Taylor says he's open to leaving Miami

Jason Taylor said yesterday during a Hollywood, Fla., press conference that he wants to play one more season, but is uncertain whether it will be for the Miami Dolphins. The six-time Pro Bowl defensive end denied reports that he demanded to be traded, but did acknowledge for the first time that if Miami wants to move him, he would be receptive. "I would love to be a Dolphin and win games and have it work out for everybody. But that may not be the case," he said. Taylor and the Dolphins have been estranged for weeks, partly over his decision to perform on "Dancing with the Stars" and not work out with teammates in South Florida. Last month, Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said Taylor would miss all minicamps and training camp, without elaborating. Taylor met with Sparano last week and said he has a good relationship with the Dolphins' new coach - but would not commit to being with the Dolphins when training camp begins next month . . . Police in Buffalo are investigating a hit-and-run accident involving a sports utility vehicle registered to the Bills' Marshawn Lynch, but didn't know whether he was in the SUV when it struck and injured a female pedestrian early Saturday. Buffalo Police Department spokesman Mike DeGeorge said it's unclear whether the running back was driving or even in the SUV when the accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. Saturday at an intersection near Buffalo's downtown bar district.

San Diego Padres pitcher Mark Prior will undergo season-ending surgery on his injured right shoulder, the latest medical setback to a once-promising career. Padres manager Bud Black announced the decision before yesterday's game against the San Francisco Giants. Prior, one of the top young pitchers in the game for the Chicago Cubs just a few years ago, has not pitched in the majors since Aug. 10, 2006. He had been trying to make a comeback with his hometown Padres this season, but his rehab process was shut down at extended spring training about two weeks ago when he had more soreness in the shoulder . . . The New York Yankees designated infielder Morgan Ensberg for assignment and recalled righthander Scott Patterson for another option out of the bullpen. The 32-year-old Ensberg was batting just .203 with one extra-base hit, a homer, and four RBIs in 74 at-bats. Three years ago, Ensberg hit .283 with 36 homers and 101 RBIs for the Astros . . . Former catcher Mike Lieberthal signed a one-day minor league contract and officially retired as a member of the Phillies. The 36-year-old Lieberthal spent 13 of his 14 years in the majors with Philadelphia.

Jackie Vasquez hit a three-run homer after slugger Kaitlin Cochran was hit with a pitch, leading Arizona State to a 3-1 win over Alabama and a berth in the Women's College World Series finals. The Sun Devils will face Texas A&M in the best-of-three championship beginning today. The Aggies beat top-seeded Florida, 1-0, on Kelsey Spittler's RBI triple down the right-field line in the ninth inning . . . Jessica Merchant homered, but the New England Riptide fell to the host Washington Glory, 6-5, in National Pro Fastpitch action.

Usain Bolt, the newly anointed "World's Fastest Man," said the 100-meter race wasn't even part of his normal routine until he pleaded with his coach for two years to let him try it. His coach, Glen Mills, eventually relented last season. And now the Jamaican, who made his name in the 200 meters, is the world record-holder - recording a time of 9.72 seconds after a remarkable run Saturday night in New York. "I've been asking for two years to give me a chance," Bolt said. "He gave me a chance last year to run one 100 meters, and I had a 10.03. Then he decided, 'Hey, let's try this and see what we can do.' I showed him what I can do in the 100 now." . . . South African double-amputee Oscar Pistorius won the 100- and 400-meter races at the Dutch Open in Emmeloord, Netherlands, as he gears up for a bid to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. Pistorius, who hopes to run the 400 at Beijing, won in 47.92 seconds at the paralympic meet, a day after coming first in the 200. Pistorius must run the 400 under 45.55 to qualify for Beijing. Pistorius later won the 100 in 11.48.

Cristiano Ronaldo said he plans to end the uncertainty over his Manchester United future on Wednesday. Braced for a potential transfer request, manager Alex Ferguson warned that United's American owners would banish marquee players like Ronaldo to the stands rather than sell the club's top assets. Ferguson has been infuriated by Real Madrid's attempts to attract the Portugal winger, and United has threatened to report the Spanish champion to FIFA . . . In Major League Soccer, Conor Casey and Tom McManus scored and the host Colorado Rapids ended FC Dallas's six-game winning streak against them with a 2-1 win. FC Dallas held an 11-game unbeaten streak against the Rapids. Colorado's last win over FC Dallas was Sept. 4, 2004 . . . Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of Spain wrapped up victory in the Giro d'Italia, becoming the first non-Italian to win the three-week race since 1996. Contador edged Italy's Riccardo Ricco by 1 minute 57 seconds over the 2,128-mile course . . . Tamika Whitmore and Lindsay Whalen scored 19 points apiece to help the Connecticut Sun edge the host Chicago Sky, 75-73, in WNBA action . . . Joe Axelson, a former general manager for the Cincinnati Royals who remained with the NBA team when the franchise moved first to Kansas City-Omaha and became the Kings, then later shifted to Sacramento, died Saturday in Coronado, Calif. He was 80.