IN BRIEF (Page 24)

NFL

Jets sign free agent tight end Franks

NEW YORK: The New York Jets have continued their busy offseason by signing free agent tight end Bubba Franks, the team said on Monday.

The 30-year-old, taken from the University of Miami by the Green Bay Packers with the 14th overall pick in the 2000 draft, earned three consecutive Pro Bowl berths from 2001.

Franks played eight seasons in Green Bay, posting 256 receptions for 2,300 yards and 32 touchdowns but was relegated to back-up duty last season when he registered only 18 catches for 132 yards.

He joins several new Jets additions including guard Alan Faneca, offensive tackle Damien Woody and fullback Tony Richardson.

Baseball

Red Sox name Matsuzaka as Opening Day pitcher

MIAMI: Daisuke Matsuzaka will be the starting pitcher for the Red Sox against the Oakland Athletics when Major League Baseball holds its Opening Day in Tokyo next week, Boston manager Terry Francona announced on Monday.

Matsuzaka, who left Japan for Boston last season, will start the March 25 game with lefty Jon Lester going the next day, Francona told reporters in Tampa, Florida, before Boston's spring training game against the Yankees.

Matsuzaka's participation had been in doubt because his wife was expecting, but she gave birth to a son on Saturday, clearing the way for the Japanese right-hander to travel with the team.

The Red Sox are scheduled to leave for Japan on Wednesday.

Soccer

West Ham appoints Italian as technical director

LONDON: West Ham United has announced the appointment of 45-year-old Italian Gianluca Nani as the Premier League club's first technical director.

A statement on the West Ham website (www.whufc.com) said Nani would enhance the international scouting network, assist with transfers and help develop the youth academy.

"Gianluca is the person I need to help me in the recruitment at the club, venturing down into the academy level," West Ham manager Alan Curbishley told British media. "It is a big brief but I am sure he is up for it. He is vastly experienced."

Mutu cleared to play for Romania in Euro warm-up

ROME: Fiorentina has cleared striker Adrian Mutu to play in Romania's Euro 2008 warm-up against fellow finalist Russia on March 26 after he recovered from a knee injury, the Romanian Soccer Federation said on its website (www.frf.ro).

Mutu had been left out of coach Victor Piturca's squad after doctors said he needed more time to recover, but the striker scored for Fiorentina in a 3-1 win against Genoa in Serie A on Sunday.

Cricket

Australian 'Invincible' Bill Brown dies, aged 95

SYDNEY: Australian cricketer Bill Brown, a former Test captain and member of Don Bradman's legendary 1948 "Invincibles" died over the weekend, aged 95, cricket officials said yesterday.

Cricket Australia said Brown was the country's oldest Test player when he died in Brisbane on Sunday and the last Australian to play Test cricket in the pre-World War II era.

A right-handed opening batsman, Brown represented Australia in 22 Tests between 1934 and 1948, averaging 46.82 and posting a high score of 206 at Lord's in 1938.

He was named Wisden Cricket of the Year in 1939, before his career was interrupted by the the war, in which he served as a Royal Australian Air Force flight lieutenant in New Guinea and northern Australia.

(China Daily 03/19/2008 page24)