Smith's return to give Steelers lift

The return of Steelers left tackle Marvel Smith against the undefeated Colts Monday night could end up being even more important than the return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Smith, who missed last Sunday's game with a sprained ankle, returns to face the Colts' Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney, who led the NFL last season with 16 sacks. The Steelers are 3-8 over the last three seasons in games in which Smith doesn't play . . . Eagles left tackle Tra Thomas will miss the rest of the season after he was placed on injured reserve, the team's third Pro Bowler added to the list this week . . . Chargers tight end Antonio Gates practiced for the second day in a row and reported no setbacks with the sprained right foot that has him listed as questionable for tomorrow's game with the Redskins.

BASEBALL
Mets pursue Molina and Hernández

Now that they have Carlos Delgado, the New York Mets are turning their attention to Angels catcher Bengie Molina and Padres catcher Ramón Hernández. General manager Omar Minaya said the Mets have made offers to both free agents. With Mike Piazza leaving, the Mets have made it a priority to get a catcher, especially one with better defensive skills. Minaya also refused to rule out trying to acquire Manny Ramírez from the Red Sox, although he wouldn't go into specifics . . . The Phillies and White Sox officially completed their deal that sends slugger Jim Thome to Chicago for center fielder Aaron Rowand after they passed physicals . . . The Dodgers received permission to interview Tampa Bay Devil Rays bench coach John McLaren for their vacant managerial job.

SKIING
Miller says he's a target for testing

Overall World Cup champion Bode Miller says he is being targeted for more doping tests since suggesting last month that regulations on banned substances be liberalized. After telling reporters at the World Cup opener in Soelden, Austria last month that he felt doping should be legalized -- or at least the accepted levels of banned substances should be increased -- Miller said he was required to submit to drug tests on three consecutive weekends.''I can tell you this: Since I started talking out about the idea, I've been randomly tested three times, and nobody else on my team has been tested more than once," Miller said. Miller, 28, of Franconia, N.H., who last year became the first US man in 22 years to win the overall World Cup title, said he missed one test because he had to report for testing within two hours but was six hours away . . . France's Claude Cretier injured his neck and sustained a concussion in a crash during a downhill training session at Lake Louise, Alberta, and was hospitalized for observation.

GOLF
Wie struggles at end and misses cut

Michelle Wie missed the cut by one stroke at the Casio World Open in Kochi, Japan, and promised to learn from her mistakes and keep playing in men's tournaments. She bogeyed the final two holes for a 3-over 75, leaving her with a two-round total of 4-over 148. ''I was a bit nervous walking up the 18th fairway," she said. ''I was just trying to play a good hole and make par, but it didn't work out that way." The meltdown was reminiscent of the 16-year-old Hawaiian's finish at the John Deere Classic in July when she bogeyed two of her last four holes and missed the cut by two strokes . . . Robert Allenby shot an even-par 72 and increased his lead to four strokes over Adan Scott after the second round of the Australian Open at Fingal . . . Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol had a 5-under 67 for a three-stroke lead after the second round of the China Open at Shenzhen.

MISCELLANY
Jockey Stevens is calling it a career

For Hall of Fame jockey and three-time Kentucky Derby winner Gary Stevens, it took the retirement of Rock Hard Ten to confirm it was time for him to step down.''I said, 'That's it. He's retiring, I'm retiring,' " Stevens said at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Stevens, who called Rock Hard Ten the best horse he'd ever ridden, ends a riding career of more than 25 years. His last mount will be in the final race of the fall meet today aboard Louve Royale . . . Three-time world champion Evgeni Plushenko scored 87.20 to lead after the short program in the Cup of Russia in St. Petersburg. World champion Irina Slutskaya of Russia scored 67.58 to lead after the women's short program . . . Cyclist Roberto Heras's second doping test was positive, and the four-time Spanish Vuelta winner might now be banned from cycling for two years . . . Chellsie Memmel edged Nastia Liukin by 1/1000th of a point as the US finished first and second in the women's all-around final at the world gymnastics championships in Melbourne.