Report: Agent confirms Billups to stay

Basketball
It appears Chauncey Billups wasn't gambling when he left $6.3 million on the table. Three days after his agent, Andy Miller, denied the sides were close to a deal, the All-Star point guard agreed on a multiyear contract to remain with the Detroit Pistons, ESPN and the Detroit Free Press reported. Citing two sources familiar with the negotiations, the Free Press reported that Billups came to an agreement Friday night on a five-year, $60.5 million deal, with the fifth year a team option. Miller confirmed an agreement, but would not confirm the terms, according to the Free Press. Billups, 30, became an unrestricted free agent after opting out of the last year of a six-year contract . . . Houston Rockets first-round pick Aaron Brooks and Phoenix Suns first-round pick Alando Tucker signed two-year contracts . . . In WNBA play, Katie Douglas's 28 points lifted the visiting Connecticut Sun past the Los Angeles Sparks, 110-89 . . . Erin Buescher scored a career-high 27 points to help the host San Antonio Silver Stars hold off the Seattle Storm, 80-73 . . . Alana Beard had 25 points for the visiting Washington Mystics, who beat the Chicago Sky, 77-73.

Baseball

Alex Rodriguez plans to play in the All-Star Game despite his strained left hamstring. The two-time MVP, who said he made his decision after New York's loss to the Angels yesterday, acknowledged his leg is not 100 percent, but he'll start at third base for the American League Tuesday night in San Francisco . . . Reigning Cy Young winner Brandon Webb of the Diamondbacks will replace injured Colorado reliever Brian Fuentes (strained back muscle) on the NL All-Star roster . . . Yankees righthander Jeff Karstens threw 32 of 48 pitches for strikes over 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his first minor league rehab start since breaking his right leg April 28. Meanwhile, Yankee Phil Hughes, who strained his left hamstring May 1 while working on a no-hit bid during the seventh inning against Texas in his second major league start, is scheduled to make his first rehab start tomorrow . . . Jose Jimenez, who pitched a no-hitter as a rookie with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999, was one of two Dominican athletes removed from this month's Pan American Games in Brazil after they tested positive for banned substances. Jimenez tested positive for anabolic steroids. Boxer Rafael Fernandez Sosa was also banned . . . The host Rochester Red Wings scored five runs off Abe Alvarez (4-8) in five innings, then held on for a 5-4 victory over the Pawtucket Red Sox . . . Lyle Overbay hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the host New Hampshire Fisher Cats topped the Portland Sea Dogs, 6-4.

Auto racing

Lewis Hamilton moved a step closer to becoming the first Englishman since Damon Hill in 1994 to win the British Grand Prix, taking the pole position for his first Formula One race in his homeland. Hamilton had the fastest lap of 1 minute 19.997 seconds on the 3.2-mile Silverstone, England, circuit as time ran out in the qualifying session, edging Kimi Raikkonen by .102 seconds. Hamilton will try to extend his 8-for-8 streak of top-three finishes in his rookie F1 season.

Miscellany

Alberto Salazar was released from a hospital in Portland, Ore., one week after the three-time New York City Marathon champion had a heart attack. Hospital officials declined to provide details of Salazar's departure or his condition, but US middle- and long-distance runner Kara Goucher told The Oregonian newspaper, "He's doing great." Salazar, 48, who grew up in Wayland and won the 1982 Boston Marathon, collapsed while coaching distance runners outside Portland . . . Julie Ditty won three sets , helping the Boston Lobsters defeat the host Philadelphia Freedoms, 23-16, in World TeamTennis play . . . Panty Raid won the $750,000 American Oaks, defeating an international field in her first turf race at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif. Joe Talamo, 17, earned his first two Grade 1 victories by sweeping the undercard stakes, winning the $294,000 Vanity Invitational Handicap aboard Nashoba's Key and the $300,000 Triple Bend Invitational Handicap aboard Bilo . . . English Channel broke his course record at Monmouth Park, finishing in 2:12.89 to win the $750,000 United Nations Stakes in Oceanport, N.J., by a length over Honey Ryder . . . Providence boxer Peter Manfredo Jr. was arrested after allegedly throwing a rock through the window of an SUV owned by a tenant of a house Manfredo owns in Johnston, R.I., police said . . . Joachim Alcine captured the World Boxing Association super welterweight title from Travis Simms with a unanimous decision in a foul-filled fight in Bridgeport, Conn. . . . Trena Peel hit a grand slam off Danielle Henderson as the Philadelphia Force edged the visiting New England Riptide, 7-6, in a National Pro Fastpitch game.