HOCKEY

Islanders’ Leading Scorer Yashin Out 2–4 Weeks

Alexei Yashin will be out at least two weeks with a sprained right knee, and the Islanders’ leading scorer could miss a month.

Yashin, who has 10 goals and 18 assists in 22 games this season, was injured late in Saturday night’s 4–1 victory over Washington when he smacked legs with Capitals forward Matt Bradley.

“It’s a big loss, no doubt, especially with Yash playing so well,” the Islanders coach, Ted Nolan, said yesterday. “It’s up to everyone else to step up their games and take advantage of the opportunities they’re provided.”

FOOTBALL

Cowboys Release Kicker Vanderjagt; Sign Gramatica

This is how serious Bill Parcells is taking the Dallas Cowboys’ stretch drive: He cut inconsistent kicker Mike Vanderjagt yesterday.

Hailed as the answer to the Cowboys’ kicking woes when signed in March, Vanderjagt wasn’t living up to his statistical claim to fame as the most accurate kicker in league history. He was only 13-of-18 on field goals, a 72.2% success rate that was the lowest of his nine-year career.

Vanderjagt also didn’t like having to kick off, one of many aspects of his quirky personality that didn’t always go over well with Parcells.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Alabama Fires Shula After 6–6 Season

The Crimson Tide is once again in the market for a head coach, its fourth in six years, after the athletic director, Mal Moore, announced Mike Shula’s firing yesterday. Moore said he would look for a “proven winner” and that defensive coordinator Joe Kines would serve as interim coach for the bowl-eligible Tide.

Long famed for titles, bowls and Bear Bryant, Alabama is gaining a reputation for something far less complimentary: coaching turnover and turmoil.

“It’s what Alabama is known for right now,” a defensive end, Wallace Gilberry, said. “One day we’re going to find the right fit who’s going to come in here and turn the program around.”

Dantonio Hired As Michigan State Coach

Mark Dantonio is back with the Michigan State football program. This time, he’s in charge and he has much flashier jewelry.

Dantonio, an assistant with the program from 1995–00 and the Cincinnati head coach the past three seasons, was hired yesterday as the Spartans’ coach. At his introduction, he displayed the 2002 championship ring he won as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator.

“I wear this championship ring very, very few times, but I wear it for a reason,” Dantonio said. “I wear it to symbolize what can happen when you have the resources, when you have the players, and most importantly when you have the commitment.”

BASEBALL

Eaton and Phillies Agree To 3-Year, $24M Deal

Starting pitcher Adam Eaton and the Philadelphia Phillies reached a preliminary agreement on a $24 million, three-year contract, a baseball official told the Associated Press yesterday.

The deal is contingent on the righthander passing a physical, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been announced. Eaton was expected to be in Philadelphia today.

A first-round pick by the Phillies in 1996, Eaton is 54–45 with a 4.40 ERA in seven major league seasons. He has been on the disabled list six times in his career, but the Phillies are banking on him to fill out their rotation.

HOCKEY

Blackhawks Fire Coach; Hire Dennis Savard

After losing 12 of 15 games, the Chicago Blackhawks went on the offensive yesterday, switching coaches and styles.

The Blackhawks fired defense-oriented coach Trent Yawney, replacing him with assistant Denis Savard — a Hall of Fame player whose no. 18 hangs from the United Center rafters. With the new coach comes a faster pace.

— Associated Press