Ferry to become GM in Cleveland

BASKETBALL

Danny Ferry has left the front office of the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs to become general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, two league sources said. Ferry, who played 10 seasons with the Cavaliers, accepted the job yesterday, the sources told the Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity. Ferry's hiring is expected to be announced today, one day before the NBA Draft. The Cavaliers currently don't have a selection but reportedly have discussed trading forward Jiri Welsch for a second-round pick. That deal could be easier to make now that the Cavaliers have found a replacement for GM Jim Paxson, who was fired the day after the season ended . . . Deanna Nolan scored 22 points to help the Detroit Shock pull off the biggest comeback in WNBA history, rebounding from a 25-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Sparks, 79-73, at Auburn Hills, Mich. Cheryl Ford added 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Shock, who trailed, 35-10, in the first half. The Shock set the previous record June 9, 2004, coming back from 23 down to win at Indiana . . . DeMya Walker scored a season-high 24 points to help the Sacramento Monarchs snap the Mystics' three-game winning streak with a 62-57 victory in Washington. Walker shot 11 for 13 from the field and had seven rebounds for the Monarchs . . Katie Smith scored 22 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 73-70 victory over the Seattle Storm in Minneapolis. Smith scored 15 of the last 20 points for the Lynx, who have won four straight at home.

BASEBALL

Mets put Mientkiewicz on 15-day DL

Doug Mientkiewicz was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the New York Mets after injuring his right hamstring while in the the on-deck circle Saturday. The first baseman had an MRI that revealed a slight tear. The Mets purchased the contract of veteran infielder Jose Offerman from Triple A Norfolk . . . The San Diego Padres put first baseman Phil Nevin on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his left side and recalled outfielder Ben Johnson from Triple A Portland. Nevin hurt himself during batting practice last Tuesday and hasn't played since. The Padres also said outfielder Eric Young, on the DL since April 8 with a dislocated right shoulder, began a 20-day rehabilitation assignment with Portland.

TOUR de FRANCE

Armstrong downplays 'silly crash'

With a week to go before his final Tour de France, six-time winner Lance Armstrong says he feels better than ever despite a training crash last week that left him with a black eye and a broken helmet. In a telehone call from Nice with US reporters, Armstrong pronounced himself fit for the race and tried to downplay injuries suffered in what he called a ''silly crash." Armstrong crashed at low speed during the start of a training ride last week in Nice. He lost control on his time-trial bike and sailed over the handlebars, his helmet splitting in two on impact. ''Fortunately, I haven't felt any ill effects from the crash in terms of pedaling. I feel I'm just as fluid as I was before."

SOCCER

Argentina and Brazil set for showdown

Argentina beat Mexico, 6-5, on penalty kicks at Hanover, Germany, setting up a showdown for the Confederations Cup title Wednesday in Frankfurt with World Cup champion Brazil. After 90 minutes of regulation without goals, Carlos Salcido scored during overtime in the 104th minute for Mexico, and Luciano Figueroa tied it in the 110th for Argentina. Esteban Cambiasso scored the clinching penalty kick after Ricardo Osorio was the first to miss at 5-5 . . . Chris Rolfe had a goal and an assist to lead the Fire to a 3-1 MLS victory over Real Salt Lake in Chicago . . . Lori Chalupny and Christie Welsh scored first-half goals and the United States women beat Canada, 2-0, in an exhibition at Virginia Beach, Va., giving Greg Ryan a victory in his first game since being promoted to head coach in April.

COLLEGES

Gottfried gets new deal from Alabama

Alabama men's basketball coach Mark Gottfried signed a new six-year contract worth $1 million a year. Athletic director Mal Moore said the deal, with a $200,000 base salary and $800,000 in talent fees, makes Gottfried, 41, the first Crimson Tide basketball coach to reach the $1 million mark. Gottfried, who became Alabama coach in 1998, has led the Crimson Tide to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances . . . Ohio State women's basketball coach Jim Foster signed a seven-year contract extension. Foster was named Big Ten coach of the year last season in his third year with the Buckeyes, winning a school-record 30 games and advancing to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16.

MISCELLANY

Roenick sounds off on labor issue

The Flyers' Jeremy Roenick criticized the players' union for not taking the deal the NHL offered in February and for ignoring the voice of a few players who stressed the offer was better than the contract they are close to signing. ''The deal in February beats the [expletive] out of the deal we're gonna sign in July," Roenick told the media at a charity golf tournament in Presto, Pa. ''We've hurt our league, we've hurt the reputation of our league, and we've hurt the integrity of our league by sticking up for something that might not have been the right thing to do." . . . Mexico's Martin Castillo defended his World Boxing Association super flyweight title with a unanimous 12-round decision over Hideyasu Ishihara in Nagoya, Japan. Castillo dominated to improve to 29-1-0 with 16 knockouts . . . In Berlin, Brazil's Marcio Araujo and Fabio Magalhaes won the Beach Volleyball World Championship title, defeating Switzerland's Sascha Heyer and Paul Laciga, 22-20, 21-12 . . . The Texas Thunder scored four unearned runs in the fifth inning and blanked the New England Riptide, 4-0, in a National Pro Fastpitch matchup in Lowell.