BaseballROCKER ADMITS MISTAKE: John Rocker, the tough-talking reliever for the Atlanta Braves, admitted his comments that disparaged homosexuals, AIDS patients, foreigners, minorities and single mothers were a mistake.
Rocker triggered outrage in New York and even his native Georgia with his remarks in the current Sports Illustrated that could lead to discipline from baseball or the Braves.
Basketball
BILLUPS OUT FOR YEAR: Denver Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery next week that he realizes puts in doubt his future with the team.
Billups, who dislocated his left shoulder Dec. 16 against Sacramento, announced plans Wednesday for the surgery. Team physician Steve Traina will operate Monday.
The Denver native was hoping to help the Nuggets make it to the playoffs this season, then sign a long-term contract with the team.
Billups will be a free agent after this season. Missing the rest of the season probably will prevent him from signing a long-term deal after July 1, the date free agents are permitted to begin negotiating contracts.
Football
COLLINS RELEASED ON BAIL: Miami Dolphins running back Cecil Collins Collins had hoped to be released on bail. Instead, a judge ordered Collins to be sent to Louisiana for a probation violation.
Circuit Judge Dale Ross had little to decide after reading the conditions of probation signed by Collins after his arrest in Louisiana for unauthorized entry into two women's apartments.
BROWN SUSPENDED: The NFL pushed back at Orlando Brown, suspending the Cleveland tackle for shoving a referee who accidentally hit him in the eye with a weighted penalty flag.
The indefinite suspension was announced hours after Brown, expecting to be released from the hospital, learned must stay because of new bleeding in his right eye.
Hockey
HASEK MAY CHANGE HIS MIND: Two-time NHL most valuable player Dominik Hasek, has reaffirmed his decision to retire but again suggested he might change his mind.
Hasek announced in July he would retire at the end of this season. But he had a slow start and has not played since injuring his groin Oct. 27. Hasek told the Czech newspaper Sport this week that he is thinking about postponing his retirement.
Soccer
U.S. WOMEN TO BOYCOTT: Angered by stalled contract negotiations with the U.S. Soccer Federation, players on the Women's World Cup champions said they will boycott the Australia Cup next month. The USSF responded by saying it will send young players to the four-nation tournament.
The contract the players signed in 1996 expired six months ago and, according to John B. Langel, a lawyer for the players, the USSF said it will not make a new proposal in the near future.