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Sports Briefs

■ Brown gets big payoff
Larry Brown will get US$18.5 million from the New York Knicks, less than half of what the US Hall of Fame basketball coach had left on his contract when he was fired. The NBA team's owner, Cablevision Systems Corp, announced the terms of the dispute on Wednesday. Brown had four years and more than US$40 million remaining on his deal when the Knicks fired him in June after one season.

■ Ice Hockey
Aquilini completes buyout
The Aquilini Investment Group has entered into an agreement to purchase the remaining 50 percent of the Vancouver Canucks and GM Place arena from Seattle businessman John McCaw, the NHL team said on Wednesday. The Aquilini group, owned by Vancouver businessmen Francesco, Roberto and Paolo Aquilini, originally purchased 50 percent of the Canucks and the arena from McCaw in November 2004. The sale is subject to approval by the NHL.

■ Triathlon
Competitor dies in Florida
A Montana triathlete died on Tuesday, three days after he was rescued from the Gulf of Mexico during the swimming stage of the Ford Ironman Florida, authorities said. Barney Rice, 35, died on Tuesday night according to Bay County Medical Center records. Rice was at about the 2.9km mark of a 3.9km swim on Saturday when other triathletes flagged down officials, according to a police report. Rescue divers found Rice unconscious and not breathing, but emergency officials were able to get a pulse en route to a hospital, the report said.

■ NFL
McGahee breaks three ribs
The Buffalo Bills, who lost leading rusher Willis McGahee in the first quarter of Sunday's victory over Green Bay, will have to make do without him for some time. The Bills said on Wednesday on their Web site that McGahee has three broken ribs and will be sidelined indefinitely. McGahee was hurt in the first quarter of Buffalo's 24-10 victory over the Packers. The injury initially was diagnosed as only one broken rib, but further testing has revealed more damage.

■ NFL
Duo slapped with fines
Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Tyler Brayton was fined US$25,000 and Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens was fined US$15,000 by the NFL on Wednesday for an altercation this week. Brayton was ejected in the final minutes of the Raiders' 16-0 loss to the Seahawks on Monday for kneeing Stevens in the groin at the end of a play. "I feel like I let a lot of people down," Brayton said. Gene Washington, the NFL's director of football operations, ruled Stevens attempted to kick Brayton in the groin area earlier on the same play, leading to his fine. Washington also ruled Stevens head-butted and taunted Oakland safety Stuart Schweigert on a play in the second quarter.

■ Cricket
Vaughan targets Ashes
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan hopes he may be able to play in the final three Ashes tests, the Independent newspaper reported yesterday. Vaughan has not played for England since last December because of a knee injury but had been targeting the fourth test against Australia, starting in Melbourne on Dec. 26. However, he told a lunch at the National Sporting Club in London on Wednesday that he hoped to be playing cricket again in three weeks. That would make him available for a two-day match with Western Australia on Dec. 9-10 ahead of the third test beginning in Perth on Dec. 14.

■ Golf
Federer watches pal Woods
The world's top-ranked tennis player followed golf's No. 1 around the course at the HSBC Champions tournament yesterday, getting a special pass to watch from close range as Woods struggled to an even-par-72 in the opening round. Woods, back from a five-week break, met Federer at New York in September and the pair have become friends. He sat with Federer's girlfriend when the Swiss star won the US Open final. Federer was in Shanghai preparing for the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup and was heading back for practice after a brief meeting with Woods in the clubhouse.

■ Cricket
Lara still `best batsman'
Despite Brian Lara's lean form, he was still the spearhead of West Indies' batting in one-day cricket internationals, says former chairman of selectors Mike Findlay. Lara, who collected just 127 runs in seven innings during the Champions Trophy in India, needed to bat higher, Findlay said. "No matter what his form is Brian Lara is still our best batsman," he added. Findlay, who served as a selector for six years and convener from 1998 to 2002, also defended Lara's captaincy, noting he was still the team's best choice for the position.

■ Rugby Union
Wilkinson's woes continue
Jonny Wilkinson's injury jinx has struck again with the former England fly-half ruled out of action until the middle of next month with a kidney problem. Wilkinson, who has not played for England since landing the decisive drop goal in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, made his comeback from a knee ligament injury in Newcastle's 26-21 Premiership win over Bristol last Friday. The 27-year-old sustained kidney damage during the game and has been advised to rest for one month before resuming any form of training. Wilkinson made three starts for Newcastle at the start of the season before suffering the knee injury that had kept him sidelined until last Friday.

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