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.

BASEBALL
RED SOX REACH OUT TO CLEMENS Nine years after then-general manager Dan Duquette ran him out of Boston,the Red Sox are interested in bringing back Roger Clemens if he wants to play again, the Boston Globe reported yesterday.
The Red Sox have contacted Clemens’s agents, the Hendricks brothers, to express their interest in the future Hall of Famer if he elects to play in 2006.
Clemens was informed of the contact,and sources close to Clemens said the pitcher reacted positively to the scenario of a return to Boston, according to The Globe. Clemens, 42, who was not offered arbitration by the Astros, is a free agent, and can’t re-sign with Houston until May 1. He has said through his agent that he doesn’t expect to decide about whether he’ll pitch next season until early 2006.
HOCKEY
LEMIEUX DOUBTS PENGUINS’ FUTURE IN PITTSBURGH Penguins owner-captain Mario Lemieux said he is doubtful that the team will remain in Pittsburgh after its Mellon Arena lease expires in 2007,citing a lack of progress on a new arena.The Penguins are projecting a $7 million loss this season, a figure that assumes the team will draw near-capacity crowds and advance to the second round of the playoffs.
“I think we’re really running out of time,” Lemieux said. “We probably ran out of time already. It’s been unfortunate that the city and the county haven’t been willing to work with us over the last two or three years.”
Lemieux has said for several years that the Penguins would not be able to survive in Pittsburgh without a new arena. Mellon Arena is the oldest and smallest arena in the NHL. The lease allows the team to solicit offers for the franchise beginning in June 2006. Kansas City is among the cities that have expressed interest in the team.
GOLF
DONALD HITS THE TARGET Luke Donald won the Target World Challenge, shooting an 8-under 64 yesterday to rally from six shots behind to beat European Ryder Cup teammate Darren Clarke by two strokes.
Donald, who celebrated his 28th birthday Wednesday, matched the record for best closing round by a winner in the seven-year history of the event. No one gave Donald much of a chance, especially the way Clarke was playing. But he fell apart down the stretch with a bogey on the par-5 16th. Needing a birdie on the 18th to force a playoff, he pulled his approach, and hit his 45-foot birdie putt so badly that he dropped his putter and put hands on hips a few moments after the ball left his blade. He wound up with a three-putt bogey for a 72.
Donald finished at 16-under 272 and won $1.3 million from the richest event in the silly season, the largest paycheck of his career.
Michael Campbell and Padraig Harrington shot 73s to tie for third at 276.Tournament host Tiger Woods had a 73 to tie for 14th at 286.
BASKETBALL
O’NEAL RETURNS TO COURT Shaq is back, helping the Miami Heat shake their slump. Playing for the first time since the second game of the season, O’Neal sank one of two free throws with a second left in regulation to force an overtime, and Miami ended a four-game losing streak by beating Washington 104-101 last night.
SOCCER
MARYLAND OUTLASTS NEW MEXICO FOR NCAA TITLE Marc Burch’s deflected free kick gave Maryland a 1-0 win over New Mexico in the NCAA championship game yesterday, ending three years of frustration in which the Terrapins lost in the semifinals.
Maryland (19-4-2) broke through in the 30th minute when a foul on New Mexico’s David Gualdarama about 25 yards out gave the Terrapins a free kick. Burch fired a low, hard shot around the wall New Mexico set up. The ball nicked the foot of a Lobos defender, catching New Mexico goalkeeper Mike Graczyk leaning to his left and unable to get back to his right.
Top-seeded Maryland attacked and second-seeded New Mexico (18-2-3) counterpunched from the start of the College Cup final, and each had opportunities. The Lobos’ best chance came just minutes after halftime when Andrew Boyens had his penalty shot saved by Terrapins goalkeeper Chris Seitz, then missed again on the rebound shot.
Maryland, won its first national soccer title since 1968. New Mexico, making its first appearance in a men’s soccer final, won its only national championship in a team sport in skiing in 2004.
– Associated Press