FOOTBALL

BRUSCHI IN GOOD CONDITION AFTER STROKE

New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi suffered a mild stroke but is walking, talking, and in good spirits, the team said last night. Bruschi experienced temporary numbness, blurred vision, and headaches Wednesday night and was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.

“It has been determined that these symptoms were the results of a mild stroke,” a team spokesman said. “Tedy is in good condition and, as always, his spirits are high. He is walking and talking normally.”

The Patriots said Bruschi, 31, could be released as early as Friday. On Sunday, Bruschi played in his first Pro Bowl.

CHARGERS PUT FRANCHISE TAG ON BREES

The San Diego Chargers used their franchise tag yesterday on quarterback Drew Brees, who led them to their first playoff berth in nine seasons and was the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year. Brees was tagged as a non-exclusive franchise player, meaning he can still negotiate with other teams. Should Brees receive an offer from another team, the Chargers can either match the new club’s offer, or receive two first-round choices from that club as compensation.

As a non-exclusive franchise player, Brees received a one year contract offer of just more than $8 million, the average of the top five salaried quarterbacks from last season. The Chargers could try to trade Brees, but a team interested in him would want to negotiate a long-term contract before finalizing a deal.

GOLF

DAVIS TAKES EARLY LEAD AT NISSAN OPEN

Amid shifting wind and gloomy rain, Brian Davis of England opened with an eagle and finished with eight straight pars on his way to a 6-under 65 for the early lead at dreary Riviera Country Club. Luke Donald of England and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland were among those one shot behind. Brett Quigley made birdie on the 18th and also shot 66.

Two-time defending champion Mike Weir was at 5 under with three holes to play, a good start in his bid to become the first player to win the Nissan Open three straight times. Tiger Woods three-putted for bogey three times, but still managed a 4-under 67 for his best start ever in the only tournament he played at least four times without winning. In his eighth start as a pro at the Nissan Open, Woods needs to finish no worse than fourth this week to reclaim No. 1 in the world ranking.

PRO BASKETBALL

NEW SECURITY GUIDELINES IN NBA ARENAS

The NBA is using All-Star weekend to introduce new security guidelines for all its arenas in hopes of preventing a repeat of the brawl between players and fans in Detroit earlier this season. Among the new guidelines announced yesterday will be a ban on alcohol sales during the fourth quarter, a 24-ounce limit on the size of alcoholic drinks, and a limit of two alcoholic drinks per customer. Designated driver programs will be required at each arena.

The new security measures are mandatory for all 30 teams. Beginning with Sunday’s All-Star game and continuing through the season, each team will post an “NBA Fan Code of Conduct” in prominent spots around their arenas and will make periodic public-address announcements reminding fans of the policy.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

WINLESS SAVANNAH STATE FIRES COACH

Savannah State coach Ed Daniels was fired yesterday, three days after the Tigers became just the second NCAA Division I team in the past 50 years to have a winless season.

Savannah State finished the season 0-28 after a 49-44 loss to Florida A &M on Monday night. The Tigers joined Prairie View, which went 0-28 in 1991-92, as the only other Division I team in the past half century to go winless. The Tigers won four games last season, but had to forfeit those because of an ineligible player -Daniels’s son. This time, they lost them all on the court – by an average margin of nearly 23 points.

VIRGINIA TECH UPSETS NO. 7 DUKE

Zabian Dowdell made a 3-pointer with 14.6 seconds to play and Virginia Tech stunned no. 7 Duke 67-65 last night, one of the biggest victories in Hokies history.

The Hokies (13-10, 6-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) ended a three game losing streak against the most unlikely opponent, and a team that had beaten them 100-65 only 18 days earlier at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The finish was frantic, with Duke’s J.J. Redick hitting a 3-pointer with 22.9 seconds left to give the Blue Devils (18-4, 8-4) a 65-64 lead and Dowdell coming right back with a jumper from the right wing that caused the sellout crowd to erupt as it swished through.

HOCKEY

MOORE SUES BERTUZZI

Former Colorado Avalanche player Steve Moore filed a lawsuit against the Vancouver Canucks’ Todd Bertuzzi, who pleaded guilty to assault after slugging Moore in the head from behind during a game last season.

Moore’s attorney, Lee Foreman, said in a statement that the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Denver District Court accuses Todd Bertuzzi of civil conspiracy, assault, battery, and negligence. Bertuzzi pleaded guilty to criminal assault and was given a conditional discharge in December, more than nine months after the attack during a game in Vancouver. He also was suspended indefinitely from the NHL. Moore has not completely recovered from the broken neck and concussion he suffered. The Avalanche did not re-sign Moore, who is an unrestricted free agent.

RUMORS OF CONTINUING TALKS PERSIST One day after the 2004-05 NHL season was cancelled, rumors circulated last night that maybe there was still a chance to save the season.

“I hear some rumblings … that owners and players are trying to make an attempt to get back to the bargaining table, but it’s got to occur today, tomorrow, or the next day,” agent Pat Brisson said.

Both sides said there have been no talks since commissioner Gary Bettman and players’ association chief Bob Goodenow traded proposals Tuesday. The Hockey News cited sources that said Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux are trying to work together to get a deal done, but Gretzky denied the report.

“We have heard a lot of the rumors that are out there, but we have had absolutely no contact with the union since Bob’s final letter,” NHL chief legal officer Bill Daly told the AP.

– Associated Press