Haynes flew back to Cincinnati for treatment while the rest of the team went to Puerto Rico for a three-game series against Montreal. The Reds will probably wait until after the weekend to call up a pitcher to take Haynes' place.

"It's probably a good decision," Haynes said after the Reds' 16-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. "It's tough enough to pitch with an injury or something bothering you, especially a back. I want to get this thing taken care of."

Haynes, Cincinnati's opening day starter, left his second start after just four innings because of back spasms. His third start was pushed back a day, but he was still bothered by stiffness in his back.

He allowed a career-worst 10 runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings Thursday, becoming the first Reds pitcher to lose his first four starts since Joey Jay lost five in 1963.

Haynes also walked six and threw a wild pitch.

"I'm not getting out and completing my pitches. I'm kind of cutting them off," Haynes said. "Today I really had no clue where the ball was going."

Haynes (0-4) is releasing the ball several inches short of where he normally does, Reds manager Bob Boone said. Even if there's no pain in the back, that's a symptom that something is wrong.

"It's like you subconsciously protect it," Boone said.

"It's getting better from how it feels. But it's not allowing him to pitch the way he's capable of pitching or the way we need him to pitch."

Eric Dybas of Bolingbrook was charged with one count of felony aggravated battery and one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

The 24-year-old Dybas came out of the stands and grabbed umpire Laz Diaz around the legs during Tuesday night's game between the White Sox and Kansas City Royals.

Dybas appeared in court with his lawyer. Cook County Judge Nicholas Ford called Dybas' actions disturbing and said nobody should be subjected to violent acts at a ballpark.

"That place was filled with people. Anything could have happened," Ford said. "Somebody has to say no to this conduct, and it's going to be me."

Dybas was the fourth fan to run onto the field that night. The other three did not attack anyone and were charged with misdemeanor trespassing.

Assistant State's Attorney Lorraine Scaduto said Dybas told police he saw two people enter the field before him. "He wanted to one-up them and run onto the field and do something more outrageous," Scaduto said.

Defense attorney Frank Kostouros said his client has an alcohol problem, and that his behavior was a result of that. The lawyer said Dybas was drinking at a Chicago Cubs game earlier before going to the White Sox game.

"This was a regrettable, alcohol-motivated stunt," Kostouros said.

Outside court, Kostouros called the bond "oppressive." He said Dybas has been unemployed since December and is dealing with his mother's breast cancer.

"He knows he made a stupid mistake. He does feel very bad about what happened," Kostouros said. "To make an example out of him would not be justice."

Last September, Kansas City coach Tom Gamboa was pummeled by a father and son just yards from where Tuesday's attack took place.

The White Sox have since beefed up security, and the baseball commissioner's office said everything possible will be done to eliminate fan violence.

Lima made the NL All-Star team in 1999, when he went 21-10 with a 3.58 ERA and 187 strikeouts for the Houston Astros.

His career tailed off after that. The 30-year-old right-hander was 7-16 with a 6.65 ERA in 2000 and he split the following season between Houston and the Detroit Tigers, going 6-12 with a 5.56 ERA. He was released by the Tigers last season with a 4-6 record and a 7.77 ERA.

Lima was originally signed by Detroit in 1989, and briefly reached the majors in 1994. He went to Houston in December 1996, and won 45 games for the Astros over the next four seasons.

Lima is 63-74 with a 5.14 ERA in nine big league seasons.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Reicina Russell, of Indianapolis, is the fourth member of the Lady Lions recruiting class, and Penn State's only spring signee.

Russell led Terre Haute South High School to the Class 4A state championship in 2002 before transferring to Lawrence North High School for her senior season. She was rated No. 19 among high school seniors by the Web site Fullcourt Press and was in the Top 50 by scouting services Blue Star Basketball and All-Star Girls Report.

"Reicina will bring so much to our program with her size, speed and a real determination to play," Penn State coach Rene Portland said. "Along with our three other signees, Reicina completes one of our most successful recruiting classes."

