Sports Briefs September 27, 2011
Basketball
The Italian team Virtus Bologna says its top offer to Kobe Bryant is a one-year contract worth $5 million.
With NBA players locked out, Virtus hopes the Los Angeles Lakers star agrees to a deal before he arrives in Italy this week for a tour arranged by one of his sponsors.
"An Italian brand well known around the world" is prepared to provide cash for the deal, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday, indicating the unidentified company is not Bologna's main sponsor, Canadian Solar.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations are ongoing, said the other offers on the table include a two-month deal worth nearly $2 million, a one-month contract for $1.3 million or $900,000 for only one game.
All of the offers are pretax and would allow Bryant to return to the Lakers immediately if the lockout ends.
• With one round of cancelations behind them and more significant ones looming without a new labor deal soon, representatives for NBA players and owners will meet today and perhaps Wednesday for talks aimed at ending the lockout.
The union has canceled a regional meeting with players today in Miami so its negotiators can meet with league officials in New York instead, a person familiar with the plans said on condition of anonymity because the details are supposed to remain confidential.
Football
Tony Romo persevered through pain to lead enough deep drives to set up Dan Bailey for six field goals, including a 40-yarder with 1:57 left to give the Cowboys (2-1) an 18-16 victory over the Washington Redskins (2-1) at Arlington, Texas.
• Philadelphia coach Andy Reid said a CT scan showed quarterback Michael Vick has a hand "contusion." Reid said X-rays taken during the Eagles' 29-16 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday showed Vick may have a fracture.
It's uncertain if Vick, who throws left-handed, will play when the Eagles host the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday.
• New Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs said the football team's bad record, a lack of fan support, and off-the-field events led to the firing of head coach Mike Locksley.
The firing comes after a rocky tenure by Locksley, who faced a sexual harassment suit, a suspension after he punched another coach, and most recently, criticism after police arrested a man on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in an SUV registered to Locksley's wife.
Tiger Woods has hired Joe LaCava to be his third full-time caddie.
LaCava decided to leave Dustin Johnson, one of the most talented young Americans, to go to work for the former world No. 1 who hasn't won in the last two years.
LaCava was the longtime caddie for Fred Couples, a relationship that ended in the summer because Johnson was looking for a caddie and Couples' playing schedule was being reduced because of his health.
Baseball
Florida Marlins manager Jack McKeon says he'll retire after the season, ending at age 80 a three-month career comeback.
He's already plotting his next return.
• Joe Mauer says he's sure there's nothing wrong with him more than the pneumonia that prematurely ended his rough season.
But Mauer insisted that the illness is too much for him to play, that he'd be on the field if he could.
Mauer was diagnosed with mild pneumonia on Sept. 16, and doctors recommended medication plus two weeks of rest. He came down with an upper respiratory infection on Sept. 2 before developing a cough and deciding to visit the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
- The Associated Press