COLLEGE SPORTS

NCAA COULD REVOKE 410 TEAMS’ SCHOLARSHIPS

More than 400 sports teams at the nation’s Division I schools could lose scholarships next year under the NCAA’s new academic standards, according to a report released yesterday. Most of the scholarship losses, which would be for one year, were expected in football, baseball, and men’s basketball.

Of the 5,720 Division I teams, about 410 risk penalties. About half of the nation’s 328 Division I schools have at least one team facing sanctions,according to the preliminary report.

“We hope the behavior changes and the number of teams will actually go down over time,” NCAA president Myles Brand said in a conference call.

The NCAA estimates 25% of football programs, 23% of baseball teams, and 19% of men’s basketball programs could be penalized if improvements are not made before new figures are released in December. Penalties will not be imposed unless an at-risk school loses a player who would have been academically ineligible. Some schools could lose scholarships in the fall. The NCAA also will use a statistical adjustment for teams with fewer players to prevent anomalies, and schools can appeal decisions through a waiver process.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

TEMPLE’S CHANEY TO SIT OUT ATLANTIC 10 TOURNEY

Temple’s John Chaney will not coach in the Atlantic 10 tournament, part of a self-imposed punishment for ordering rough play by one of his players in a recent game that resulted in an opponent’s injury. The Hall of Fame coach was already suspended by the school for the final three games of the regular season.

Chaney sent in a player he described as a “goon” against Saint Joseph’s last week, and Hawks’ senior John Bryant wound up with a broken arm. Chaney had used Nehemiah Ingram to “send a message” over what he said was Saint Joseph’s use of illegal screens. The Hawks and Owls could have met in the A-10 tournament. The Owls (14–11, 10–6) clinched a tie for second place in the Atlantic 10 East Division. A Temple win or a Fordham loss will earn the Owls a firstround bye in the conference tournament.

“I believe the fair thing is for me not to coach during the Atlantic 10 championship tournament in Cincinnati,” the 73-year-old Chaney said in a statement yesterday. “John Bryant is unable to play in the tournament because of the injury he sustained last week against Temple. Neither should I be able to coach.”

BASEBALL

EXTENSION NOT IN SHEFFIELD’S PLANS

Gary Sheffield is not interested in extending his contract with the Yankees. The slugging right fielder is in the second season of a $39 million, three-year contract.The Yankees have a $13 million option for the 2007 season, and Sheffield wants to wait for this contract to run out before considering a new one.

“I don’t want one,” Sheffield said yesterday. “When this is over, that’s it. When this deal is done, I don’t look past it. I can’t predict if somebody is going to want me.

Sheffield is still dealing with discomfort in his left shoulder that was operated on in November. He is taking a slower pace during spring training and likely will sit out at least three preseason games. He is expected to be ready for the regular season opener April 3 against Boston.

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is also working his way back. He threw 43 pitches in his first batting practice session yesterday, and could pitch in a spring training game next week. Rivera, 35, isn’t expected to pitch in any early spring games but should be healthy for opening day.

TOUGHER STEROID TESTING TO BEGIN THURSDAY

Testing under baseball’s new drug agreement will start Thursday, according to the commissioner’s office. Lawyers for players and owners have been drafting the deal since they announced the agreement for tougher testing on January 13.

Under the new rules, a player would be suspended for 10 days for a first positive test for a performance-enhancing drug, 30 days for a second positive test, 60 days for a third, and one year for a fourth. Under the previous deal, a player who tested positive for the first time received counseling, and his name was not publicly revealed.

BASKETBALL

‘YES!’ ALBERT TO BROADCAST NETS GAMES

Marv Albert, one of the nation’s most-honored basketball announcers, will again be lending his voice to an NBA team. The Nets will have most of their games next season called byAlbert,whose four-decade association with the Knicks ended in June.

Albert will announce 50 games on the YES Network, whose president, Tracy Dolgin, noted that Albert’s noted catch phrase of “Yes!” makes them a good match.

Nets owner Bruce Ratner said, “The best is Marv Albert, no question about it.”

He said Ian Eagle, who is in his 11th season calling Nets games,will remain with YES and the Nets.Albert said he will continue to announce NBA games for TNT and Monday Night Football for Westwood One Radio/CBS Radio Sports.

Albert signed a multiyear contract, which Ratner believes will keep the native of Brooklyn, N.Y., aboard until he can move the team there from the Meadowlands complex in East Rutherford. Ratner said an arena in Brooklyn could be ready for the 2007–08 season, but that 2008–09 is more likely.

Albert had provided play-by-play for the Knicks and Rangers since 1963, except for 16 months in 1997–98 after he pleaded guilty to biting a woman during a sexual encounter. The conviction was later expunged.

FOOTBALL

PATRIOTS RELEASE PHIFER

Veteran linebacker Roman Phifer, who played on all three of New England’s Super Bowl winners, was released yesterday. Phifer, a 36-year-old, 14-year veteran, was signed by the team as a free agent in 2001 and played in 59 games in his four seasons with the Patriots. Phifer recorded 385 tackles, ranking second on the team over that span to Tedy Bruschi with 403.

TENNIS

VENUS WILLIAMS OUSTED IN FIRST ROUND AT DUBAI

Venus Williams struggled with a blister on her right palm and lost in the first round for the first time in four years, beaten by Italy’s Silvia Farina Elia 7–5, 7–6 (6) in the Dubai Women’s Open on yesterday.Williams’s previous first-round ouster was to Barbara Schett at the 2001 French Open. Farina Elia had lost all nine of her previous matches to Williams since 1997.

– Associated Press