Russell joins two other post players, 6-4 center Amanda Brown, of Unionville, and 6-2 forward/center Rochelle Johnson, of Norwalk, Conn., in Penn State's signing class. Jen Harris, of Harrisburg, is the only guard in the class.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Although some players have graduated from high school a few months early to participate in spring college football practice, Booty may be the first to skip his entire senior season to enroll at a major college program.

NCAA spokeswoman Gail Dent said the organization doesn't keep track of the number of students who graduate early from high school to play college sports.

Booty, who passed for 87 touchdowns and 8,286 yards in two seasons at Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana, will complete his academic requirements for graduation by taking an English course this summer and enter USC this fall, he said yesterday.

Booty is the brother of Josh Booty, a backup quarterback with the Cleveland Browns who played for Louisiana State University and was a minor-league baseball player.

John David Booty, who is 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, played almost five seasons of high school football because of a Louisiana law that allows some junior high students to play.

"We're just very sorry he's not going to be in an Eagles uniform next year," coach Dennis Dunn said. "He's amazing in terms of size, speed and arm strength. He's the type of player that you don't coach many times in a lifetime. We do wish him the very best."

Booty said he decided to leave high school a year early because his father was fired as the school's quarterbacks coach last week in a dispute over his starting a Bible-study group and a ministerial Web site.

"The chancellor has made a decision that affected my family, and I am sorry that my dad and I cannot finish my senior year with my teammates," he said in a press release.

Under NCAA rules, USC officials aren't allowed to comment on Booty until he signs a letter of intent or enrolls in the school.

PRO FOOTBALL

Buffalo's second-round pick two years ago, Henry had a breakout 2002, finishing fifth in the NFL with 1,438 rushing yards. That's the fifth-best single-season performance in team history.

The deal, which includes a signing bonus, was confirmed Thursday by Henry's agent, Greg Johnson. The restructured contract also includes several incentives, and will pay Henry a base salary of $1.25 million in the final year.

Henry's original four-year deal was to pay him a combined $1.65 million, not including incentives and bonuses.

"I think it's a win-win situation. It works for both," Johnson said. "(Henry) just wanted to feel like he was being rewarded for a good year."

While providing Henry additional security, his agent said the new contract sets the potential for a more lucrative deal once it expires.

The Bills declined to comment, citing their policy against discussing player contracts.

Last season, Henry ran for 13 touchdowns, tying Cookie Gilchrist for second-most in a season. O.J. Simpson holds the record of 16, set in 1975.

Henry also proved an adept receiver with 43 catches for 309 yards and a touchdown. He made his first Pro Bowl appearance last February, replacing injured Kansas City rusher Priest Holmes.

His only drawback last season was committing 11 fumbles, which the Bills believe they can correct.

Despite having strong-armed quarterback Drew Bledsoe leading their offense, the Bills rely heavily on Henry to give them a balanced attack, particularly when inclement weather hits Buffalo late in the season.

In his first year as a starter last season, Sirmon finished second on the Titans to Keith Bulluck with 130 tackles. He also had three interceptions and two sacks while playing in all 16 games.

The Rams had made him an offer, but the Titans would have had a chance to match it if he accepted it.

"The Rams had a very nice offer, but I feel good here and I like the coaching staff and everything about this organization," Sirmon said at a news conference. "I realize I have a good situation here."

Financial terms of his contract weren't disclosed. ESPN reported on its Web site that it's worth $8.45 million, including a $1 million signing bonus.

Sirmon was a fourth-round draft pick in 2000 from the University of Oregon and played his first two seasons with the Titans as a backup.

He joined the Buffalo Bills in 2000 as a free agent and played two seasons with them, with 47 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a blocked kick in 27 games.

Trainer Steve Antonopulos said Anderson injured his knee in an offseason workout last Thursday and had the surgery on Wednesday.

Anderson played in 15 games and started 12 as the Broncos' fullback last season. He rushed for 386 yards and two touchdowns on 84 carries, while adding 18 receptions for 167 yards and two TDs.

The NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2000 when he ran for 1,487 yards, Anderson has rushed for 2,551 yards and 21 touchdowns over his three-year career, ranking seventh on Denver's career rushing list.

The Raiders claim Tampa Bay's pirate logo is too similar to Oakland's. And the Raiders object to the Panthers' uniforms because two colors -- silver and black -- match those of the Raiders.

