BASEBALL

RED SOX ACTIVATE SCHILLING

Curt Schilling was activated yesterday after spending 2 1/2 months on the disabled list with a bone bruise in his right ankle, and will be in the bullpen when the Boston Red Sox begin the second half of the season tonight against the Yankees. Schilling is expected to work in relief until he’s ready to pitch long enough to reclaim his spot in the rotation. Also yesterday, the Red Sox acquired right-handed reliever Chad Bradford from Oakland in a trade for outfielder Jay Payton and cash considerations.

ROCKIES TRADE WILSON, LAND BYRNES

The Colorado Rockies traded outfielder Preston Wilson and picked up outfielder Eric Byrnes in a pair of trades with Washington and Oakland yesterday. The Rockies sent Wilson to the Nationals for right-hander Zach Day, outfielder J.J. Davis, and a player to be named later or cash. Colorado also sent left-hander Joe Kennedy and right-handed reliever Jay Witasick to the Athletics for Byrnes and minor-league prospect Omar Quintanilla. Also yesterday, left-hander Mike Stanton joined the Nationals two weeks after being cut by the Yankees after going 1-2 with a 7.07 ERA in 28 games this season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SOUTH CAROLINA ADMITS MAJOR NCAA VIOLATIONS

South Carolina admitted to 10 NCAA violations committed under former football coach Lou Holtz in a report released yesterday. Five of the violations were classified as major. Holtz retired at the end of last season and was replaced by Steve Spurrier.

The school found violations occurred when prospective student-athletes were given impermissible tutoring sessions and off-season workouts from 1999-2002. South Carolina was also found to have a lack of institutional control. The school proposed two years of probation, a reduction from 56 to 50 paid campus visits for football recruits this year and next, and a loss of two football scholarships for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years.

BASKETBALL

HEAT RE-SIGN HASLEM FOR FIVE YEARS

Miami starting power forward Udonis Haslem agreed to a five-year contract that could be worth more than $33 million, his agent, Jason Levien said. Haslem is a Miami native who wanted to stay in his hometown so badly that he apparently turned down more lucrative offers from other clubs. The exact amount of the deal, which cannot be signed until at least July 22, won’t be known for a few more days.

GOLF

WIE ADVANCES AT MEN’S PUBLIC LINKS

Michelle Wie made a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole to edge Will Claxton 1-up in her first match at the men’s Amateur Public Links yesterday, taking a step toward a possible Master invitation. The 15-year-old is the first female to qualify for a U.S. Golf Association championship. She’s playing in the APL because the winner traditionally gets an invitation to play at Augusta. Wie would have to win five more matches before getting the invitation.

– Associated Press