Sixers coach Cheeks gets pink slip

Maurice Cheeks was fired yesterday as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, who were 9-14 a year after making the playoffs. The dismissal came hours before last night's 104-89 home victory against Washington with assistant general manager Tony DiLeo at the helm. DiLeo was appointed coach for the rest of the season. "I felt we were not progressing the way we had wanted to progress," said team president Ed Stefanski. Cheeks, one of the more popular 76ers players, was starting his fourth season as coach. He became the fifth NBA coach fired this season following P.J. Carlesimo (Oklahoma City), Eddie Jordan (Washington), Sam Mitchell (Toronto), and Randy Wittman (Minnesota).

Former Chicago Cubs star Kerry Wood is the Cleveland Indians' new closer, agreeing to a $20.5 million, two-year contract that includes a 2011 option that could become guaranteed. Wood saved 34 games in 2008, his first season as Chicago's closer. He reached a preliminary agreement with the Indians during the winter meetings in Las Vegas. Wood, who has a long history of arm and elbow problems, had to pass a physical before the Indians would go forward . . . Reliever Kyle Farnsworth and the Kansas City Royals completed a $9.25 million, two-year contract. Farnsworth split the 2008 season between the Yankees and Tigers . . . The Colorado Rockies and former Red Sox reliever Alan Embree agreed to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2010. Embree went 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA in 70 games for Oakland last season, which declined its $3 million option. Embree, 38, pitched in two World Series, with Cleveland in 1995 and the Red Sox in 2004.

Phoenix Coyotes forward Brian McGrattan agreed to enter the substance abuse program administered by the NHL and union. No specifics on his case were given in the announcement by the league and the NHL Players' Association. McGrattan will continue to draw his salary and benefits and will face no penalty as long as he complies with his treatment and follow-up care. McGratton, an enforcer in his third NHL season, has appeared in just three games for the Coyotes, drawing 12 penalty minutes. He spent the past two seasons with Ottawa . . . Vladimir Dravecky's shootout goal lifted the host Manchester Monarchs over the Providence Bruins, 5-4. The Bruins got their goals from Martin St. Pierre, Peter Schaefer, Zach Hamill, and Mikko Lehtonen . . . For the 10th time in the game's 14-year history, Bobby Orr and Don Cherry will serve as coaches for the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Oshawa, Ontario, Jan. 14.

Annika Sorenstam shot a 3-over-par 75, hurting her chances of ending a stellar career by winning the Dubai Ladies Masters for a third straight time. Sorenstam held a one-shot lead going into the third round, but had four bogeys and one birdie to fall to sixth place, four shots behind leader Anja Monke of Germany. Monke shot 68 for a 9-under 207 total. Sorenstam, a winner of 72 LPGA titles and 10 major championships, plans to retire after this tournament. "It's a day we all knew was coming and it's now here within 24 hours," she said. "So, I will just embrace it and go with the emotions." . . . New Zealander David Smail shot a 2-under 70 for a one-shot lead after the third round of the Australian Open in Sydney, while John Daly predictably missed the cut. Smail had a three-round total of 11-under 265. Daly finished the rain-delayed second round with an even-par 72 - improving significantly on a first-round 78 - but his two-round total of 150 left him five strokes outside the cut . . . South Africa's Thomas Aiken eagled the last hole for a course-record 11-under 61 to lead American Len Mattiace (68) by one stroke after the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Malelane, South Africa.

China's gymnasts are raking in the gold again. He Kexin, Cheng Fei, and Zhang Hongtao won titles at the World Cup Final in Madrid, giving the Chinese gold medals in three of the five events contested. He added a World Cup title to her Olympic gold on uneven bars, while Cheng won her second straight crown on vault. Zhang, who wasn't part of the Olympic team, won the pommel horse. Diego Hypolito of Brazil won the men's floor title, and Ukraine's Oleksandr Vorobiov upgraded to gold the bronze he won on still rings at the Olympics. The United States didn't send a team . . . Tina Ellertson scored her first international goal in the 61st minute, giving the US a 1-0 victory over China in a women's soccer exhibition in Carson, Calif. Kristine Lilly, who gave birth in June and has played in more international soccer games than any man or woman, entered in the 55th minute, extending her record to 341 games.