NFL spokesman Joe Browne said the issue is one of a handful that remain from a 1996 suit by the Raiders listing multiple grievances against the league. Some iwere transferred to courts in Los Angeles, where another Raiders case against the league is being fought.

Others already have been dismissed by Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge John Herlihy. He did not rule Tuesday on the Raiders' efforts to seek a court order against the NFL banning those uniforms in California.

Papers filed by the Raiders in the San Jose case say the Buccaneers' logo "is likely to dilute the distinctive quality of the Raiders' mark, thereby lessening its capacity to identify the Raiders and causing irreparable harm that cannot adequately be compensated by an award of damages."

NFL attorneys argued there will always be overlap among logos and colors. One of them, James Hunt, said "Michigan could say any uniforms featuring predatory cats" would be prohibited in that state, given that the Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars also have such animals in their logos.

Herlihy seemed sympathetic to the NFL's position.

If California tells Tampa Bay to wear a new uniform for games here, he said, then Florida might say "when the Raiders come to Florida, get that logo off your uniform," Herlihy said, suggesting the Raiders might "put a daisy on your uniform" as an alternative to their pirate.

The Panthers had no comment on the suit.

He might get that chance as early as next week.

Team president Dean Spanos said that the Chargers won't take too long to decide on a successor to Butler, who died of lymphoma on Friday.

"Out of respect, we're not going to do anything this week," Spanos said. "This week is dedicated to John. We have to continue on with the draft. We will address the situation shortly."

The 56-year-old Butler was buried Wednesday in Sidney, Ill.

A few hours after Butler died, Spanos announced that Smith would run the Chargers' draft on April 26-27. Smith, the assistant general manager and director of pro personnel, worked with Butler for 21 seasons and would be a logical pick for a seamless transition.

Spanos made a rare visit to the Chargers' media trailer on Thursday to listen to Smith's pre-draft news conference.

Smith said it's been hard dealing with the loss of his friend, but mentioned several times that Butler had a "business as usual" approach even after being diagnosed with lung cancer on July 4. Butler later was diagnosed with lymphoma and had been hospitalized since March 13.

While saying he's been consumed with draft preparations, Smith said he'd like to succeed Butler.

"You wait for an opportunity and if it should come my way, I would weigh it, obviously, and make a decision," he said. "It would be wonderful to be considered by any team for any job of that magnitude."

Smith and Butler were together with the Chicago Blitz of the USFL, the Chargers in the late 1980s and then spent 14 seasons with the Buffalo Bills, where Butler became GM in 1993.

Butler, considered one of the NFL's best talent evaluators, helped build Buffalo's Super Bowl teams of the 1990s. After his eight-year run as GM ended in a money dispute with owner Ralph Wilson, he took over a Chargers team that went 1-15 in 2000. Under Butler, the Chargers went 5-11 and 8-8.

"I'm kind of filling in his shoes right now," Smith said. "As assistant general manager, obviously, I've been his right-hand man and have been involved in a lot of decisions that were made.

"But it's strange, in the last couple of days, to be sitting in his chair, and not sitting next to him, where I used to sit and discuss things. It's a sensitive thing, but business as usual was a theme that John had since his illness."

After Butler was diagnosed with cancer on July 4, Smith was given more college scouting duties.

"So I've been really locked on, particularly since January, with film evaluation," Smith said. "I've really been wearing two hats since July 4, to be honest."

Even in the days before he died, Butler was working on the draft.

"We were at the hospital on Wednesday and he was talking about players," Spanos said. "I could not believe it.

"We haven't missed a beat. This thing's about as well-organized as it could be. He left a heck of an infrastructure. He built up this organization."

SOCCER

The Major League Soccer Players Union was certified by arbitrator Andrew Strongin. The decision to form the union followed the league's victory in an antirust suit filed by some players.

"We formed this union so that we will have a unified voice that will raise players' concerns with the league, and that will engage in collective bargaining, and ultimately improve our terms of employment," D.C. United's Ben Olsen said.

