Baseball
A'S REMAIN AT COLISEUM: The Athletics agreed to remain at the Oakland Coliseum for at least three more seasons, part of a settlement that also makes it more likely the team eventually will be sold to local buyers.In October, the A's triggered a clause giving them a year-to-year lease at the Coliseum and clearing the way for Steve Schott and Ken Hofmann to move the team or sell it to out-of-town buyers.
Basketball
NBA TALKS TO RESUME: NBA collective bargaining talks, on hold for nearly two weeks, were to resume Thursday.
The last time the sides met, Nov. 20, they called it their most productive session to date. Yet things quickly fell apart, with the union saying the owners' proposed changes to free agency timing rules were a "deal-killer," and the owners replying that the union reneged on its acceptance of a tax formula in the final years of a six- or seven-year deal.
NO MORE RESTRICTIONS: More jobs should be available to American basketball players in Europe starting next year.
The sport's world governing body on Wednesday agreed in principle to allow pros to play for any team without limits.
The federation previously restricted European club teams to two non-European players.
"What it means is a team like Real Madrid could field 10 Americans if they wanted," FIBA spokesman Florian Wanninger said. "It puts us in line with the NBA, which has no limit of any kind on foreign players."
WEBBER FINED: At Upper Marlboro, Md., Sacramento forward Chris Webber was cleared of the most serious charges against him but will have to pay $560 in fines for a Jan. 20 traffic stop that could have led to a jail sentence.
A Prince George's County circuit court jury acquitted Webber of possession of marijuana, driving under the influence of the drug, resisting arrest and second-degree assault. The panel found Webber guilty of two traffic violations and a misdemeanor charge.
Washington traded Webber to Sacramento in May.
Football
CHANDLER EXPECTS TO PLAY: Ten days of rest did wonders for Chris Chandler's sprained right ankle. Though his foot was heavily taped, Chandler returned to practice Wednesday and said he expects to play this weekend for the first-place Atlanta Falcons.
Chandler sustained the high ankle sprain Nov. 22 against Chicago and sat out last week's 21-10 victory over St. Louis. The Falcons (10-2) meet Indianapolis (2-10) Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
CINCY'S MACK BACK IN JAIL: Tremain Mack was back in jail and will miss the Cincinnati's final four games because of his latest drunken driving arrest.
A judge in Clermont County ruled the safety violated probation from a drunken driving conviction by getting arrested again on the same charge in Cincinnati in October. Municipal Court Judge James Shriver sentenced Mack to serve the remaining 356 days of his sentence that were suspended after he spent four days in jail last year.
COWBOYS SIGN BROWN: The Dallas Cowboys re-signed cornerback Larry Brown, their MVP in the Super Bowl three years ago.
Brown had a $12.5 million, five-year deal with Oakland but was kicked off the team in 1997 for what the Raiders called "conduct detrimental to the team." He signed for $76,000 for the remainder of the regular season.
COACHING MOVES: Former Southern California coach John Robinson met with UNLV officials to finalize details on a contract to replace Jeff Horton as coach of the Runnin' Rebels. A press conference was scheduled for Thursday, apparently to announce Robinson's hiring.
Promising a long-term stay, David Cutcliffe became coach at Mississippi, a job he will take on full-time after serving one more game as an assistant at No. 1 Tennessee. Tommy Tuberville left Ole Miss on Saturday to coach Auburn.
Baltimore Ravens assistant Kirk Ferentz, who worked under Hayden Fry during some of the best years of Iowa football, is returning as Fry's successor. Fry retired Nov. 23 after 20 years at Iowa.
Florida assistant Carl Franks is getting the coaching job at Duke, his alma mater, according to sources close to the program. Franks will succeed Fred Goldsmith, fired Monday after five seasons.
Hockey
PENGUINS PAY: The bankrupt Pittsburgh Penguins paid their players this week with $2.5 million obtained from the New York Rangers in the Petr Nedved trade and are counting on a $20 million loan from a French bank to meet their Dec. 15 payroll.