TENNIS

AGASSI TO SKIP ENTIRE CLAY COURT SEASON Andre Agassi will skip the entire ATP clay-court season, including the French Open, to improve his chances of playing at Wimbledon. The 35-year-old Agassi said cortisone injections are helping him stay on the court after sustaining a lower back strain and a sprained left ankle in the last few months.

“It is not realistic for me to consider myself competitive on clay,” Agassi said yesterday after a first-round win at the Dubai Open. “The wear and tear it puts on my body has set me back the last couple of years. And Wimbledon is something that I don’t want to miss this year.”

Agassi is playing only his second tournament of the season and third since lossing to Roger Federer in the final of the U.S. Open last September. Two weeks ago, Agassi pulled out of the SAP Open with a lower back injury. The eight-time Grand Slam champion hinted that he has been thinking about retirement.

“I am always on the edge,” Agassi said. “I don’t know when, but it can happen quickly. I get motivated with the challenge. This is what I do, and I have not decided to stop doing that.”

His chronic back problem flared last May following a five-set loss in the first round of the French Open. The sciatic nerve injury sidelined him for two months, forcing him to miss Wimbledon for a second straight year. He had a hip injury in 2004. Agassi had a 6-4 record last year on clay, where he’s won seven of his 60 career titles.

Agassi still managed to produce some magical shots against Greg Rusedski of Britain in a 7-6 (4), 6-0 win yesterday. He’ll face either Giorgio Galimberti of Italy or Bjorn Phau of Germany in the second round.

BASKETBALL

COLANGELO RESIGNS IN PHOENIX, LIKELY HEADED TO TORONTO Bryan Colangelo resigned as general manager of the Phoenix Suns yesterday, and was expected to take the same job with the Toronto Raptors. Colangelo, the NBA’s 2005 executive of the year after his retooled roster won a league-high 62 games, would replace Rob Babcock, who was fired by the Raptors on January 26.

Colangelo was in his 11th season as the Suns’ general manager and 17th with the team. His father is Suns chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo. Bryan reportedly has a contract worth $1 million per year that runs through next season. He also has an ownership stake in the Suns that he would have to sell upon leaving the club.

The Raptors reportedly have offered Colangelo a multiyear deal worth $3 million per year, and the job would give him more power over basketball operations than he has with the Suns.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

DUKE, UCONN BACK ON TOP OF AP POLL It’s back to a familiar pair at the top of the Associated Press’s college basketball poll. Duke was no. 1 for the second straight week yesterday, and Connecticut moved up one spot to no. 2. The teams held those two spots for eight of the previous 11 polls, each on top for four weeks.

Memphis extended its winning streak to 15 games with victories over Texas-El Paso and Tulsa last week and moved up one spot to no. 3, matching its highest ranking this season. The Tigers received one first-place vote.

The Top 10 ranking is the first for Ohio State since the Buckeyes were eighth in the final poll of 1999-2000. North Carolina made the week’s biggest jump from 21st to No. 13, the Tar Heels’ highest ranking of the season.

PITTSNOGLE LEADS WEST VIRGINIA OVER PITTSBURGH Kevin Pittsnogle, held scoreless by Pittsburgh two weeks ago, had 26 points in his final home game to lead no. 16 West Virginia to a 67-62 victory over no. 8 Pittsburgh last night.

The Mountaineers (20-8, 11-4), who clinched a first-round bye in the Big East tournament, never trailed in earning a second straight 20-win season for the first time since 1997-98.West Virginia has its first bye in the 12-team tournament, joining no. 2 Connecticut and no. 4 Villanova. The Mountaineers overtook Pittsburgh (21-5, 10-5) for sole possession of third place and can finish no worse than fourth.

BASEBALL

PERCIVAL BOLTS CAMP, COULD BE FINISHED Detroit Tigers reliever Troy Percival has left training camp, perhaps for good. The 11-year major league veteran, who is 10th on the league’s career saves list with 324, left after a painful performance Sunday in a simulated game. His locker was cleaned out and the nameplate removed, and he could not be reached for comment yesterday. The four-time All-Star struggled mightily in his inning of relief at Joker Marchant Stadium, which included a long home run to non-roster invitee Mike Rabelo.

Percival partially tore a muscle near his pitching elbow last July and hasn’t been the same since. After signing a two-year, $12-million contract before last season to be the Tigers’ closer, the injury limited him to 26 appearances. The 36-year-old was a disappointing 1-3 with a 5.76 ERA and eight saves last season. Percival, who spent the first 10 years of his career with the Los Angeles Angels, told reporters that he’s in pain when he pitches and had to change the mechanics of the way he throws.