Sports Desk
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
FOOTBALL
BUCS ACQUIRE RATTAY TO SHORE UP QB RANKS
Tim Rattay was acquired yesterday by Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers addressed their shortage at quarterback after Brian Griese injured his knee. The Bucs sent an undisclosed draft choice to the San Francisco 49ers for the six-year veteran, who lost his job in San Francisco after four weeks to top overall draft pick Alex Smith.
Griese tore knee ligaments in Sunday’s victory over Miami and could miss the rest of the season. Rattay, a seventh-round pick in 2000, started nine games last season and beat out Smith in training camp this season. But he performed poorly after an opening victory over St. Louis and was benched by coach Mike Nolan.
BASKETBALL
DIVAC RETIRES, TAKES SCOUTING JOB WITH LAKERS
Vlade Divac ended his 16-year NBA playing career yesterday, easing into a new job with the Los Angeles Lakers as a liaison and scout in Europe. The 37-year-old center had back surgery in January, and played in 15 games last season, averaging 2.3 points and 2.1 rebounds.
Divac said he had seriously considered playing this season, “but I couldn’t find the ride that would take me there.” He had career averages of 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in 15 previous seasons – seven with the Lakers, two with Charlotte, and six with Sacramento. Divac is one of only three players in NBA history to amass 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists, and 1,500 blocked shots. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon are the others.
SOCCER
ARSENAL ADVANCES IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Thierry Henry returned from a sixweek absence with two goals yesterday to push Arsenal closer to the second round of the Champions League with a 2-0 victory at Sparta Prague. In other action, Bayern Munich edged Juventus 2-1, while two other leading contenders failed to score. Manchester United was held to a 0-0 tie at home by Lille and Panathinaikos kept Barcelona to a 0-0 draw in Athens.
Arsenal moved five points in front of Group B. FC Brugge is third in the group, six points behind, after a 1-0 victory at Rapid Vienna thanks to Bosko Balaban’s goal in the 75th minute. Greek forward Yannis Anastasiou scored both goals as Ajax beat FC Thun 2-0 in the other group game to climb into second place above the Swiss club.
– Associated Press