Golf
LANGER WON'T BE RYDER CAPTAIN: Bernhard Langer will not return as European captain for the 2006 Ryder Cup, opening the way for Ian Woosnam or Nick Faldo to take over.
Langer, the two-time Masters champion who led Europe to a 18 1/2-9 1/2 victory over the United States last year at Oakland Hills, announced his decision in a statement Wednesday.
"I wish to end all speculation that I will serve a second term as captain," Langer said. "I have officially informed the European Tour tournament committee through the chairman, Jamie Spence, that I have every intention of being a playing member of the 2006 European team."
Europe is expected to select its captain March 1 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, two days before the start of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Hockey
GRIZZ BRING BACK LATTERY: The Utah Grizzlies have signed left wing Dana Lattery to a professional tryout. This is Lattery's second stint with the Grizzlies this season.
Lattery, 25, had one assist and was a plus-1 in one game with Utah this season, a victory over Milwaukee on Dec. 18. He also had an eight-game audition with the Providence Bruins (AHL) earlier this season recording an assist and 20 penalty minutes.
The 5-11, 220-pound forward has played 32 games with the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers, scoring 11 goals with 14 assists and 37 penalty minutes.
Utah begins a six-game road trip on Friday in Edmonton.
Broadcasting
ANALYST LEAVES WNBA: Washington Mystics guard Stacey Dales-Schuman chose the TV studio over the basketball court, announcing her retirement from the WNBA on Wednesday after a recent increase in her role as an ESPN analyst.
"Over the past couple of seasons my passion and spirit for playing basketball has slowly diminished," Dales-Schuman said. Dales-Schuman joined ESPN in 2002 as a studio analyst for coverage of women's college basketball. Football and men's basketball were recently added to her network duties.
Dales-Schuman was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2002 draft from Oklahoma. She averaged 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in three seasons with the Mystics.
Football
NO-CONTEST PLEA: Miami Dolphins wide receiver David Boston pleaded no contest Wednesday to a charge that he struck a ticket agent at the Burlington International Airport in October.
Boston's attorney Douglas Kallen said his client was ordered to pay a $500 fine and $211 in restitution.
Boston, who missed the entire NFL season with a knee injury, was accused of hitting a U.S. Airways employee in the face on Oct. 19 after the agent refused to let him to board a plane. Boston said the agent caused him to miss his flight and had spit in his face.
The ticket agent, Ed Gorchinski, told police the flight was running late and that he had urged Boston, a late passenger, to hurry to the plane but Boston took his time. He told Boston he was closing the door and refused to allow him to board. Boston punched him in the face, causing his glasses to fall off, court papers said.
Skiing
MILLER THE FAVORITE: Defending champion Bode Miller is the favorite for the combined event at the Alpine Skiing World Championships, but Benjamin Raich may be a safer choice.
Fresh from winning the super-G world title Saturday, Miller could add another gold medal at today's combined race, which adds the times from a downhill and full two-leg slalom.
When he's on, Miller is faster than Raich in the downhill. And he's faster in the slalom, too, but only if he finishes. The 27-year-old American has one of the worst records in slalom this season.