BASEBALL

OWNERS APPROVE SALE OF A’S

Baseball’s owners unanimously approved the sale of the Oakland Athletics to Los Angeles real estate developer Lewis Wolff on yesterday, all but finalizing a deal in the works for about a year. Wolff, the team’s vice president for venue development, and his group are paying about $180 million to purchase the team from Steve Schott and Ken Hofmann, co-owners since 1995. John Fisher, the billionaire son of Gap chairman and CEO Don Fisher, will be a majority investor – a sign the small-market A’s might not be one of baseball’s low-budget teams for much longer. Wolff will be managing general partner.

FOOTBALL

NFL SEEKS TOUGHER STEROID TESTING

The NFL is seeking to upgrade its steroid testing program to bring it back in line with Olympic standards. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said yesterday that the move, which would require approval by the NFL Players Association, is not related to a CBS News report involving Carolina players and steroids. In January, with new testing equipment available, the World Anti-Doping Agency toughened its standards. The International Olympic Committee adopted those new standards. The NFL then proposed that such a move be taken up in May, when the league and the union annually discuss changes in drug policy.

BASKETBALL

DETROIT’S BROWN MAY NOT RETURN THIS SEASON

Detroit Pistons coach Larry Brown’s slow recovery from surgery has him questioning whether he’ll be able to return to the team this season, The Detroit News reported yesterday. Brown, 64, has missed the Pistons’ last nine games since undergoing surgery March 14 to correct a recurring urinary problem. He told the players and club president Joe Dumars on Tuesday that he planned to spend the rest of this week recovering.

TENNIS

MAURESMO ADVANCES TO SEMIS AT NASDAQ-100

Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo moved one round closer to the Nasdaq-100 Open title – and the no. 1 ranking – with a quarterfinal win over 17-year-old Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 6-4 yesterday. Mauresmo, who spent five weeks at no. 1 last year, can regain the top ranking if she wins the tournament and beats a top-five player in one of her final two matches.

Unseeded David Ferrer became the first men’s semifinalist by sweeping no.26 Dominik Hrbaty 6-2, 6-3. In the quarterfinals today, no. 1 Roger Federer will play no. 6 Tim Henman, and no. 31 Taylor Dent will play six-time champion Andre Agassi.

SOCCER

U.S. BEATS GUATEMALA IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING

Eddie Johnson came through once again, giving the United States a key victory in World Cup qualifying. Johnson scored a brilliant goal in the 11th minute and set up Steve Ralston’s goal in the 68th to lead the United States over Guatemala 2-0 last night.

– Associated Press