Mariners sign first Japanese catcher
Kenji Jojima and the Seattle Mariners agreed to a $16.5 million, three-year contract yesterday, making him the first Japanese catcher to play in the major leagues. The deal allows him to earn an additional $2.5 million in performance bonuses over the three seasons. An All-Star for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, Jojima became a free agent Nov. 8 after hitting .309 with 24 homers and 57 RBIs in 116 games in a season cut short by a broken left leg. He has earned seven straight Gold Gloves . . . Infielder Jeff Cirillo decided to stay with the Milwaukee Brewers, agreeing to an $850,000, one-year contract . . . Utilityman Eric Young agreed to a $700,000, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, two weeks after the team declined to exercise his option for next year. The Padres also received infielder Bobby Hill from the Cubs for a player to be named . . . Minnie Minoso and Buck O'Neil were among 39 candidates selected by a screening committee to appear on special Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues ballots for election to the Hall of Fame.
Rose, by any name, won't be on ballot
The Hall of Fame's doors will remain shut to Pete Rose, who won't appear on the baseball writers' ballot in what would normally be his final year of eligibility. Commissioner Bud Selig will not rule on Rose's application for reinstatement before the 2006 ballot is released next Tuesday, according to Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer. Rose, who last year admitted he bet on the Cincinnati Reds while managing the team in the late 1980s, is on baseball's suspended list. His final season as a player was 1986, and the rules for the ballot state that players must have been retired for at least five years but no more than 20 to be eligible for election. ''How can I be on a list that expires after 15 years if I'm suspended?" Rose said in comments relayed to The Associated Press through his manager, Warren Greene.BASKETBALL
Nuggets lose Nene for the season
The Denver Nuggets' Brazilian forward, Nene, had surgery on his right knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a torn medial collateral ligament, and a lateral meniscus tear, and is expected to miss the rest of the season. He was injured Nov. 1 in a season-opening loss to San Antonio . . . Phoenix guard Leandro Barbosa is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with a sprained left knee suffered in the Suns' loss at San Antonio Saturday . . . Seattle SuperSonics rookie center Johan Petro returned to practice, one day after checking into a hospital with dehydration from stomach flu . . . The Portland Trail Blazers placed forward Ruben Patterson on the inactive list after he cursed at coach Nate McMillan during a loss to the Knicks Sunday . . .Former Purdue coach Gene Keady is considering coming out of retirement after being offered a position with the Toronto Raptors. Wayne Embry, Toronto's assistant to the president, offered Keady a job as a consultant or bench coach . . . Phoenix Suns executive Dick Van Arsdale, 62, is recovering from a stroke suffered at home Saturday.HOCKEY
Hamstring sidelines Bates 4-5 weeks
New York Islanders forward Shawn Bates will miss 4-5 weeks because of a hamstring injury sustained Saturday night in a loss to the Florida Panthers . . . The Anaheim Mighty Ducks claimed Columbus Blue Jackets center Todd Marchant off waivers . . . The Buffalo Sabres will retire the No. 18 of former captain Danny Gare tonight before their game with the New York Rangers.COLLEGES
Duke still No. 1 in both basketball polls
Duke (3-0) held on to the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press men's basketball poll as the top three places remained the same, with Texas second and Connecticut third. But Michigan State, which lost its opener in Hawaii, dropped from No. 4 to No. 12. Boston College moved up one spot to No. 10 . . . Duke also leads the women's poll over Tennessee. UConn, which won the Preseason NIT, is No. 8 . . . Andy McCollum, who guided Middle Tennessee through its transition to Division 1-A, was fired as football coach after his fourth consecutive losing season . . . Michigan remained No. 1 in the USCHO.com Division 1 men's hockey poll. Maine is fourth, Vermont fifth, BC sixth, and New Hampshire seventh . . . In the women's hockey poll, Wisconsin climbed over St. Lawrence to No. 1. New Hampshire is No. 4, and Harvard No. 8.MISCELLANY
Chivas USA goes with Bradley as coach
Bob Bradley, the winningest coach in Major League Soccer history who was fired by the MetroStars Oct. 4, is the new coach of Chivas USA, taking over a team that went a league-worst 5-22-5 in its inaugural season. The 47-year-old Bradley has 114 victories . . . Tiger Woods withdrew from the pro-am at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Poipu Beach, Hawaii, because of a stomach virus . . . Kirk Hanefeld of Acton and Rick Karbowski of Worcester earned 2006 cards at Champions Tour qualifying school at Calimesa, Calif., while Mike San Filippo of Concord earned conditional status.
