dechy of France topped Jelena Kostanic of Croatia. Farina Elia next faces Tatiana Golovin or Sandra Mamic.

HORSE RACING

NYRA TO BEGIN STRICTER DRUG TESTING

The New York Racing Association said yesterday it will begin pre-race and post-race testing for “milkshaking” on February 16. Milkshaking is the illegal administration of a performance-enhancing mixture. The tests will be conducted at NYRA’s three tracks: Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga. Random pre-race testing will be conducted each day.

Post-race testing will be conducted on all NYRA races to determine if “blood gas” levels exceed legal thresholds. Last month, trainer Gregory Martin and harness racing driver Rene Poulin pleaded innocent to charges of “milk shaking” a horse before a December race at Aqueduct. The horse, A Won Rocket, won the race. Martin and Poulin were among 17 people who pleaded innocent to charges that they fixed a race at Aqueduct as part of a gambling ring that processed more than $200 million in bets over four years.

SOCCER

U.S. DOWNS TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

Eddie John son scored in the 30th minute, Eddie Lewis boosted the lead early in the second half, and the United States beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 yesterday in the opener of the final round of World Cup qualifying.

Three weeks ago, the Americans didn’t even know if they would have their top players or would send a team of minor leaguers because of a labor dispute. But an interim settlement ensured the regulars would be on the field through 2005, and the 11th-ranked U.S. team imposed its will on Trinidad and Tobago, ranked 61st.

The U.S., which plays its next qualifier at Mexico on March 27, is 22-0-8 against North and Central American and Caribbean rivals since September 2001.

– Associated Press