FOOTBALL

JETS RE-SIGN BAKER, SIX OTHERS

Chris Baker, who will compete for the Jets’ starting tight end job, was among seven players re-signed by the team yesterday. The Jets also signed defensive tackle Josh Evans, a ten-year veteran who missed all but one game last season with a back injury. The 6-foot-3, 258-pound Baker, a third-round draft pick in 2002, has 34 receptions including four for touchdowns in his first three seasons and had 18 catches last season. With the departure of Anthony Becht as free agent, he is currently no. 1 on the depth chart at tight end.

The Jets also re-signed linebacker Kenyatta Wright, receiver Jonathan Carter, guard-center Jonathan Goodwin, guard DaveYovanovits, and safety Oliver Celestin.

DRUGS IN SPORT

CONGRESS ASKS COMMISSIONERS FOR TESTING INFO

Congressmen looking into steroids in sports sent letters yesterday to the heads of the NBA, NHL, and five other groups asking for information about their drug-testing policies. The House Government Reform Committee sent a similar request to the NFL last week.

The seven letters sent were addressed to NBA commissioner David Stern, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, ATP CEO Mark Miles, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber, U.S. Soccer Federation president Bob Contiguglia, USA Track & Field CEO Craig Masback, and USA Cycling CEO Gerard Bisceglia.

The officials were given an April 12 deadline for turning over copies of their sports’ current and past drug-testing policies and information about how those were negotiated. The committee also asked for information such as the number of drug tests each year, the number of positive results, and which substances are tested for.

SOCCER

LIVERPOOL EDGES JUVENTUS IN SUBDUED CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH

Sami Hyypia and Luis Garcia got Liverpool off to a good start in its quest for a semifinal berth in the UEFA Champions League. Hyypia and Garcia both scored first half goals as the English squad posted a 2-1 first-leg win over Italian power Juventus yesterday.

Before the match, former Juventus stars Michel Platini and Ian Rush teamed with thousands of Liverpool fans in an emotional ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium tragedy. It was the first time the clubs met since the European Champions Cup final at Brussels, Belgium, on May 29, 1985, when rioting Liverpool fans caused a stampede that killed 39 fans and injured many more.

Among other pre-match ceremonies, Liverpool fans carried a banner bearing the first names of the 39 dead across the field to where the Juventus fans were seated. The banner also had the words “memorial e amicizia” – in memory and friendship.

In yesterday’s other quarterfinal match, PSV Eindhoven came back to tie 1-1 with host Lyon. Florent Malouda sent a low shot past PSV goalkeeper Gomes in the 12th minute, but Phillip Cocu equalized for the Dutch leaders in the 79th.

The second leg matches will be played next Tuesday and Wednesday. The final is set for May 25 in Istanbul, Turkey.

– Associated Press