Avery apologizes for 'off-color' remarks

Suspended Dallas Stars agitator Sean Avery flew to New York yesterday for a meeting with commissioner Gary Bettman and gave a likely sample of what he'll say by apologizing for comments about his former girlfriends. "I would like to sincerely apologize for my off-color remarks to the press from Calgary," Avery said. "I should not have made those comments and I recognize that they were inappropriate. It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game, but I am now acutely aware of how hurtful my actions were. I caused unnecessary embarrassment to my peers as well as people I have been close with in the past. I apologize for offending the great fans of the NHL, the commissioner, my teammates, my coaching staff, and the Dallas Stars management and ownership." The hearing will be this morning. Stars co-general manager Brett Hull also flew to New York to represent the club. "Until Mr. Bettman and the NHL decide what the right punishment is, we're kind of just waiting," Hull said. The NHL didn't have a timetable for a decision . . . Avalanche captain Joe Sakic, who is in his 20th season, will be sidelined at least six weeks while receiving treatment for a herniated disk in his back . . . Flyers center Danny Briere will be sidelined 4-5 weeks with a severe groin strain . . . The Ducks acquired defenseman Logan Stephenson from the Coyotes for left wing Joakim Lindstrom.

The Giants were close to acquiring free agent shortstop Edgar Renteria, though a deal had yet to be completed last night. The Giants have been pursuing Renteria to replace 11-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel. Renteria, who played in 2005 with the Red Sox, is expected to receive a two-year deal. His agent, Jeffrey Lane, spent yesterday in San Francisco and said "a deal is very close." Earlier in the day, the Giants bolstered their bullpen by agreeing to terms on a $2.75 million, one-year contract with free agent Bob Howry, 35, who was declined salary arbitration by the Cubs Monday . . . In other moves, free agent Russell Branyan, who started last season in Triple A before getting called up to the Brewers, and the Mariners agreed to a $1.4 million, one-year contract; Tampa Bay lefthander Trever Miller, 35, and the Cardinals finalized a one-year contract; the Mets signed Nelson Figueroa, 34; righthanded reliever Chad Fox, 38, and the Cubs agreed to a minor league contract; and Seattle hired Rick Adair as pitching coach and John Wetteland as bullpen coach.

Tampa Bay Rays closer Troy Percival had back surgery this week and is expected to be ready to return to the American League champions before Opening Day. The 39-year-old righthander went 2-1 with a 4.53 ERA and a team-leading 28 saves last season, but also missed 42 games while spending three stints on the disabled list because of hamstring and knee injuries.

Oft-injured Mike Hampton finalized a one-year, $2 million deal with the Houston Astros, hoping to resurrect his career in the place where he became a prominent big league pitcher. "Some of my fondest memories came in an Astros uniform," he said. "So it's a chance to return to some of those glory days." Hampton, 36, spent six seasons with the Astros, ending in 1999 when he won a career-high 22 games and was an All-Star. He was traded to the Mets and won 15 games in 2000 before signing a $121 million, eight-year contract with Colorado. The deal proved to be one of the worst free agent signings ever, with Hampton going 56-52 with a 4.81 ERA in just 147 starts for the Rockies and Atlanta, who acquired him after the 2002 season. Hampton sat out 2006 after elbow ligament surgery and did not pitch in 2007 because of an oblique injury and an elbow problem that required season-ending surgery. He went 3-4 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 starts for the Braves last season.

In May, third-ranked Novak Djokovic will host Serbia's first ATP tournament, which will offer $500,000 in prize money. His family bought the license of the ABN Amro Open previously held in the Netherlands. "After all the success of our players, we have managed to bring Serbia to the world map of tennis," he said. Serbia boasts top-ranked Jelena Jankovic and No. 5 Ana Ivanovic, the French Open winner . . . Roger Federer will play only two clay-court tournaments before the French Open, the only Grand Slam tournament he has never won. Federer will head to Paris May 24 after playing Masters series events on his least favorite surface in Rome and Madrid, according to a schedule published on his website. Federer had a tough 2008 season marred by illness and a back injury. He surrendered his Wimbledon title and No. 1 ranking to Nadal, but won the US Open for his 13th Grand Slam title.

Seve Ballesteros was released from intensive care a day after the five-time major golf winner underwent his fourth brain surgery to deal with a cancerous tumor. Officials at Madrid's La Paz Hospital said Ballesteros, 51, was "well" but would remain hospitalized after doctors implanted a valve to drain fluid from his brain Tuesday . . . David Beckham is hoping his stint with AC Milan will help extend his career and lead to another appearance with the English national team. He will join the Italian club in January on a three-month loan. The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder gave no indication his career is nearing its end, but "I take each game as it comes."