FOOTBALL

RAIDERS FIRE TURNER The Oakland Raiders fired coach Norv Turner yesterday following consecutive losing seasons in which the team managed only one victory in its division. The 53-year-old Turner, who had a year remaining on his contract worth about $1.75 million, had known his job was in jeopardy for the last two months after struggling to get the most out of star receiver Randy Moss and an offense that also included quarterback Kerry Collins, receiver Jerry Porter and running back LaMont Jordan. Oakland lost its final six games and eight of nine to finish 4-12 and with one fewer victory than Turner produced in his first season a year ago. The Raiders have strung together three straight losing seasons for the first time since Al Davis came aboard in 1963 to coach and eventually own the team.

BASKETBALL

SONICS SACK WEISS AFTER 30 GAMES Bob Weiss was fired as coach of the Seattle SuperSonics yesterday, with his team struggling at 13-17 after having won its division last year. Weiss, in his first year coaching the Sonics, was replaced by assistant Bob Hill, the team said. Weiss was promoted from assistant to head coach on July 18 after Nate McMillan left for Portland. Weiss was popular with his players, but Seattle has not been above .500 this season. The Sonics won 52 games last year in capturing the Northwest Division. The 63-year-old Weiss previously coached Atlanta, San Antonio, and the L.A. Clippers and has an overall record of 223-299.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

CONNECTICUT FALLS TO MARQUETTE Steve Novak had career highs of 41 points and 16 rebounds and Marquette won its first Big East game with a 94-79 upset of no. 2 Connecticut last night. The 6-foot-10 Novak set a record for the most points by a player in his Big East debut, breaking the record of 30 shared by Notre Dame’s Troy Murphy and Georgetown’s Allen Iverson. Jerel McNeal added 19 points and 12 rebounds for Marquette (11-3, 1-0), one of five schools that joined the now 16-team Big East in the off-season from Conference USA. Connecticut (11-1, 0-1) had played its last seven games at home against opponents such as Morehead State, Stony Brook, and Quinnipiac.

BASEBALL

BURNITZ SPURNS ORIOLES, JOINS PIRATES Outfielder Jeromy Burnitz, 36, was attempting to finalize terms yesterday on a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, less than a week after it appeared he had a two-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles. The Pirates deal is expected to be worth at least $6 million and would include an option for the 2007 season. The Pirates sought to add Burnitz a year ago, but he signed instead with the Cubs and went on to hit.258 with 24 homers and 87 RBI.