BASEBALL

Big Unit Has Back Surgery

Yankees pitcher Randy Johnson had surgery yesterday to repair a herniated disk in his back.

Dr. Michael Watkins operated on the Big Unit in Los Angeles. Watkins also operated on Johnson’s back 10 years ago.

“The surgery went fine. The doctor said he was thrilled,” Johnson’s agent, Barry Meister, said. “Randy will return home to Phoenix tomorrow.”

The Yankees’ general manager, Brian Cashman, had not spoken with team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon following the operation, a spokesman for the team, Ben Tuliebitz, said. Cashman has said he expects Johnson to be behind the other pitchers when spring training starts in mid-February.

The 43-year-old Johnson went 17–11 with a 5.00 ERA in 33 starts this season. He lost Game 3 in the first round of the playoffs against Detroit, giving up five runs in 5.2 innings.

Sheffield Angry That Yankees Are Likely To Exercise Option

Gary Sheffield is angry the Yankees plan to exercise his $13 million option for next season rather than allow him to become a free agent.

While the Yankees have until November 5 to decide on the option, Sheffield told USA Today that he has been told it will be exercised.

“This will not work, this will not work at all,” he was quoted as saying in yesterday’s editions. “I don’t want to play first base a year for them. I will not do that.”

If the Yankees exercise the option, included as part of the three-year contract Sheffield negotiated before the 2004 season, they likely would trade him. By exercising the option, they can prevent him from winding up with the Boston Red Sox.

Padres’ Bochy Interviews for Giants Managerial Job

The San Diego Padres’ manager, Bruce Bochy, interviewed with the Giants in San Francisco yesterday about their managerial opening.

The Giants received permission from the Padres Wednesday to talk to Bochy, who met with general manager Brian Sabean the next day about becoming Felipe Alou’s successor.

“If he’s available and that’s a reality, we’d have to go forward and interview the man,” the Giants’ vice president of player personnel, Dick Tidrow, said.

A meeting between Bochy and Sabean needed to happen immediately as Bochy is set to leave Monday for Japan to manage a group of major leaguers in an exhibition tour. He replaced Boston Red Sox skipper Terry Francona, who withdrew because of health reasons.

FOOTBALL

T.O. Happy About QB Change; Jerry Jones Sorry It Happened

While Jerry Jones is disappointed the Dallas Cowboys are going to their backup quarterback, he won’t get any complaints from Terrell Owens.

T.O. said yesterday he already feels better chemistry with Tony Romo than he ever did with deposed starter Drew Bledsoe. Owens even had an example, pointing out his 8-yard touchdown catch against the Giants on Monday night.

“I looked across the formation and he looked at me and he knew what was going on,” Owens said. “It’s just two players making a play.”

Did he and Bledsoe ever develop that bond?

“I honestly tried to do that time and time again,” he said. “But for whatever reason it didn’t happen.”

BASKETBALL

Hawks Lose Marvin Williams 6–8 Weeks With Broken Hand

Just as Speedy Claxton was returning, the Atlanta Hawks lost Marvin Williams to the same injury.

Williams, the no. 2 overall pick in last year’s NBA draft, broke a bone in his left hand during practice yesterday and will be out up to eight weeks. The Hawks open the regular season Wednesday at Philadelphia.

Coach Mike Woodson said the injury occurred as Williams swiped at the ball during a routine drill, just as he was getting ready for his first season as a starter.

TENNIS

Federer Extends Winning Streak to 21 Matches

Swiss star Roger Federer easily advanced to the quarterfinals in the Swiss Indoors yesterday, winning the final eight games in a 6–2, 6–0 victory over Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Federer, trying to win his hometown tournament for the first time, extended his longest winning streak of the year to 21 matches.

“I’m playing unbelievable right now,” Federer said. “To take control of the match the way I did today was surprising. … I felt like I couldn’t miss much.”

Federer has twice reached the final in Basel, losing to Thomas Enqvist in 2000 and to Tim Henman in 2001.

— Associated Press