Hockey
TKACHUCK TRADED: Keith Tkachuk was shipped out of Phoenix to play for a Stanley Cup contender. Eric Lindros and Michael Peca stayed put and will probably sit out the entire season for teams they refuse to play for.
Tkachuk, the 28-year-old Coyotes captain, was traded to the St. Louis Blues in the headline deal completed before the NHL deadline.
Lindros and Peca, both restricted free agents who have not played this season, were not among the 31 players involved in 17 trades.
For Tkachuk, the Coyotes received center Michael Handzus, right wing Ladislav Nagy and forward Jeff Taffe, currently playing for the University of Minnesota.
The Sabres did, however, bolster their offense, acquiring Donald Audette from Atlanta and Steve Heinze from Columbus.
St. Louis also acquired left wing Cory Stillman from Calgary for center Craig Conroy and a seventh-round draft pick.
The Sabres sent Atlanta the rights to center Kamil Piros and this year's fourth-round draft pick for Audette. Columbus received a third-round pick from Buffalo for Heinze.
Basketball
OLAJUWON'S CAREER OVER? Hakeem Olajuwon, who led the Houston Rockets to a pair of NBA titles over a 17-year career and became the league's all-time shot blocker, is suffering from a blood condition that may end his stellar career with the team.
The Rockets said that Olajuwon has a blood problem in a vein in his lower left leg and will require medication that will keep him off the court for three to six months.
WOLVERINES FIRE ELLERBE: Brain Ellerbe will not return as Michigan's basketball coach after being asked to resign by the school's athletic director.
Ellerbe just finished his fourth year as coach of the Wolverines. Athletic director Bill Martin said he did not see sufficient improvement in a program that was once among the sport's elite.
Michigan went 10-18 this season and 4-10 in the Big Ten, closing the year with an 82-80 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten tournament. Ellerbe was 62-60 during his stay at Michigan.
Football
FREROTTE RETURNS TO BRONCOS: Unable to find a starting job elsewhere, quarterback Gus Frerotte returned to the Denver Broncos, agreeing to a one-year contract.
Frerotte, who turned down an offer from the Cincinnati Bengals last week, likely will fill the same role as last season when he was the backup to starter Brian Griese.
Auto racing
EARNHARDT'S AUTOPSY DISPUTE: Dale Earnhardt's widow and Orlando Sentinel lawyers were ordered to meet to try to resolve their dispute over autopsy photos of the NASCAR great.
The judge's order came as a Florida Senate committee unanimously approved a bill that would restrict the public's access to autopsy photos.
The bill still needs approval from the Senate Government Oversight and Productivity Committee before it can come to the full Senate for a vote. A House companion bill hasn't had a hearing yet.
The measure had been sought by Dale Earnhart's widow in her effort to keep a newspaper from seeing pictures of the NASCAR driving great.
Golf
TIGER WINS AWARD: Tiger Woods received the Mark H. McCormack Award for spending the most time last year at No. 1 in the world ranking — all 52 weeks.
Tennis
MASTERS SERIES TOURNAMENT: Second-ranked Marat Safin, his sore back forcing him to hit soft serves, was upset by Thomas Johansson 7-5, 7-5 in their first-round match in the men's Masters Series tournament.
Magnus Norman, the No. 5 seed, also lost, with Nicolas Lapentti beating him 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.
In another match, Mardy Fish, an up-and-coming 19-year-old from Vero Beach, Fla., eliminated Mark Philippoussis, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4.
Gustavo Kuerten, playing up to his No. 1 world ranking, ran his winning streak to 14 matches with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Cecil Mamiit.
Other winners included Lleyton Hewitt, Patrick Rafter and Tim Henman.
In the women's draw, top-seeded Martina Hingis and Kim Clijsters advanced to the semifinals.