BASKETBALL

PISTONS TRADE MILICIC TO MAGIC The Detroit Pistons gave up on Darko Milicic last night, trading the no. 2 pick in the 2003 draft to the Orlando Magic along with Carlos Arroyo for a first-round selection and center Kelvin Cato. Detroit drafted Milicic three years ago after LeBron James and ahead of Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade. The 7-foot, 245-pound center from Serbia-Montenegro played in 96 games in three seasons, averaging 1.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 5.8 minutes. He is 20 years old. SEBAL

BASEBALL

AGENT: SOSA LIKELY TO RETIRE Sammy Sosa probably will retire after rejecting an offer from the Washington Nationals. The 37-year-old outfielder ranks fifth on the career home run list with 588 but batted .221 with 14 homers and 45 RBI last year in his only season with the Baltimore Orioles. Washington offered Sosa a non-guaranteed contract that would have included performance bonus opportunities.

“It wasn’t about the money and it wasn’t about no. 600,” Sosa’s agent, Adam Katz, said yesterday. “It was a function of Sammy’s expectation of his own performance. He didn’t want to go out there and under perform like he did last year because it was just too painful for him, and it’s just something he doesn’t want to go through again.”

After beginning his big league career with the Rangers in 1989, Sosa was traded to the Chicago White Sox. He was dealt to the Cubs in 1992 and became a star and fan favorite, captivating the county in 1998 when he and Mark McGwire dueled to break Roger Maris’s homer mark of 61. McGwire hit 70 and Sosa finished with 66.

FOOTBALL

SHERMAN JOINS TEXANS AS ASSISTANT HEAD COACH Mike Sherman, who was fired by the Green Bay Packers on January 2 after posting the first losing record in his tenure there (4-12), was introduced yesterday as Houston’s assistant head coach for offense. The 51-year-old Sherman had turned down offensive coordinator positions with Buffalo and the Jets when the Texans began wooing him. Sherman was 57-39 with four playoff trips in six seasons in Green Bay.

SOCCER

U.S. RISES TO NO. 6 IN FIFA RANKINGS The U.S. moved up one place and into a three-way tie for sixth in FIFA’s rankings released yesterday, matching the highest spot the Americans have held. Brazil maintained the top spot it has held since July 2002, a month after it won its record fifth World Cup. The Czech Republic remained second, followed by the Netherlands, Argentina, and France. The United States shared no. 6 with Mexico and Spain, which was tied for fifth with France in the January rankings. The Americans also were sixth last July. Egypt, which won its fifth African Cup of Nations title on Friday, rose 15 places to 17th, its highest position in eight years. Nigeria moved up 12 positions to 12th while African Cup semifinalist Cameroon gained seven spots to 16th.

– Associated Press