Joining Olsen on the executive board are San Jose's Landon Donovan, the MetroStars' Tim Howard, Kansas City's Chris Klein and Los Angeles' Alexi Lalas.

MLS commissioner Don Garber said the league hopes negotiations will start soon.

"MLS looks forward to developing a productive relationship with its players through collective bargaining," he said.

TENNIS

It was the biggest upset so far in a tournament dominated by favorites, and it was also the most popular result of the day at Amelia Island -- as could be seen by the dozens of fans who celebrated the victory with the Gator Chomp.

"I love it," Raymond said. "It's something I'll always be a part of. I'm proud of it. I spent the best two years of my life there."

In fact, the 29-year-old Raymond delayed turning pro for two years so she could play for Florida -- about two hours down the road from here. She won the NCAA singles title twice.

Seeking her fifth career pro title, and second this year, Raymond will play third-seeded Jennifer Capriati in the quarterfinals Friday.

Still shaking off rust after a few weeks off, Capriati overcame a 3-0 deficit in the third set to defeat 15th-seeded Paola Suarez, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.

"There's not too many times I'm going to throw in the towel and give in," Capriati said. "That's always been part of my game, part of me."

In other matches, 10th-seeded Elena Dementieva defeated eighth-seeded Amanda Coetzer, 7-6 (2), 6-3; seventh-seeded Patty Schnyder beat ninth-seeded Meghann Shaughnessy, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, and second-seeded Lindsay Davenport won, 6-1, 6-1, over Marlene Weingartner, a loser in qualifying who made it into the draw when 13th-seeded Conchita Martinez withdrew.

Top-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne -- who dealt Serena Williams her first loss of the year last weekend -- advanced when her opponent, French Open semifinalist Clarisa Fernandez, withdrew with a sprained wrist.

Capriati ran into trouble early against Suarez, who opened the match by mixing pace, hitting lots of floaters to counteract her opponent's power.

"She definitely came in with a game plan," Capriati said. "I just had to pick up the pace and starting hitting out after it got to 3-0."

Capriati had match points at 5-3 and 5-4, but lost them both. The third set took 53 minutes. Both Capriati and Raymond must come back Friday after spending more than 90 minutes on court in 80-degree weather during a pair of entertaining three-set matches.

Quick turnarounds are nothing new to pro tennis players. But both have had to recalibrate to the slow, patient style that's succeeding this week on the soft green clay at Amelia. This is just the third clay-court tournament of the season.

"Clay isn't one of my favorite surfaces," Raymond said. "To beat Jelena on it, just by working and grinding it out, is pretty big for me."

Seeking to move beyond her career-high ranking of 15th (1997), the 24th-ranked Raymond said she rededicated herself this year.

"For me, it's not about my game," she said. "It's upstairs and my fitness. I'm fitter than I've ever been, and I'm happy with a lot of things off the court. I think it transfers onto the court, too."

She signed up for the $75,000 USTA Women's Challenger Tournament, part of the lower tier of tennis tourneys typically for players trying to move up. More established players also have used the events to regain confidence or tweak their games.

But Kournikova scrapped her plans to tune up here because of the injury that forced her to quit during a match last week at the Family Circle Cup.

"She's definitely out -- unfortunately," challenger tournament director Kim Meeker said Thursday. "She's the highest profile person there is in tennis. There's nobody I would rather have had for the draw."

Kournikova's anticipated participation, Meeker said, "was met with a lot of excitement in Dothan."

She has dropped 59 ranking spots since peaking at No. 8 in May 2001. Kournikova never has won a WTA Tour event.

The top-seeded Majoli, the 1997 champion at Roland Garros, dropped out because of a virus and high temperature.

Jankovic will face Maria Sanchez Lorenzo of Spain in the quarterfinals.

In other matches, second-seeded Magui Serna, coming off a win at the Estoril Open last week, defeated Katalin Marosi 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2), and 15-year-old Jarmila Gajdosova of Slovakia beat seventh-seeded Virginie Razzano 6-4, 7-6 (2)

Ludmila Cervanova will face Iveta Benesova in the other quarterfinal.

The top-seeded Ferrero was visibly exhausted after the three-hour match in 81-degree heat and under a scorching sun on center court.

