FOOTBALL

EAGLES’ WESTBROOK ENDS HOLDOUT

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook ended his week-long holdout and reported to training camp yesterday, while Terrell Owens missed practice after reinjuring his left groin. Receiver Todd Pinkston was placed on injured reserve, and the team said he will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon.

Owens has missed three of the last four days after leaving Thursday morning’s practice with inflammation in his left groin. He missed the workouts on Friday and Saturday, but returned Sunday. Beginning the second year of a seven-year deal worth nearly $49 million, the disgruntled Owens is still hoping that the Eagles will redo his contract.

Westbrook has been holding out for a long-term contract after signing a one-year restricted free agent offer for $1.43 million earlier this off-season. Pinkston, who caught 36 passes for 676 yards and one touchdown last season, was hurt Friday while running a route and a few hours later team officials said he most likely would miss the rest of the year.

GIANTS’ GREEN TO JETS: WAIT UNTIL NEXT TIME

The Giants’ first preseason game is at Cleveland this weekend, but after last Saturday’s brawl with the Jets they may be looking ahead to the teams’ preseason game on August 26 at Giants Stadium to settle some grievances.

“There’s going to be a lot of animosity, you can count on that,” Giants linebacker Barrett Green said yesterday. “In the preseason game, there’s no question about the rules, there’s no question about hitting people. They’re going to get hit hard.”

Saturday’s joint practice with the Jets turned into a free-for-all when three Jets jumped Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey on the second play of a drill pitting the Giants’ offense against the Jets’ defense. Later, Giants coach Tom Coughlin and Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson had a heated argument on the field over some hard hits made by Jets defenders.

BASKETBALL

FINALS REMATCH HIGHLIGHTS NBA’S TV SCHEDULE

The NBA yesterday released its complete national television schedules on ABC,TNT, ESPN, and NBA TV for the 2005-06 season. A Christmas Day doubleheader featuring the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons in a rematch of the 2005 NBA Finals highlights the league’s schedule. The second game on ABC will show Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and the Los Angeles Lakers against Shaquille O’Neal and the Miami Heat.

The televised season begins November 1 with the defending champion Spurs against the Denver Nuggets on TNT. The game includes the ring ceremony and launches a week of five consecutive nationally televised doubleheaders.

Among the season’s other highlights, former Pistons coach Larry Brown returns to Detroit with the Knicks on December 2 on ESPN.

HORSE RACING

ZITO INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

Trainer Nick Zito was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame yesterday, the latest milestone in a career that started with a two-horse stable in 1972 and includes four wins in Triple Crown races.

Three steeplechase standouts – jockey Thomas Walsh, trainer Sidney Watters Jr., and five-time champion Lonesome Glory – also were inducted during the ceremony across from Saratoga Race Course.

Zito won the Derby with Strike the Gold in 1991 and Go for Gin in 1994, and won the 1996 Preakness with Louis Quatorze and the 2004 Belmont Stakes with Birdstone. On Saturday, he won the $750,000 Whitney Stakes with Commentator, the first time Zito’s won that Grade 1 race.

Zito has had 19 Derby starters, 16 in the Preakness, and 13 in the Belmont. He also has trained two champion fillies – Storm Song in 1996 and Bird Town in 2003.

HOCKEY

NASH RE-SIGNS WITH BLUE JACKETS Rick Nash, who tied for the league lead in goals with 41 in 2003-04,re-signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday, agreeing to a five-year contract. The 21-year-old left wing was the Blue Jackets’ first overall pick of the 2002 draft. In 2003, Nash scored 17 goals and 39 points and was named to the NHL all-rookie team. He played with Davos of the Swiss league during the NHL lockout last year, scoring 27 goals and 47 points.

TRACK & FIELD

WILLIAMS TAKES 100M AT WORLDS

American Olympic silver medalist Lauryn Williams won the gold in the 100 meters at the world track and field championships yesterday, beating Christine Arron of France in torrential rain. Williams capitalized on a good start and dipped across the line to win in 10.93 seconds, finishing 0.02 seconds ahead of Veronica Campbell of Jamaica. Arron was third in 10.98.

Kenenisa Bekele won the 10,000 meters, easily leading a 1-2 finish for Ethiopia and bolstering his reputation as the dominant long-distance runner. Bekele, the defending and Olympic champion, relied on his trademark finishing kick to take the field apart during the last lap to finish ahead of Sileshi Sihine.

And one year after tearing her Achilles’ tendon, Sweden’s Kajsa Bergqvist capped an amazing comeback by winning the high jump at 6 feet, 7 1/2 inches, the best in the world this year.

TENNIS

CANAS SUSPENDED TWO YEARS FOR DOPING

Top 10 player Guillermo Canas was suspended for two years by the ATP yesterday after testing positive for a banned substance that can be used to mask performance-enhancing drugs.

Canas, no. 10 in the current rankings, failed a doping test at a tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, on February 21, 2005. He was told in May, and his appeal was heard by an independent tribunal July 20-21. It was turned down, and he won’t be eligible to compete on tour until June 2007.

Canas said he had taken medicine for a sore throat and flu symptoms in Acapulco. He tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, also known as HCT, a diuretic that can be used to treat hypertension. As part of his punishment, the 27-year-old Argentine will forfeit $276,070 in prize money.

AGASSI ADVANCES AT ROGERS CUP

Andre Agassi defeated Spain’s Alberto Martin 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Rogers Cup last night. The fourth-seeded Agassi finessed his way from the baseline with steady groundstrokes, capitalizing on mistakes by his 26-year-old opponent.

Agassi’s next opponent will beJonas Bjorkman. The 33-year-old Swede easily beat American Vincent Spadea in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

– Associated Press