Lawmakers want Calhoun reprimanded

The leaders of the Connecticut General Assembly's higher education committee said yesterday UConn men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun should be reprimanded for his tirade at a freelance journalist who questioned his $1.6 million salary. State Senator Mary Ann Handley and Representative Roberta Willis say Calhoun's outburst Saturday does not reflect well on him or the state's flagship university . . . West Virginia and LSU have agreed to a home-and-home football series starting in 2010. West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong said the Mountaineers will travel to Baton Rouge, La., in 2010, and the Tigers will go to Morgantown in 2011 . . . Rutgers named Tim Pernetti, who played tight end for the Scarlet Knights in the early 1990s, its new athletic director.

Retirement? No way. Dara Torres is ready to start racing again. All patched up since Beijing, the 41-year-old swimming mom is preparing for her first meet since winning three silver medals at the Olympics last summer, with an eye toward competing at this summer's world championships in Rome. Torres has undergone three separate surgeries since her Olympic triumph, repairing ailments to her left thumb, right shoulder, and left knee. But she entered the Austin Grand Prix, which will be held at the University of Texas March 5-7. She's among 10 members of the US Olympic team scheduled to compete, including backstroke gold medalist Aaron Peirsol, who'll also be racing for the first time since China.

Andre Agassi will pick up a racket again, playing two matches for the Philadelphia Freedoms in World TeamTennis this summer. Agassi will compete July 10 in Philadelphia and July 17 in Newport Beach, Calif. . . . Mardy Fish reached the quarterfinals of the Delray Beach International Championships with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Vince Spadea . . . Andy Murray withdrew from the Dubai Championships because of a viral infection, just hours before a quarterfinal match against Richard Gasquet . . . About 1,000 police will handle security ahead of host Sweden's Davis Cup match against Israel next week in Malmo. Officials expect a "Stop the Match" protest, formed after Israel's offensive in Gaza started in December, to be relatively calm but there are fears that protests from small, radical groups could turn violent. The first-round series will be played March 6-8 without fans. Only teams, officials, some sponsors, and journalists will be allowed to enter the venue.

Just over a week before his scheduled return to the Los Angeles Galaxy, David Beckham is becoming frustrated by the delay in his possible transfer to AC Milan. Beckham's loan to Milan from Major League Soccer is scheduled to end March 8. Milan offered $3 million, but Los Angeles said it wanted at least $10 million. Milan vice president Adriano Galliani responded by saying the club was not prepared to go any higher for the 33-year-old midfielder, who can terminate his MLS contract in November . . . The Boston Breakers, about to open their inaugural season in Women's Professional Soccer, announced the Boston Aztecs of the Women's Premier Soccer League will serve as a reserve team.

The Flyers waived center Glen Metropolit and defenseman Ossi Vaananen to clear salary cap space for Danny Briere's impending return. Briere was expected to return to the Flyers for tonight's game against Montreal. He has missed the last 35 games because of surgery on his abdomen and groin. Former Bruin Metropolit had four goals and 14 points in 55 games . . . The Stars acquired center Steve Begin from Montreal for defenseman Doug Janik.

Oscar De La Hoya says he's "leaning toward retirement" from boxing, but is getting pressure from people close to him to fight again. De La Hoya, 36, was soundly beaten by Manny Pacquiao in December, his fourth loss in his last seven fights. De La Hoya (39-6) said his poor performance against Pacquiao is the most compelling reason he'd return to the ring . . . World Cup leader Lindsey Vonn fell during downhill training but will be fine to compete in today's downhill and super-G races in Bansko, Bulgaria . . . Japan won the Nordic combined team event at the Nordic skiing world championships in Liberec, Czech Republic. The US team, one of the medal favorites, pulled out following the ski jumping portion after Bill Demong failed to find his start number in time and was not allowed to jump . . . Former Chicago Bulls guard and broadcaster Norm Van Lier, a three-time All-Star who played on five playoff teams, was found dead in his Chicago home. He was 61. . . . The Bulls also announced that Johnny "Red" Kerr, their former coach who spent more than three decades as a broadcaster for the team, died at 76. Kerr had been battling prostate cancer.