BASEBALL

TWINS POSTPONE GAME AFTER BRIDGE COLLAPSES

The Minnesota Twins have postponed today’s game against Kansas City following a bridge collapse near the Metrodome and team president Dave St. Peter said their weekend series with Cleveland also could be affected.

The Twins also postponed today’s groundbreaking ceremony for the team’s new stadium, which will be located downtown.

Twins officials decided to play last night’s game after conferring with department of public safety officials. It was decided that sending 20,000-25,000 people back into traffic could hinder rescue efforts.

“It is a difficult situation, but it was the right to do to play tonight,” St. Peter said. “Tomorrow is a different story. Not playing tomorrow is also a matter of traffic control. We are respectful of the situation and for the lives lost.”

BELL TO STEP DOWN AS ROYALS MANAGER AT END OF SEASON

Buddy Bell chose family over baseball yesterday, resigning as manager of the last-place Kansas City Royals effective at the end of the season.

An emotional Bell, who will turn 55 on August 27, announced the decision before Kansas City’s game against the Minnesota Twins. He will join the Royals’ front office in 2008 as a senior adviser to general manager Dayton Moore.

“I had to make a choice between managing and my family,” Bell said, “and to me that’s a no-brainer.”

Bell’s nephew, Marine Lance Cpl. Tim Bell Jr., was killed by a roadside bomb in August 2005 in Iraq, and Bell said health concerns also played a part in his decision. Last September, he had surgery to remove a cancerous growth in his throat.

WOOD COULD RETURN TO CUBS ON FRIDAY

Kerry Wood’s long path back to the majors will reach Wrigley Field this week when he’s activated by the Chicago Cubs, probably on Friday.

“I got back in the big leagues. The work hasn’t even begun,” Wood said Wednesday, the day after his final minor league rehab stint in which he pitched 1 2-3 hitless innings for Double-A Tennessee.

“I have hopefully two-plus months of hard work left and hopefully I’m prepared for it.”

HOCKEY

PREDATORS INTEND TO SELL TO LOCAL GROUP FOR $193M

Nashville Predators owner Craig Leipold thinks he’s finally sold his NHL franchise, this time to a group of local businessmen and one California venture capitalist that wants to keep the team in Music City.

Leipold announced yesterday he has signed a letter of intent to sell his team to the local group. The eight partners put down $10 million as a deposit toward the purchase price of $193 million.

“I’m thrilled to death the team is staying here,” Leipold said.

The only partner from outside the Nashville area is William “Boots” Del Biaggio III, who will have to sell his minority share in the San Jose Sharks as this deal closes. Leipold said he is excited to pass ownership to a group he knows is committed to Nashville. “We’ve certainly, as they say, put our money where our mouth is today,” said David Freeman, one of the partners and chief executive officer of 36 Venture Capital LLC.

GOLF

SORENSTAM TO USE TIGER’S YARDAGE BOOK AT ST. ANDREW’S

Annika Sorenstam will have some help from Tiger Woods when she plays the Women’s British Open at St. Andrews.

His Old Course yardage book will be tucked in her pocket.

Sorenstam has the book Woods used when he won the British Open here in 2005. He handed it to her recently in Orlando, Fla., where they both live.

“He said, ‘I have my yardage book. Do you want to use it?”‘ Sorenstam said Wednesday on the eve of the LPGA’s fourth major. “I replied, ‘I would love to. Are you sure?”‘

Sorenstam has a friendly rivalry with Woods based on the number of majors won — he has 12, she has 10. A few weeks ago, the two discussed the Old Course, where a women’s professional tournament will be held for the first time.

“He told me to hit left, which I already knew, and to practice my long putting, which is going to be key. And he’s absolutely right,” she said.