"It was so tough," Ferrero said.

Second-seeded Carlos Moya, last year's runner-up, advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 over fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo. Moya will face Frenchman Julien Boutter in the quarterfinals.

Ferrero, down a set and trailing 5-3 in the second set, won four straight games to even the match.

"I could sense he was beginning to become tense," Ferrero said, referring to Gaudio's double fault when serving for the match at 5-3.

"I only started to play really well when I could get my forehand going."

For most of the match, Ferrero struggled to find a way to upset Gaudio's rhythm.

Gaudio, who reached the semifinals in 2000, countered drop shots with lobs, and hit drop shots when Ferrero tried to pin him deep.

Gaudio smashed his racket into the ground at the end of the second set. He screamed in frustration and questioned a number of calls.

Ferrero advanced to face Alberto Martin, who beat Fernando Vicente, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

In other third-round matches, Boutter, who won his first ATP Tour title in Casablanca last week, beat ninth-seeded Sjeng Schalken, 7-6 (3), 6-4; and Italy's Filippo Volandri defeated Magnus Norman 7-5, 6-3.

Volandri will place American Vince Spadea, who beat Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8).

Norman, a former French Open runner-up, was unable to pull off a comeback for the second straight day. On Wednesday, he rallied to beat three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten.

Volandri charged to a 5-1 lead in the first set, but Norman won the next four games.

Volandri served brilliantly to pull ahead 6-5, then broke Norman's serve to take the opening set.

Volandri used an excellent mixture of decisive volleying and controlled passing shots in the second set to advance.

Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal-Parera, who beat French Open champion Albert Costa on Wednesday, was scheduled to face Argentina's Guillermo Coria later Thursday.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

"This is such an honor," Hebert said. "It is also an opportunity to bring back the latest in technique and strategies from the world of international volleyball. The Gopher program can only benefit from my involvement."

Hebert recently completed his seventh season with the Gophers, guiding the program to its first Big Ten title in school history.

Hebert is 744-324 in his 26 seasons as a collegiate volleyball coach.

Hebert has coached at Illinois, Pittsburgh and New Mexico, leading his teams to two NCAA Final Four appearances, 10 regional appearances, 18 NCAA tournament appearances and five Big Ten titles.

It will be Hebert's second stint as head coach of the USA Pan American Games team.

OFF THE FIELD

The city will use the capital redevelopment funds to complete repairs on the 77-year-old stadium in time for the All-American Amateur Baseball Association tournament in late summer.

"This is an investment in Johnstown's future -- an example of a community development initiative that will help build this area's economy," Rendell said.

The grandstands of Point Stadium are rusting away, crumbling brick walls are covered by boards and the minor league team that played in the stadium was sold last year.

City leaders have been divided over whether to renovate or demolish the hulking structure, which was the site of Negro League Games in 1945 featuring players such as Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig also played at the park.

"We have a heightened level of security to reflect those security concerns," said David Goggin, spokesman for the state Executive Office of Public Safety.

Goggin said there were no known threats to Monday's marathon, but that the most visible change would be increased police presence.

Even though the national terror alert was reduced Wednesday, Goggin said security plans would not change.

Police officials along the 26.2-mile route said security planning had been in progress for months, from federal intelligence-gathering to working out police detail schedules.

The Massachusetts National Guard again will supplement police patrols. About 400 members of the guard will support police in crowd and traffic control, and some guardsmen have volunteered to run the race, public affairs officer Capt. Winfield Danielson said.

Last year, the security presence included 1,500 police officers, 415 Massachusetts National Guard troops, more than 200 amateur radio operators in the crowd, and volunteers with phones at water stations. In 2001, there were about 250 National Guard troops and fewer than 1,000 law enforcement officers working the race.

Police in Hopkinton have one of the toughest tasks of the day: overseeing 20,000 competitors and hundreds of spectators at the starting line.

"Last year was a very new experience in trying to reach that level of security," Hopkinton Police Chief Thomas Irvin said.

In the decision issued Wednesday, the Ontario Court of Appeals said Brown's 1999 arrest was unconstitutional because he was singled out as a black man who was casually dressed and driving an expensive vehicle. Brown, a member of the Orlando Magic's front office, played for the Toronto Raptors at the time.

