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
Mattingly Promoted To Bench Coach
Don Mattingly is moving up to Yankees’ bench coach next season, a promotion that makes him the early favorite to one day succeed Joe Torre as manager.
A six-time All-Star first baseman for the Yankees from 1982–95, Mattingly rejoined New York in 2004 as hitting coach. Torre, hired by the Yankees before the 1996 season, is entering the final season of his contract and isn’t sure he wants to manage beyond 2007.
“It’s probably a step in that direction,” Mattingly said yesterday during a telephone conference call.”I want to have an opportunity to manage at some point.”
TRACK & FIELD
BALCO Grand Jury To Charge Track Coach Graham
A track coach, Trevor Graham, who helped launch a three-year federal probe of steroid use by elite athletes is expected to be charged here as soon as today with obstructing the investigation, two Justice Department officials with knowledge of the investigation told the Associated Press.
Speaking on condition of anonymity because the charges had not been made public, the officials said Graham would be charged with making false statements to authorities investigating steroid use in sports.
Graham operates Raleigh-based Sprint Capitol USA, a team of about 10 athletes that includes a 100-meter coworld record holder, Justin Gatlin, who tested positive for testosterone and other steroids in April.
GOLF
Azinger To Become U.S. Ryder Cup Captain
Paul Azinger and Nick Faldo have competed on the golf course and shared space in a television tower as commentators. The next time they square off will be as Ryder Cup captains in two years at Valhalla.
Azinger, a former PGA champion and cancer survivor who played in four Ryder Cups without losing a singles match, has been selected the next American captain, according to two people with knowledge of the appointment.
HOCKEY
Panthers Winger Todd Bertuzzi Might Have Back Surgery
Florida Panthers winger Todd Bertuzzi might have surgery to repair his injured back.
Bertuzzi, sidelined by a herniated disk since an October 18 game at Washington, hasn’t been responding to injections, a Panthers spokesman, Justin Copertino, said yesterday.
— Associated Press