Wednesday's Sports In Brief

<b>HOCKEY</b> <br><br>PITTSBURGH (AP) _ A slumping Jaromir Jagr twice asked the Pittsburgh Penguins to trade him recently, was turned down, then rescinded his request after learning team owner Mario Lemieux

Thursday, December 14th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HOCKEY

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ A slumping Jaromir Jagr twice asked the Pittsburgh Penguins to trade him recently, was turned down, then rescinded his request after learning team owner Mario Lemieux was coming out of retirement.

Lemieux also told Jagr he wouldn't take away Jagr's captaincy because ``he's our leader.''

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Washington Capitals signed forward Steve Konowalchuk to a new four-year, $6.15 million contract.

The 28-year-old left wing, who was the team's fifth choice in the 1991 draft, has 113 goals and 154 assists in 526 games and has spent all nine NHL seasons with Washington.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) _ NHL teams were warned that they could face lawsuits unless they pay more for European players.

Rene Fasel, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, said European clubs may sue NHL franchises to try to recoup some of the cost of developing players later lured to North America.

FOOTBALL

DALLAS (AP) _ SMU was placed on two years' probation by the NCAA, just as the school was recovering from being the only major college football program to get the ``death penalty.''

The NCAA cited recruiting violations in broadening the penalties already imposed by the university. The governing body said an SMU coach engaged in academic fraud and made payments to students two years ago.

The NCAA did not place any restrictions on TV appearances or eligibility for bowl games.

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ An arrest warrant was issued for Lawrence Phillips after the former NFL running back failed to appear for his trial Tuesday on charges of beating his girlfriend.

He is charged with felony counts of false imprisonment, corporal injury to a cohabitant, making a terrorist threat and conspiring to dissuade a witness.

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Todd Marinovich, the troubled quarterback for the Arena Football League's Los Angeles Avengers, was arrested for investigation of drug possession.

Marinovich was a 1991 first-round draft pick of the Raiders out of Southern California, but his brief NFL career was derailed by drug problems.

BASEBALL

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Chris Clouser, CEO of the Minnesota Twins, resigned six months after taking the job and is turning over his duties to owner Carl Pohlad.

OLYMPICS

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) _ The IOC ruled that no new sports will be accepted for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, dashing the hopes of water skiing, ballroom dancing, rugby, surfing, bowling, golf, squash and rollerskating.

BALTIMORE (AP) _ The first competition of the 2012 Summer Olympics has begun, with more American cities than ever before lined up for the ultimate gold medal _ the right to stage the games.

American bids must be received by the U.S. Olympic Committee on Friday, with eight cities expected to compete: Baltimore-Washington, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Tampa, Fla.

BASKETBALL

ATLANTA (AP) _ Lefty Driesell, the second winningest active coach in college basketball, signed a new three-year contract with Georgia State.

Driesell, 68, is 57-38 in four seasons at Georgia State, including 7-1 this season. He has 740 wins overall.

PHOENIX (AP) _ Phoenix Suns guard Penny Hardaway will be charged with threatening and intimidating his girlfriend while carrying a gun at his side, a prosecutor said.

The misdemeanor charge will be filed Thursday, Paradise Valley city attorney Andrew Miller said.

Hardaway is accused of intimidating Latasha McCray outside his home Nov. 18, according to a complaint filed by the woman.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) _ Former LSU basketball player Stanley Roberts is seeking more than $1 million against an international basketball organization he contends blocked his efforts to play overseas.

The suit stems from Roberts' attempt to play for a team in Turkey last year after he was suspended from the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA for testing positive for an amphetamine-based drug.

BUSINESS

NEW YORK (AP) _ The New York Giants have joined the Yankees and New Jersey Nets in a cooperative marketing venture that will give the three teams a year-round sponsorship outlet in the New York area.

TENNIS

BANGALORE, India (AP) _ The U.S. team of Alex O'Brien and Jared Palmer lost its opening match at the $750,000 World Doubles Championship, beaten 7-5, 7-6 (7) by Donald Johnson and Piet Norval.

O'Brien and Palmer, seeded third, lost to a team that has been playing together for only five months.

In other matches, wild cards Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi of India beat second-seeded Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands and Sandon Stolle of Australia 7-5, 6-4. And the Australian team of Joshua Eagle and Andrew Florent beat South Americans Jamie Oncins and Daniel Orsanic 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.