The appeals court also said the trial judge ignored evidence of racial profiling and had a negative view of the arguments in Brown's defense.

Brown was convicted in July 2000 of drunken driving. Superior Court Justice Brian Trafford later threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial, and the prosecution appealed.

Of the 56 athletes affected by the cuts announced Wednesday, only three are women.

Title IX, the federal law banning gender discrimination at publicly funded schools, requires athletic scholarship dollars to be within 1 percent or one scholarship of total athletic-participation rates, whichever is greater.

That means if 50 percent of a school's athletes are women, those women must get at least 49 percent of the scholarship dollars.

Although WVU athletic officials did not provide dollar amounts, they said 60 percent of their scholarships currently go to men. With the elimination of the five teams this fall, 51 percent will go to men and 49 percent to women.

Dropping rifle and the men's tennis, cross country and indoor and outdoor track teams also will save nearly $600,000 annually while allowing the remaining 16 sports to be financially strong, Athletic Director Ed Pastilong said Wednesday night.

"The primary reason for focusing on this reduction was the cost, but as we approached it, things such as Title IX were part of the discussion," he said.

Women's programs have not been spared cuts. Over the winter, women's junior varsity soccer was quietly eliminated. But that team had no one on scholarship.

Cutting unprofitable teams is a new economic reality for higher education, Pastilong said. Many states are dealing with drastic budget cuts and raising tuition to compensate.

"You can't spend more than you have," he said. "We can't be sitting here in the future with a deficit that would weaken our remaining sports."

Three years ago, the athletic department endured a 5 percent across-the-board budget cut. A second cut would have gone too deep, Pastilong said.

The affected students will not lose their athletic scholarships and can either return to WVU in the fall or transfer immediately without penalty or loss of eligibility under NCAA rules.

But that only works in theory, said angry members of the men's cross country team.

"I'm graduating in two weeks. I was going to stay in grad school here and keep training," said senior Jess Anderson. "Now my deadlines are almost past and I can't apply anywhere else."

Pastilong and assistant director Mike Parsons said discussions over what to cut have been going on since August but were finalized last week. The teams found out through a series of meetings Wednesday.

"This comes out of the blue. Two weeks left in school. What are we going to do?" said senior Jason Mandato. "It's totally horrible in everyone's eyes to have no respect at all for us. They gave us no choice at all what to do."

Sophomore Adam LeRoy said that during the team meeting, runners were told they had plenty of time to transfer.

"We don't," he said. "Who acts like this? You wouldn't expect this from a Division I school, leaving us high and dry like this."

Karen Radermacher, a women's cross country runner, said WVU should have allowed the 45 athletes who are not seniors to finish their four years.

"If you've got one year left, not many teams want to recruit you, and you have all these credits that may or may not transfer," she said. "You're torn between being an athlete and being a student. It's heartbreaking to all of us to see this happen to our friends."

Susan Davis, a sophomore teammate, was frustrated that Title IX may have factored into the equation.

"They say they want us to be equal, but I think it's gone too far. Now the women are up here and the men are down here," she said, holding one hand above the other. "The men get treated worse in Title IX."

Donohue died of cancer Wednesday in Ottawa, a spokesman for the chairman of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport said.

Donohue coached Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, at Power Memorial Academy in New York and had a record of 163-30, including 71 straight wins, from 1959 to 1965.

He was the head coach at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass., from 1965 to 1972 and had a record of 106-66.

Donohue served as head coach of the Canadian men's basketball for 17 years and was the longest-serving head coach in amateur or professional sports in Canada. He led the team to the Olympics four times and won the gold medal at the 1983 World University Games in Edmonton.

Donohue led the Canadian team to a fourth-place finish at the 1976 and '84 Olympics.

Donohue, who was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame, retired from coaching in 1988.

The deal will give Russell ownership of the Spalding name for all products, including control of the name and inventory under Spalding's Dudley brand of softballs.

The agreement also includes Sherrin, a brand of Australian-rules football equipment, and contracts with more than 60 licensees around the world for apparel, shoes, sporting goods and related products.

