BASKETBALL

SAUNDERS AGREES TO COACH PISTONS

Flip Saunders reached an agreement yesterday to become the new coach of the Detroit Pistons, who wasted no time replacing Larry Brown. The hiring of Saunders, the former coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, was confirmed by an Eastern Conference official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team planned to announce the deal at a news conference today. The Detroit News reported Saunders will receive a four-year contract worth between $4 million and $5 million per season. Saunders was fired by the T’Wolves in February after coaching the franchise to a record of 411-326 over 9 1/2 seasons.

NBA FREE AGENT SIGNING PERIOD DELAYED

With the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement still not finalized, the league’s free-agent signing period was delayed indefinitely yesterday. The league sent a memo to its 30 teams saying they will not be able to sign free agents on Friday, which was the original target date established by the league and the players’ union for getting the new six-year labor deal into writing. A spokesman for the union said he expected the agreement to be finalized and free agents to begin signing by the middle of next week.

FOOTBALL

BRUSCHI TO SIT OUT UPCOMING SEASON

New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi will sit out this season because of a stroke he suffered immediately following the 2004-05 season. Bruschi, 32, suffered the mild stroke on February 16, three days after playing in the Pro Bowl and 10 days after helping the Patriots beat Philadelphia in the Super Bowl.

Bruschi has attended team meetings, helped new players learn the defense, and worked out in the Patriots’ weight room.But he didn’t practice during the team’s June minicamp.

SOCCER

U.S. RISES TO SIXTH IN WORLD RANKINGS

The United States improved to no. 6 in FIFA’s rankings yesterday, the Americans’ best showing in the ratings by soccer’s governing body. The Americans, who play Honduras tonight at Giants Stadium in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals, had never been ranked higher than seventh. They were 10th last month, but passed France, England, Portugal, and Spain to move within one spot of rival Mexico. World Cup champion Brazil remained no. 1, and Argentina improved one spot to second. The Netherlands was third, and the Czech Republic dropped from second to fourth. France fell two spots to seventh.

Also yesterday, it was announced that the Americans plan to play their final World Cup qualifier at Foxboro, Mass., on October 12 against Panama. The U.S. (4-1) is second with 12 points halfway through the final round, one point behind Mexico.

TENNIS

CAPRIATI TO MISS U.S. OPEN

Jennifer Capriati will miss the U.S. Open with a shoulder injury, making her the only woman who’s won a Grand Slam title in the past five years not on the tournament entry list released yesterday. Capriati hasn’t played since being injured in November and had surgery on her right shoulder in January.

– Associated Press