COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Florida Is Preseason No. 1

The same starting five that left the court in Indianapolis with Florida’s first national championship will start this season with the no. 1 ranking.

The Gators were the runaway choice yesterday in the Associated Press’ preseason college basketball poll — no surprise, since they have everyone back for a run at being the first repeat national champion since Duke in 1992.

The last preseason no. 1 to win the national championship was Connecticut in 2004, and before that it was Kentucky in 1996.

BASEBALL

Rangers Hire Washington As Manager

Ron Washington has always been a popular coach with players, stressing communication and letting them be themselves.

Now he will get his chance as a man ager with the Texas Rangers, who want ed and needed somebody with those characteristics.

“I am very thrilled. I don’t think I can find words to express it right now, “Washington said by cell phone while on a plane yesterday, about to fly from his native New Orleans to Texas for his introduction “Maybe one day I will find the words.”

Washington, a coach for the Oakland Athletics the past 11 seasons, was chosen over four other candidates to replace Buck Showalter and inherit a team that has had only one winning season since last making the playoffs in 1999.

HORSE RACING

Classic Runner-Up Bernardini Retired

Bernardini has run his last race. Two days after finishing second in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, the 3-year-old colt was retired yesterday and will stand at stud at Sheik Mohammed’s Darley farm.

Bernardini was the leading Horse of the year contender entering the Classic at Churchill Downs off six straight victories, including the Preakness, the Travers, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Sent off as the even-money favorite in the Classic, Bernardini made a bold move around the turn to take the lead but was overtaken in the stretch by Invasor, who won by a length.

Bernardini is owned by Sheik Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai.

BASKETBALL

Kings’ Miller Out 4 Weeks With Foot Injury

Sacramento center Brad Miller’s injured left foot will sideline him at least four weeks, leaving the Kings without one of their best players.

A former All-Star who played for the U.S. national team at the world championships in Japan this summer, Miller, was diagnosed with a torn plantar fascia in his left foot yesterday. He has been slowed by the injury since training camp. The ninth-year pro has averaged just six points in the Kings’ first three games, going 8-for-28 from the field.

Forwards Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Kenny Thomas, and Maurice Taylor, and will fill in at center in Miller’s absence with the Kings, who hosted Minnesota last night in their home opener.

FOOTBALL

Urlacher Injury Not Major

An MRI exam showed the Bears’ star linebacker, Brian Urlacher, has a sprained big toe on his left foot and not the major injury the team had feared.

“Brian means quite a bit to our football team, so that was cause for concern, but we feel a lot better about it now,” coach Lovie Smith said yesterday.

— Associated Press