Olson steps down as Arizona coach

Arizona coach Lute Olson retired yesterday after 24 years with the Wildcats. Athletic director Jim Livengood confirmed Olson's decision. The Hall of Famer, 74, missed all of last season after taking a personal leave of absence for what he termed a medical condition that was not life-threatening. "This was not a decision that was made lightly," Olson said in a statement. "I've had a wonderful run at the University of Arizona. I leave with a great sense of pride in what we have accomplished here." When Olson returned from his leave in April, he said he planned to coach through 2011 . . . The WNBA's Washington Mystics hired Angela Taylor as general manager . . . In a Big East preseason coaches' poll, the Connecticut women's team was picked to win its third straight conference title.

The NBA's Board of Governors has approved the expanded use of instant replay for the 2008-09 season. Referees will be allowed to review video to determine if a field goal was a 2- or 3-point attempt, or to decide if a shooting foul was committed behind the arc and warrants three shots instead of two. The board also voted to allow the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas to accept bets on league games even though the Maloof family owns both the casino and the Sacramento Kings, owner George Maloof Jr. said . . . The Suns' Amare Stoudemire dislocated his left pinkie as host Phoenix beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 102-93. Stoudemire, who missed nearly all of training camp and the first five exhibition games because of an eye problem, scored 17 points before the injury . . . Kobe Bryant was held out of the Lakers' exhibition game against the Bobcats in Anaheim, Calif., because of residual swelling in his right knee following a collision with teammate Josh Powell in a game Tuesday night. "I've got a little bit of puffiness in the back of the knee. It's just from the trauma of landing the way I landed," Bryant said . . . The Knicks waived guard Allan Houston, ending his latest comeback attempt. Houston was forced to retire in October 2005 because of chronic knee pain, and has attempted a comeback in each of the last two preseasons.

Seve Ballesteros's brain tumor is cancerous and he will undergo another operation to relieve pressure caused by swelling and bleeding that have recently developed. The remaining parts of the malignant tumor, located in a very deep part of the brain, will be removed in a procedure today at La Paz Hospital in Madrid. The 51-year-old Ballesteros, who won three British Opens and two Masters, is in stable but serious condition . . . In Scottsdale, Ariz., Doug LaBelle II and Jeff Mallinger shot 7-under-par 63s to share the first-round lead at the Frys.com Open. Richard Johnson was one shot back . . . Soren Kjeldsen shot a 7-under 64 to hold a one-shot lead over Angel Cabrera, Richard Finch, Ignacio Garrido, and Peter Hanson after the first round of the Castello (Spain) Masters.

Former Pro Bowl quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who announced plans to quit football in early September after being frustrated over not finding work, said he's been contacted by a number of teams and is considering a comeback. He didn't reveal the teams . . . Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, formerly known as Chad Johnson, will wear his old name on the back of his uniform for the rest of the season because the cost to make the switch is too expensive . . . Redskins defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin's sprained right shoulder will keep him out of Sunday's game against the Lions . . . Titans running back Chris Johnson has been fined $10,000 for his celebration after a 66-yard touchdown run against the Chiefs Sunday. He was fined for unsportsmanlike conduct for banging on some drums in the Chiefs' pep band.

David Beckham's deal with AC Milan is "at an advanced stage" but not yet done, club vice president Adriano Galliani said. Milan wants to sign Beckham to a loan deal that would allow the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder to play in Serie A for a few months starting in January . . . Chris Rolfe scored three first-half goals and the Chicago Fire clinched home-field advantage in the first round of the MLS playoffs by defeating the Red Bulls, 5-2, in Bridgeview, Ill. . . . Defenseman John Erskine signed a $2.5 million, two-year contract extension with the Washington Capitals . . . Canucks center Pavol Demitra is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a rib injury . . . The Mets hired Randy Niemann as bullpen coach and Razor Shines as third base coach . . . In his pro debut, Providence's Demetrius Andrade, a 2008 Olympian, scored a second-round KO over Patrick Cruz (4-3, 2 KOs) in a middleweight bout at Airway Heights, Wash. On the same card, Cristobal Cruz (37-11-1, 23 KOs) won the vacant International Boxing Federation featherweight title, outpointing Orlando Salido (31-10-2, 20 KOs).