Spalding will retain control of its golf business.

Spalding president and CEO Jim Craigie said the sale will allow the company to strengthen its golf business. Spalding owns Top-Flite, Ben Hogan and Strata golf brands.

Spalding sales in 2002 were $90 million. Total wholesale revenue for the Spalding name, including licensed products, is over $300 million annually, company officials said.

The sale, subject to federal approval, is expected to be completed by the end of May, according to company officials.

The deal marks Russell's continued expansion in the sports, outdoors and athletic markets. The company, known for producing uniforms and other athletic wear, bought Moving Comfort in 2002 and Bike Athletic Co. earlier this year.

Four team members dropped by Walter Reed Army Medical Center to cheer up 13 Army personnel injured or wounded in Iraq.

Most are recovering from gunshot or shrapnel wounds.

"It's kind of motivating in a way that these guys do what they do so we can be free to live and play football," said Alex Sulfsted, an offensive lineman.

"Some of these guys are younger than me, and that's something that really stays with you," said fullback Rock Cartwright. "They are fighting for this country and you've really got to appreciate everything they do."

Walter Reed is currently treating about 40 men and women who've returned from Kuwait and Iraq. They include Pfc. Jessica Lynch, the former prisoner of war rescued by special forces from an Iraqi hospital.

Lynch, who turns 20 on April 26, was the first of six missing members of the Army's 507th Maintenance Support Company to be found alive following the ambush of her unit in southern Iraq. She is recovering from a head wound, a spinal injury and fractures to her right arm, both legs and her right foot and ankle.

Lynch was not one of the patients seeing visitors Wednesday. She has been kept in relative seclusion since arriving at Walter Reed on Saturday.

Other items were donated to children or other patients at the military hospital in Landstuhl and at Walter Reed.

This is not the first time Redskins have spent time with wounded. Five players visited with patients injured in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon in September, 2001.

One week after the attack, players distributed caps, T-shirts and other items for victims of the attack.

Wounded troops at Walter Reed and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., were also to receive visits from members of the Baltimore Ravens and some of the team's cheerleaders.

Canseco's Web site is accepting bids to spend an afternoon with the 1988 American League MVP. The opening price is $2,500.

Www.josecanseco.com received 268 bids as of Thursday afternoon, although it was impossible to determine how many were legitimate. The top offer of $30,000 was from a fan identifying himself as Joe Blow. There was also a bid for $0. An earlier offer of $1 billion was removed from the site.

"Hey, you know, he's still a celebrity," said Canseco's attorney, Manny Hillman. "There are a lot of people out there who like to hang out with celebrities."

But while some Canseco fans submitted bids, others who know the slugger were dismayed.

"It's not exactly the best PR move," said his former agent, Juan Iglesias. "People around him always try to give him the best advice. Whenever something comes up as bad timing, it's usually because he thought of it on his own."

The Web site offer began April 9, and bids will be accepted through Saturday.

"Spend the afternoon with Jose at his house in South Florida," the site says. "Ideas for activities: Private power-hitting instruction, private martial arts instruction, workout with Jose, and cook out by the pool. ...

"Cashiers check or money orders only."

Canseco will provide roundtrip limousine service from the airport, but overnight accommodations and airfare aren't included. The highest bidder can bring along a guest who's younger than 18 at no extra cost.

"Jose loves kids," Hillman explained.

Judge Leonard Glick said the auction was OK with him. He sentenced Canseco on March 17 to two years' house arrest on an aggravated battery conviction.

"As long as there's no criminal act going on, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it," Glick said. "It's free enterprise -- a little unusual form, but free enterprise."

Hillman and Iglesias agreed that the auction winner will have a good time with Canseco.

"He's got a lot of toys, a lot of cars, a nice pool, a gym and a batting cage," Iglesias said.

Hillman said: "Is it worth $6,000? Or $10,000. Or $50,000? I don't know."

Hillman and Iglesias said they tried to contact Canseco by phone about the auction without success. Canseco didn't return a phone message from The Associated Press.

"He's under house arrest," Iglesias said. "You'd think you could reach him."