Sports Briefs January 11, 2011
Football
Oregon State tailback Jacquizz Rodgers announced Monday he'll enter the NFL Draft.
Rodgers, 5-foot-7, 191-pound junior, finishes his college career with 3,877 rushing yards, second in school history behind Ken Simonton. He has scored 46 rushing touchdowns, also second to Simonton.
He is the school's career leader with receptions for a running back with 151.
Rodgers says he will return to Oregon State to finish his degree in ethnic studies.
• Todd Graham agreed to leave Tulsa and become Pitt's third football coach in a month, a move designed to quickly bring stability to a program rocked by former coach Mike Haywood's arrest last month.
Graham had a 36-17 record in four seasons at Tulsa.
• Houston Nutt is turning the Mississippi offense over to a familiar face with NFL experience.
The Ole Miss coach has hired Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach David Lee as his offensive coordinator. Nutt, shaking up his staff after a dismal 4-8 season, said he is turning over play-calling responsibilities to Lee.
Baseball
World Series MVP Edgar Renteria has agreed to a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds, who were looking for a veteran shortstop to replace Orlando Cabrera.
The Reds also agreed to a one-year contract with Fred Lewis, a left-handed hitter who can play all three outfield positions and bat leadoff.
The 35-year-old Renteria became a free agent after the Giants declined his $9.5 million contract option.
• Infielder Jason Bartlett and the San Diego Padres have agreed to an $11 million, two-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.
Bartlett gets $4 million this year and $5.5 million in 2012. The Padres hold a $5.5 million option for 2013 with a $1.5 million buyout.
Top 25 Men
Duke is again a unanimous No. 1 in The Associated Press' college basketball poll, receiving all 65 first-place votes. Ohio State, Kansas, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, San Diego State and Villanova held on to second through seventh. Gonzaga garnered 29 votes.
• Marquette 79, No. 9 Notre Dame 57: At Milwaukee, Dwight Buycks scored a career-high 21 points and Marquette (12-5, 3-1 Big East) beat the Irish (14-3, 3-2).
Bobcats 96, Grizzlies 82: Stephen Jackson scored 27 points to help host Charlotte past Memphis.
Rockets 108, Celtics 102: Aaron Brooks scored 24 points to lead host Boston over Houston.
Bulls 95, Pistons 82: Former Gonzaga standout Austin Daye scored 14 points in visiting Detroit's loss to Chicago.
Wojtek Wolski was acquired by the New York Rangers in a trade that sent veteran defenseman Michal Rozsival to the Phoenix Coyotes. New York has depth on defense with several young players - so much so that 20-year-old Michael Del Zotto was sent down to the AHL - and the 32-year-old Rozsival became expendable.
• Bruins 4, Penguins 2: Mark Recchi scored the third of visiting Boston's four goals in the final 3 1/2 minutes and the Bruins beat Pittsburgh.
Coyotes 4, Blues 3: Taylor Pyatt scored a late go-ahead goal in visiting Phoenix's victory over St. Louis.
Avalanche 5, Red Wings 4: At Denver, Peter Budaj stopped 26 shots to help Colorado over Detroit.
Maple Leafs 3, Kings 2: Nikolai Kulemin scored in the third to lift visiting Toronto past Los Angeles.
- The Associated Press