Cubs' Wood expects to return soon

Chicago Cubs closer Kerry Wood will come off the 15-day disabled list in the next couple of days after a long stay because of a blister on his right index finger. Wood threw 30 pitches to hitters from the Wrigley Field mound after warming up and getting some work done in the bullpen hours before Sunday's game against the Pirates. He said he also did some throwing yesterday morning. Wood has been out since July 11 . . . Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez will have surgery to repair fraying of the labrum in his right shoulder next week, ending his season after he played in just 23 games. Assistant general manager David Forst said Chavez elected to have surgery now, rather than after the season, to increase his chances of being healthy in time for spring training. An 11-year veteran and six-time Gold Glove award winner, Chavez batted .247 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 89 at-bats this season . . . The Rockies purchased the contract of pitcher Steve Register from Triple A Colorado Springs and designated Valerio De Los Santos for assignment . . . Two minor leaguers in the Tampa Bay system were suspended 50 games each after testing positive for performance-enhancing substances. The commissioner's office said that outfielder Cesar Guillen tested positive for Ephedrine and infielder Victor Henriquez tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol. Both players are with the Rays' team in the Dominican Summer League . . . Bernie Castro's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth gave the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees a 6-5 victory over the Pawtucket Red Sox. With the loss, Pawtucket fell from first place for the first time since June 20 . . . Jorge Jimenez singled in the winning run in the top of the 11th inning as the Portland Sea Dogs defeated the host Reading Phillies, 6-5.

The Detroit Pistons formally announced the signing of free agent center Kwame Brown, the overall No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft. Brown will be paid $4 million next season and has an option for a second season for another $4 million. The 26-year-old has career averages of 7.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 23.7 minutes in 404 games . . . Point guard Carlos Arroyo, who spent the last two seasons with the Magic, has become the latest NBA player to bolt overseas, signing a one-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli league. Arroyo averaged 7 points and 3.3 assists per game during his seven-year NBA career that included stops in Toronto, Denver, Utah, and Detroit . . . The 76ers re-signed guard Louis Williams, keeping a key member of Philadelphia's first playoff team in three years. The deal was reportedly worth more than $25 million over five years. Williams, 21, averaged 11.5 points in 23 minutes per game last season . . . The Cavaliers, looking to add backcourt depth, signed former Grizzlies guard Tarence Kinsey. Kinsey split last season between Memphis and Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul in the Turkish league.

Pat Summitt will donate $600,000 to the University of Tennessee to be shared by the Knoxville and Martin campuses. The donation will be given over several years to support the women's basketball programs at both campuses and includes a $100,000 endowed scholarship for a Lady Vols basketball graduate assistant in honor of Summitt's parents, Richard and Hazel Head. The 56-year-old Summitt has spent 34 seasons as the Lady Vols coach and led the program to an unprecedented eight national championships, including titles in each of the last two years . . . Georgia football coach Mark Richt announced linebacker Darius Dewberry was suspended for the first two games of the season, making him the sixth player to be suspended or dismissed from the Bulldogs since last season . . . Longtime Notre Dame assistant football coach Joe Yonto, who worked under Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine, and Lou Holtz, died in South Bend, Ind. He was 83. A university spokesman confirmed Yonto's death but had no details on the cause . . . The University of Massachusetts announced it will induct Jack Canniff (hockey), Thomas Coburn (soccer), Jack Foley (basketball), Edward McGrath (soccer, basketball, baseball), and Ron Wayne (track, cross country) into its Athletic Hall of Fame Oct. 3.

Robert Tribou (Pocasset Golf Course) and his brother William (Poquoy Brook Golf Course) shot a 4-under-par 68 to share the lead after the first round of the Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship at Crestview Country Club at Agawam. Jim Ruschioni (Moosnock Country Club) and Paul Nunez (Longmeadow Country Club) also shot a 68 to stay even with the Tribous, who are the defending champions . . . Amanda Blumenherst shot a 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the US Women's Amateur Championship at Eugene Country Club in Oregon. Westford's Alison Walshe was two shots back with a 4-under 68 . . . The Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings added Brad McCrimmon to their coaching staff and re-signed assistant Paul MacLean . . . Right wing Ryane Clowe agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million contract to stay with the San Jose Sharks . . . American Zack Fleishman, a surprise quarterfinalist at last year's Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles, bowed out in the first round to Marc Gicquel, 6-3, 6-0, in a 50-minute match . . . The US Tennis Association reached an agreement to buy a majority interest in the Cincinnati Masters ATP hard-court tournament and hopes to turn it into a combined event for men and women. The deal is pending ATP approval . . . Usain Bolt's 100-meter record was ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations. The Jamaican sprinter ran the 100 in 9.72 seconds May 31 in New York, breaking Asafa Powell's previous mark of 9.74 . . . Jockey Edgar Prado and trainer Carl Nafzger, who between them have three Kentucky Derby wins, led a group of six inductees into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame at Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Inducted with Prado and Nafzger were retired jockey Ismael Valenzuela and three horses: Manila, Inside Information, and Ancient Title . . . Greg Weld, who won 21 US Auto Club sprint car races and was the series national champion in 1967, died yesterday in Kansas City, Mo. He was 64.